2010 POWERFUL HISPANICS IN ENERGY stu JUAN J. TORRES
Manager, Energy Systems, Analysis Department Sandia National Laboratories
Keeping Power Transmission Constant
The cutting edge of renewable energy research may be in the Energy Systems Analysis Department at Sandia National Laboratories run by Juan Torres. The lab uses two-way digital, or smart grid technology, to improve management and con- trol of energy transmission and distribution power grids, and to enhance grid integration of renewable energy resources. Torres has worked at Sandia for 20 years in a variety of areas. These include time spent with the DOE Critical Infrastruc- ture Protection Task Force that helped develop White House strategy to protect the national energy infrastructure, and the DOE infrastructure team trying to protect the U.S. energy in- frastructure from cyber attack. In February 2010, Torres spoke on a Milken Institute Financial Innovations for Energy Infra- structure panel. The topic: The Grid, Renewables and Beyond. He said, “That increased energy storage is the key to better system wide asset utilization, enhanced reliability, and reduced emissions.” But getting there is hard and expensive. The grid must transmit alternating currency from a power plant to a consumer at a consistent frequency, and be able to increase the energy load if there is a loss elsewhere in the system. To do that, says Torres, requires more than making a grid smart by adding telecommunication and computing power. Torres received his Bachelor of Science degree in electronics engi- neering technology from the University of Southern Colorado, a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of New Mexico, and has completed graduate work in electrical engineering and management science at Stanford University.
stu JOSE ZAYAS
Manager, Wind and Water Power Technologies Department Sandia National Laboratories
Harnessing Wind and Water Power As program manager of the Wind and Water Power Technologies Department, Jose Zayas must establish strategy and priorities, define technical and program- matic positions, monitor business development, and make sure the lab’s wind and water power related ac- tivities run efficiently. He joined Sandia in 1996 and for the first decade of his career was a senior member of the technical staff. He has also performed research in the areas of active aerodynamic flow control, sensors, dynamic modeling, data acquisition systems, and component test- ing. Turning a government decree into reality, Zayas has assisted Kirtland Air Force Base as it shares a wind farm with Sandia to create an energy source that can satisfy one-third of the energy demand of both entities. Last year, the Wind and Water Power division also was informed that it will receive $9 million from the Department of Energy, over three years, to develop advanced water power technologies. A multi-discipline team, including materials and manufactur- ing research, environmental monitoring and stewardship, performance modeling, and testing will be involved. Zayas says that, “Water power technologies contribute to the diver- sification of our nation’s energy mix by providing clean energy in areas near high population centers as well as enhancing
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our nation’s energy security. Water power technologies could leverage an indigenous resource in parts of the country where other technologies may not be viable.” Zayas has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of New Mexico, and a master’s degree in mechanical and aeronautical engineering from the University of California.
HISPANIC ENGINEER & Information Technology | 2010 41
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