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Grid Integration — GridSTART Team

Leon R. Roose
Specialist
Chief Technologist,
GridSTART

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Grid Integration — GridSTART Team

Leon joined the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute in 2012 as a faculty Specialist where he has spearheaded the formation of GridSTART (Grid System Technologies Advanced Research Team), an HNEI research team focused on the integration and analysis of energy technologies and power systems, including smart grid and micro grid applications. He was with the Hawaiian Electric Company for 19 years prior serving in numerous management roles, most recently directing the System Integration Department. His career at Hawaiian Electric has included management responsibilities for renewable energy planning and integration, smart grid planning and projects, distribution planning, transmission planning, generation resource planning and procurement, the purchase and distribution of fuel to all utility generating plants, and the negotiation of power purchase contracts for the Hawaiian Electric companies. Leon directed major programs across the utility companies, including Hawaiian Electric’s initiative to integrate large-scale wind energy resources via a proposed HVDC undersea cable system to Oahu. Leon is also a licensed attorney and worked in private law practice in Hawaii and has held the position of Associate General Counsel at Hawaiian Electric. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and a J.D. from the University of Hawaii.

Nathan Liang
Senior Power System Engineer
Power Systems Modeling
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Nathan joined the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute in early 2013 as a Senior Power System Engineer focused on the integration and analysis of energy technologies and power systems, including smart grid and micro grid applications. Prior to joining HNEI, he was with the Hawaiian Electric Company for 23 years serving in numerous capacities, most recently directing the Distribution Planning Division. Nathan directed the technical analyses of the integration of renewable resources tied to subtransmission and distribution systems and managed all planning activities for expansion of electrical distribution infrastructure on Oahu, including the technical and economic analysis of alternatives for system improvement. Nathan is also an experienced transmission planner having conducted engineering studies, system power flow model development, and forensic analyses of system disturbances and wide-scale outages. Nathan is a licensed professional electrical engineer in Hawaii and holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Hawaii.

Marc Matsuura
Sr. Smart Grid Program Manager
Integrated Energy Systems
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Marc Matsuura (P.E., M.B.A.) joined the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute in 2013 as the Senior Smart Grid Program Manager. Prior to joining HNEI, he was with the Hawaiian Electric Company for 21 years. His career at Hawaiian Electric included positions in the areas of Transmission & Distribution (T&D) Engineering, T&D Standards and Technical Services, System Operations, Transmission Planning, Smart Grid Planning, and System Integration. Marc directed major technical programs across all three companies, including Overhead and Underground T&D standards and equipment specifications, transmission planning, large scale systems impact studies, large scale renewable interconnection and performance requirements, contract negotiations with Independent Power Producers, and smart grid planning and development. Marc also provided leadership in the technical assessment of Hawaiian Electric’s initiative to integrate large-scale wind energy resources via a proposed HVDC undersea cable system to Oahu, including the development of performance requirements for the potential cable system.