• Understand and appreciate the concept, justifications, and operation of Smart Grids.

• Build a foundation and an understanding of technologies involved to create the Smart Grids.

• Identify and solve the challenges of implementing Smart Grids.

• Analyze the operation of typical smart grids.

• Design simple smart grids.

Introduction to Smart Grids: Concept and rationale of the Smart Grids, Aspects of Smart Grid Development, Standards and Communication, Smart Grid Market Drivers, Working Definition of the Smart Grid, Smart Grid Components, Architecture, and Functions. 

Smart Grid Challenges: Environmental challenges, Regulatory Challenges, Economic Challenges, and Technology Challenges. 

Distributed Generation (DG) and Integration of Renewable Energy: Distribution Automation (DA), Distributed Generation (DG), Managing DG Connections to the Grid, Distributed Storage (DS), Electric Vehicles (EVs), Microgrids and Renewable Energy-Grid Integration Challenges. 

Performance Analysis Tools For Smart Grid: Introduction to Load Flow, Load Flow State of the Art, Classical Methods of Studying Load Flow and Load Flow methods in Smart Grid. 

Computational Tools for Smart Grid Design: Decision Support Tools (DS), Analytical Hierarchical Programming (AHP), Linear Programming, Linear Programming for the Smart Grid, The Simplex Method, Nonlinear Programming for Power Systems, Integer Programming and Optimization Techniques and Applications to the Smart Grid, 

Introduction Smart Grid Design: Approach to Designing the Smart Grid, Challenges to Smart Grid Development, Top-Down and Bottom-Up Design Approaches, Bottom-Up Smart Grid Design, and Smart Grid Top-down Design. 

Communication Network Architectures for the Smart Grid: Architecture Framework, Core-Edge Architecture, Smart Grid Network Protocols, Wide Area Networks for Smart Grids, Local Traffic Aggregation, Field Area Networks, and Transmission Management System (TMS). 

Smart Grid Network Design Process: Network Traffic, Smart Grid Traffic, Characterization, Traffic Aggregation, and Routing Architecture, Network Performance, Delay and priority requirements for Smart Grid applications, QoS Considerations in Smart Grid Networks, Differentiated Services for Smart Grid Application Functions and Smart Grid Network Reliability, 

Smart Grid Network Security: Regulations, Standards, Best Practices, and Smart Grid Security Architecture.

• Individuals who want to understand the concept and benefits of smart grids.

• Power utility engineers working on smart grid technology

• Engineers who need to learn the operational issues of modern power grids

• Power traders to understand the details of smart grids.

• Independent system operator personnel.

• Faculty members from academic institutes who want to teach smart grid courses.

• Investors and contractors who plan to make investments in smart grids and the renewable energy industry.

• Professionals in other energy industries.

• Electric utility personnel who recently started a career in power systems or having new job responsibilities.

• Technicians, operators, and maintenance personnel who are or will be working on smart grid-related projects

• Managers, accountants, and executives of the smart grid industry.

• Scientist or non-electrical engineers involved in smart grid-related projects or proposals.

Dr. Abdulla Alzarooni
Professor of Electrical Engineering, RIT Dubai
Subject Matter Experts have extensive corporate and academic experience. 

Experience:
Dr. Abdulla holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Arizona since 1986 and was the first Emirati to receive a Ph.D. in the field of Engineering. He worked in the field of education for the past 30 years in different positions summarized as:

• Assistant Professor (1987-1993), Associate Professor (1993-2004), Full Professor (2004-2011) of Electrical Engineering at UAE University.

• Professor and assistant to the president at RIT Dubai since 2011.

• Many administrative posts at UAE University including department chair, vice dean, member of the vice-chancellor technical board, and advisor to the vice chancellor for IT affairs. 

• Corporate Manager of Education and Technology at Dubai Silicon Oasis, (2006-2008). 

• Senior Manager of Science and Technology at UAE Emirates Foundation (2009-2011).

Dr. Abdulla developed and taught many undergraduate and graduate courses in engineering, conventional and renewable energy, control & power systems, and IT, in addition to many professional training courses and workshops in energy, leadership, and innovation. He also published over 100 technical papers in refereed international and regional journals and conference proceedings. He published three edited books on energy and related issues.
 
Dr. Abdulla received several awards and scholarships like the IEEE millennium award, UAE University College of Engineering community service award, Fulbright research scholarship, and Emirates Energy Award. He is the chair of UAE Global High Schools committee of the esteemed Zayed Future Energy Prize, a former member of Shaikh Khaleefah Education Award Review Committee (2009-11), a former member of UAE Ministry of Higher Education Executive Committee (in charge of UAE Higher Education Institutes license and academic programs accreditation, prior to the creation of CAA) and Certificate Equivalency Committee.