Maria Carmela Di Piazza is a Senior Research Scientist of the Italian National Research Council (CNR) at the Institute of Marine Engineering (INM), where she held the position of head of the Palermo branch of the Institute. She was an adjunct professor at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Palermo. She has led several scientific projects and activities on sustainable and efficient technologies for energy and transport. She is co-author of over 150 papers published in international journals and conference proceedings. She also co-authored a book, published by Springer, and several book chapters focusing on photovoltaic generation. Since 2012 she has been a Senior Member of IEEE (member of the IEEE Power Electronics, and Industrial Electronics Societies). Her scientific interests cover power electronics and electrical drives, renewable generation, energy management systems (EMS), shipboard electrical systems, and smart micro/nano-grids.
Lecture – Enabling technologies for energy transition: micro- and nanogrids
The lecture will explore the key aspects of electrical micro- and nanogrids, highlighting their pivotal role in the energy transition. It will delve into the advantages of these systems, emphasizing their potential to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and resilience in modern electrical power grids. Additionally, the lecture will provide an overview of the most promising technologies driving the microgrid paradigm. Topics of discussion will include decentralized and renewable power generation, DC power distribution, the role of energy storage systems, and energy management systems (EMSs). By examining these elements, the lecture aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of how microgrids can shape the future of energy systems.