Erfan Ibrahim is a Technical Executive in the Intelligrid program area of the Power Delivery & Utilization Sector. He leads the research that focuses on the communications, systems management and cyber security infrastructure for the utility Smart Grid with particular emphasis on Home Area Networks (HAN), Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and Internet based Wide Area Networking. Before joining EPRI, Dr. Ibrahim founded and managed The Bit Bazaar LLC (TBB), a full service IT and business consulting firm, offering services to clients in the High Tech, Financial Services, and Energy sectors. At TBB Dr. Ibrahim focused on wireless communications, network management, and information security technologies with a particular emphasis on aligning the IT goals of his clients with their business goals for sustained competitive advantage. Prior to establishing The Bit Bazaar LLC, Dr. Ibrahim’s career included the following positions: VP of Sales & Marketing at Jyra Research, Product Manager for Network Management at Pacific Bell Network Integration (now AT&T), Science and Math Lecturer at National University, Nuclear Fusion Research Engineer at UCLA and Plasma Physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Lab.

• energy efficiency
• energy policy
• renewable energy
• smart grid

The economics of solar systems will drive long term adoption and market viability. Today, the U.S. and many other countries continue to subsidize the cost of solar systems and incentivize adoption through standards such as RPS. If solar is going to contribute meaningfully to our energy future, the economics must favorably compare to alternative sources of energy on a levelized cost basis. When and how will we achieve grid parity? The talk will cover where we are today and where we need to get for solar to be a primary source of global energy generation.

• economics
• renewable energy
• smart grid
• solar

In the past decade, the use of gas shales grew eight-fold, and in the past 3-5 years, $40 billion was invested in its production. However, the decline in gas prices led to a major decrease in their development. Zoback argues that the production of gas shales offers a unique opportunity for the use of coal bed methane. Even though the Energy Information Administration predicts that there will be minimal growth in unconventional gas production over the next 20 years, the gas industry expects much higher growth rates. Zoback believes that natural gas will have to be a part of the transition away from fossil fuel in the U.S. However, gas shale reservoirs still have a number of uncertainties, including the mechanical response of rocks during slick-water fracturing, the evolution of mechanical properties during production, gas adsorption and desorption, and the controls on permeability during fracturing.

• natural gas
• renewable energy

Tara Billingsley, professional staff, for the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate, discusses current and proposed U.S. energy policy and the legislative process. The Energy Seminar meets during the academic year on Wednesdays, 4:15 to 5:15 p.m.

No video or speaker slides available

• cap & trade
• economics
• energy policy
• renewable energy