Chairholders
Profile
Michael Ross
Yukon Research Centre
Yukon University
Chair title
NSERC Industrial Research Chair for Colleges in Northern Energy Innovation
Chair program
Industrial Research Chair for Colleges
Role
since 2016
Summary
The objective of the IRCC in Northern Energy Innovation is to execute an industry-driven applied research program that focuses on investigating solutions to common issues and unique challenges faced by the northern electric energy industry. Backed by pan-territorial partnerships with Aurora College and Arctic College, Dr. Ross will focus his studies on the integration of novel technologies to northern and remote power systems in an economically, socially, and environmentally conscious and responsible manner. The research program at Yukon College provides a hub for utilities, academia, partners, and the public for sharing experiences, research guidelines, and solutions to improve and advance the northern energy industry for the betterment of all northerners.
The Northern Energy Consortium represents the energy industry across the Canadian territories: ATCO Electric Ltd., Northwest Territories Power Corporation, Qulliq Energy Corporation (Nunavut), and Yukon Energy Corporation. This consortium was formed to fill the gap for research needs by providing the means to support electric power engineering research activities. The applied research will focus around finding innovative solutions to industry related challenges as determined by the Consortium:
- Integration of renewable energy into isolated community grids
- How can we integrate a high level of renewables into isolated communities to reduce our reliance on diesel?
- Energy storage
- What storage technologies are viable in the north and how can they help solve northern energy issues?
- Diesel efficiencies
- How can we operate existing diesel systems more efficiently to reduce both consumption and emissions?
- Independent energy valuation
- How do energy costs of various technologies compare across the North?
- Residential and utility partnership
- What technologies could support the public to be off grid?
- Demand side management
- How can smart meters be best used to make energy consumption more efficient or to better match renewable generation?
Dr. Ross received his Bachelor’s degree in Applied Science at the University of Toronto, his Master’s and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at McGill University, and a Postdoc at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. His research during his graduate studies focused on developing a multi-objective optimization engine for a hierarchical microgrid controller for both grid-connected and isolated power systems that integrate a high level of renewable generation; as well as how storage can be coupled to mitigate the negative effects of the volatile resources. He has collaborated with the NSERC Smart Microgrid Network, and he has also worked at the Hydro-Québec Research Institute to help upgrade their Distribution Test Line to enable smart grid and microgrid technologies.
Partners
- ATCO Electric Ltd.
- Northwest Territories Power Corporation
- Qulliq Energy Corporation
- Yukon Energy Corporation
Contact information
Yukon Research Centre
Yukon University
500 College Drive
P.O. Box 2799 STN MAIN
Whitehorse, Yukon
Y1A 5K4
Tel.: 867-456-8539
Fax: 867-456-8672
Email: mross@yukoncollege.yk.ca
