Global Energy Management exchange gets Smart in Glasgow

MSc in Global Energy Management student Olivia McGregor helped organise, and took part in, the Energy Masters Exchange programme between Strathclyde Business School and Dauphine University in Paris, which gives students the chance to focus on key energy themes from different perspectives. Olivia previously blogged about the Paris part of the exchange and now takes a look at what took place in Glasgow.

The second part of our Global Energy Management exchange continued with the theme of Smart Grids. We welcomed our Dauphine University colleagues to Glasgow on March 17 with a Civic Reception at the Glasgow City Chambers.

The Glasgow conference began with a welcome from the University’s Principal, Professor Sir Jim McDonald who has a strong background in the energy industry. Richard Bellingham, head of Strathclyde’s Institute for Future Cities, then gave us an insight into Glasgow’s performance as a Sustainable City.

Next, Roy Donaldson and Steven McKee, employees of CISCO, regaled us with Smart City case studies and concepts that were novel to the managing energy systems within cities. As with our visit to Schneider Electric, we found it fascinating to learn about new technologies that would enable major shifts in the way cities and citizens consume and manage their energy. CISCO is a global technology company who offer solutions to operating the Smart Grid.

They introduced the concept of the ‘Internet of Things’ and the transition from ‘The Cloud’ to ‘The Fog’. Fog computing represents a data management system that collects and manages data closer to the required device to enhance efficiency and responsiveness of technologies. This reflects the typical requirements of the Smart Grid.

Robert Rogerson, Deputy Director of the Institute for Future Cities, then took us on a walking tour of Glasgow where he discussed how Glasgow is implementing sustainable practices at each important landmark. This was a great opportunity for our French colleagues to see and learn about Glasgow.

The following morning we ventured out to Whitelee Windfarm, the UK’s largest onshore windfarm and toured round the 215 wind turbines. Smart Grids capability to welcome renewable generation onto the grid is a core driver of deployment and this was a perfect ending to such an informative exchange programme.

All of us have gained a wealth of knowledge and insight into Smart Grids during the exchange thanks to all of the speakers and companies who shared their expertise with us. The range of disciplines involved in deploying Smart Grids is vast and so we are lucky to have been offered a political, technological, economic and practical understanding into the Scottish and French approach. We look forward to keeping in contact with the students and professors at Dauphine University and highly recommend the EMEP legacy carries on to benefit the student’s wider learning and professional networking experience as a great asset to the Global Energy Management course.

About Olivia McGregor

Olivia is a postgraduate student currently studying MSc in Global Energy Management at Strathclyde Business School.