Atlantic Canadian Conference on Energy System Modelling

Presented by the Energy Modelling Hub and Net Zero Atlantic

The Energy Modelling Hub and Net Zero Atlantic invite you to participate in the 3rd Atlantic Canadian Conference on Energy System Modelling. This one-day event will feature discussions on themes of innovation and interprovincial collaboration to strengthen Atlantic Canada’s energy grid.

REGISTER NOW

Contents

Conference Overview
Registration
Program
Poster Presentation

When: Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 8:30AM - 7:00PM AT
Where: The Westin Nova Scotian ┃ 1181 Hollis St, Halifax, NS B3H 2P6

Why Attend?

• Gain insights from regional and national experts on energy modelling challenges and opportunities.
• Explore how innovation and interprovincial collaboration can shape a reliable and affordable grid.
• Participate in four panel sessions, a keynote presentation, and a networking reception.
• Access discussions on regional challenges, trade barriers, and actionable energy policies.
• Enjoy breakfast, lunch, and refreshment breaks while connecting with industry peers.

Who Should Attend?

• Policymakers seeking data-driven insights to inform decisions.
• Energy modellers translating complex models into actionable policies.
• Industry leaders navigating regional energy challenges and market opportunities.
• Academics and researchers exploring cutting-edge methodologies.
• Students interested in the latest developments in energy system modelling.

As a delegate you will have access to the conference sessions and a networking reception, as well as breakfast, lunch, and refreshment breaks. 

Passes, Special Rates and Fees*

• Conference Day Pass - $255
• Group Discount - 4 delegates for the cost of 3
• Early Bird Conference Day Pass - $230 (CLOSED MAY 9)
• Special Westin Nova Scotian rates - $239.00 to $249.00 (CLOSED MAY 16)

REGISTER NOW

*Ticket prices do not include taxes or Eventbrite fees. 

The conference location and recommended hotel is The Westin Nova Scotian. 

If your organization would like to be invoiced for conference day passes, please email your request to events@netzeroatlantic.ca 

Media Accreditation

Media passes are available for qualified media.

For accreditation, contact Kasia Morrison, Communications & Engagement Lead: kmorrison@netzeroatlantic.ca.

Cancellation Policy

No refunds available.

If you are unable to attend, you may transfer your registration to a colleague. For changes, contact events@netzeroatlantic.ca.

No Invitation Letters Provided

The conference does not provide invitation letters for international registrants. Attendees from outside Canada must secure travel visas independently.

Agenda at a Glance 

Wednesday, June 18, 2025 (8:30AM - 7:00PM)

The Westin Nova Scotian 

Panel 1: Bridging the Provinces – Strengthening Interprovincial Energy Modelling Collaboration

Canada’s clean electricity future requires better interprovincial coordination, yet trade barriers, infrastructure gaps, and misaligned policies create bottlenecks. This panel will explore how energy modelling can help identify solutions, optimize transmission planning, and facilitate regional collaboration.

Key Topics:

• Interprovincial electricity trade barriers – regulatory harmonization and market integration

• Strengthening regional transmission planning – optimizing interconnections through modelling

• Data standardization and transparency – ensuring comparability across provincial models

• Offshore wind and large-scale renewables integration – interprovincial synergies

• Lessons from successful cross-border collaborations (e.g., US - Canada energy trade)

Speakers:

Moderator: Michael Bourque, Innovation Director - University of New Brunswick

Bojana Zindovic, Managing Consultant, Electricity Regulation & Market Design - ELIA GRID INTERNATIONAL (bio link)

• Presentation Title: Harnessing European Insights: Bridging Provinces with Hybrid Offshore Wind Interconnectors and Energy Islands

Elizaveta Kuznetsova, PhD, Head of Energy Value Chains - ESMIA Consultants (bio link)

• Presentation Title: Impacts of the Clean Electricity Regulations (CER) on Energy Affordability and Interprovincial Trade in the Atlantic Provinces

Frédéric Côté, MBA, General Manager - Nergica & Canadian Lead for the Northeast Grid Planning Forum (bio link) 

• Presentation Title: Powering Progress Together: Unlocking Transmission Opportunities Across Provincial and International Borders in the Canadian-American Northeast

Kevin Sherd, Lead Engineer, Transmission Assessments - North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) (bio link)

• Presentation Title: Exploring the Role of Transfer Capability: Findings from NERC’s Canadian Analysis

Panel 2: The Role of Buildings and Transportation in a Resilient and Affordable Energy System

As the transition to electric heating and transport accelerates, the grid must adapt to shifting demand profiles. How can energy models help prepare for these changes, ensuring system reliability and cost-effectiveness?

Key Topics:

• Electrification’s impact on demand – modelling peak load shifts from EVs and heat pumps

• Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and flexible demand – leveraging EVs as grid assets

• Smart buildings and energy efficiency – reducing demand and enhancing grid flexibility

• Sector coupling – integrating hydrogen, biofuels, and industrial decarbonization strategies

• Weather-driven demand variations – improving resilience in infrastructure planning

Speakers

Moderator: Kathleen Mifflin, Senior Research Associate - Canadian Climate Institute

Léa Simon de Kergunic, Senior Analyst - Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors (bio link)

• Presentation Title: Modeling the Impact of Rebates and Other Key Drivers on EV Adoption

Florian Mitjana, Postdoctoral Researcher, Decarbonization of the Electricity System and Machine Learning - HEC Montreal (bio link)

• Presentation Title: Choices and Uncertainties in Planning for Net-Zero Power Systems: Shaping Demand Through Energy Efficiency to Lower System Cost

Dr. Kuljeet S. Grewal, Assistant Professor in Sustainable Design Engineering - University of Prince Edward Island (bio link) 

• Presentation Title: Neighborhood-Scale Energy Modeling and Planning for Net-Zero Transitions

Wayne Groszko, Applied Energy Research Scientist - Nova Scotia Community College (bio link)

• Presentation Title: Modelling of Heat Pumps with Phase Change Thermal Energy Storage for Residential Heating Demand Response

Panel 3: Advancing Energy Modelling – Enhancing Accuracy, Resilience, and Policy Integration

Energy models must adapt to capture renewable variability, system shocks, and sectoral shifts. This panel will explore cutting-edge advancements that enhance model accuracy, system resilience, and policy integration.

