CHAD ABBEY, PhD, SENIOR DIRECTOR, Advisory Services, is an international expert with over eighteen years of industry experience in grid modernization, utility operations, and renewable-energy and energy-storage integration. He has helped utilities and developers navigate the distributed generation (DG) interconnection process, deploy innovative solutions to accelerate and reduce the cost of DG interconnection, and integrate distributed energy resources (DER) into distribution system operations. These projects have included design, specification, and subsequent deployment of distributed energy resource management systems (DERMS) and advanced laboratory testing using real-time simulation of emerging distribution architectures and technologies, including high-penetration DER control, OpenFMB, microgrids, and hierarchical control architectures. Chad has extensive experience with power systems analysis tools such as CYMDIST, Synergi, OpenDSS, EMTP-RV, and OPAL-RT. He has worked on augmenting these commercial tools through integration with Python and historical data for advanced distribution planning, including data analytics and probabilistic planning methods.

Areas of Expertise

• Distributed generation interconnection, DER integration, and Non-Wire Alternatives
• Grid modernization architectures and technologies (DERMS, ADMS, DA)
• Operational data analytics (historian data, AMI, DA device, outage data)
• Software (Python, Matlab, OpenDSS, CYMDIST, OSIsoft PI, EMTP-RV, Power BI)

Experience and Background

• Years of experience in the electric power industry ………………………………………………….. 2003–Present
• Senior Director, Advisory Services, Quanta Technology ……………………………………………. 2022–Present
• Executive Advisor, Advanced Technology Integration (ATI), Quanta Technology …………………. 2020–2022
• Principal Advisor, Advanced Technology Integration (ATI), Quanta Technology…………………… 2018–2020
• VP Power Systems, Smarter Grid Solutions ………………………………………………………………. 2014–2018
• Smart Grid Engineer, Hydro-Quebec Research Institute ……………………………………………….. 2009–2014
• Engineer and Project Manager, CanmetENERGY, Natural Resources Canada ……………………… 2004–2009
• Contractor, TransEnergie Technologie …………………………………………………………………….. 2003–2004

Accomplishments and Industry Recognition

• Working Group Member of IEEE 1547.4, IEEE 1547.8, IEEE P2030.4, IEEE 2030.11, and contributing author to the IEEE Standards Association Power 2050 Vision
• CIGRE C6.11 Active Distribution Networks, WG Secretary
• EPRI Smart Grid Demonstration Innovation Award for Hydro-Quebec Smart Zone
• Published over 10 papers in peer-reviewed journals (IEEE Transactions, Elsevier, IEEE Power, and Energy Magazine), and over 50 papers in conference proceedings

Education

• PhD, Electrical Engineering, McGill University, 2009
• MEng, Electrical Engineering, McGill University, 2004
• BSc, Electrical Engineering, University of Alberta, 2002