Key Topics:

• Modelling renewable energy variability – improving intra-hour and seasonal projections

• Large industrial loads (e.g., hydrogen, data centers, mining) – how to integrate into system planning

• Grid-forming inverters and high-renewables grid stability – technical and modelling challenges

• Extreme weather, cyber threats, and system shocks – resilience in modelling

• Multi-model comparisons – cross-validation for better policy confidence

Speakers:

Moderator: Normand Mousseau, Scientific Director - Institut de l'énergie Trottier

Chris Milligan, Director, System Planning & Grid Integration - Nova Scotia Power (bio link) 

• Presentation Title: Enhancing Accuracy, Resilience, and Policy Integration

Cameron Wade, Founder and Principal - Sutubra Research (bio link)

• Presentation Title: Evaluating the Potential of Long-Duration Energy Storage in Nova Scotia's Clean Energy Transition

Steven Wong, Senior Technical Advisor, Renewable Energy Integration - CanmetENERGY/Natural Resources Canada (bio link)

• Presentation Title: Capabilities, limitations, and Future Role of Grid Forming Inverters

Barbar Moawad, Delivery Lead, ElectrifiedGrid | Sustainability, Decarbonization, and Energy Transition Manager - Deloitte (bio link)

• Presentation Title: Navigating Electrification Uncertainty: Turning Advanced Modeling into Actionable Insights for Grid Operators

Panel 4: Strengthening the Modelling-Policy Nexus – Turning Insights into Action

Despite advancements in energy modelling, a gap remains between technical insights and real-world policy implementation. How can we better connect models to decision-making processes?

Key Topics:

• Best practices for modeller-policymaker engagement – ensuring actionable insights

• Case studies of models shaping policy – successes, failures, and lessons learned

• Bridging the gap between model outputs and regulatory decisions

• Simplifying complex modelling results for policymakers and industry stakeholders

Speakers:

Moderator: Lana Asaff, Senior Economist - Atlantic Economic Council 

Michelle Siscoe, Director, Net Zero Program & Business Transformation Office - Saint John Energy (bio link)

• Presentation Title: Aligning Energy Modelling with Municipal Utility Decisions: The SJE Zero30 Case

David Foord, Associate Professor - University of New Brunswick (bio link)

• Presentation Title: Energy Modelling & Policy Insights Barometer

Maria Scheller, Vice President - ICF International (bio link)

• Presentation Title: Holistic Energy Resource Optimization – A New Paradigm to Inform Planning Decisions

Mostafa Mostafavi Sani, Dalhousie University

The Role of Long-Term Hydrogen Storage in Decarbonizing Remote Communities in Canada.

Adango Miadonye, Cape Breton University

Effect of Methane Gas Hydrate Content of Marine Sediment on Ocean Wave Induced Oscillatory Excess Pore Water Pressure and the Geotechnical Implications

Jacob Thompson, Wiwasolvet Total Primary Energy Solutions

Nova Scotia’s Long Duration Energy Storage, Sector-Coupling Hydrogen, Captured Waste Heat, and 100% Renewables Total Primary Energy Supply

Javier Ojeda, HYSOVENT Sustainable Engineering

Combined Hydro, Wind and Solar Feasibility Study using RETScreen - Nova Scotia Case Study

Sujoy Barua, St-Mary University

Hydrogen via Ammonia from Building Wastewater: A Theoretical Study

Caleb Stairs, Carleton University

Evaluating the Role of Industrial Electrification in Decarbonizing New Brunswick: Results of a New Capacity Expansion Model

Zackaria Kabore, Moncton University

Preparation and characterization of a transparent photovoltaic solar cell with chloroaluminium phthalocyanine (ClAlPc) et du fullerene (C60) as active materials

Ali Mahmoudi, Dalhousie University

Future Alternatives for Urban Transportation with Hydrogen, Electric, and Diesel Buses: A Comprehensive Life Cycle Analysis with Machine-Learning

Marcos Casimirri, CBCL

Leveraging ASHRAE 14 Guidelines for Robust Building Energy Modeling/Computer Simulation and Decarbonization Strategies.

Mehrnaz Ahmadi, Dalhousie University 

Dynamic Energy Dispatch in Microgrids Using Deep Reinforcement Learning and Graph-Based Synthetic Inertia Control

Noushad Ahamed Chittoor Mohammed, University of Prince Edward Island

From Drones to Energy Models: Rapid Energy Modeling Workflow for Sustainable Neighborhoods

Kanwarpartap Gill, University of Prince Edward Island

Sustainable Solar Potential Assessment of Urban Neighborhoods Using Real Time Building Archetypes

Nicholas Legge, Dalhousie University 

 Assessing Long Duration Energy Storage Options for Nova Scotia's Energy Transition