Publication offers a practical guide for the integration of renewable energy sources into modern power grids
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Dubai has announced the launch of a major new academic textbook release offering a timely and practical guide to integrating renewable energy into modern power grids. Authored by Professor of Electrical Engineering, Dr. Abdalla Ismail Alzarooni, in collaboration with Dr. Haris M. Khalid, from the University of Dubai, the textbook, entitled, Advanced Grid Technologies: Grid Evolution, Smart Grid Fundamentals, and Renewable Energy Integration, Volume 1 by Elsevier, aims to support the UAE’s national strategies for sustainability, innovation, and clean energy.
As the energy sector undergoes a profound shift, traditional electricity grids, once designed for centralised, fossil fuel–based power generation, are now required to accommodate renewable energy, electric vehicles, digital technologies, and intelligent control systems. The textbook addresses these changes by exploring how power grids are evolving into smarter, cleaner, and more flexible systems. It provides an outline of the history of the modern energy grid, followed by a comprehensive overview of renewable energy sources, the challenges they pose for typical energy grids, and the fundamentals of modern smart grid adaptations.
Published by Elsevier, the textbook represents a strong inter-university collaboration, with faculty from the two Dubai-based universities combining their research expertise to support the advancement of the UAE’s Green Agenda 2030 and ‘We The UAE 2031’ Vision. Through worked examples of numerical analysis and comparisons of recommended approaches, the text specifically addresses energy challenges faced in the region, particularly those relevant to utilities and infrastructure providers in the UAE, such as DEWA, SEWA, ADWEA and the RTA.
Speaking about the aims of the textbook, Prof. Alzarooni said, “At RIT Dubai, we focus on education and research that directly contribute to national priorities and support our strong industry partnerships. This textbook explores solutions that will help to drive the UAE’s vision for sustainable power, renewable energy integration, artificial intelligence adoption, and smart infrastructure development, while also preparing the next generation of engineers and decision-makers in the field.”
Key topics explored include energy storage systems, electric vehicles and vehicle-to-grid technologies, intelligent substations, and demand forecasting. The textbook delves into the complexities of context in balancing supply and demand, maintaining grid stability, managing data, and ensuring reliable electricity delivery. Readers are introduced to renewable energy sources and the practical challenges of integrating them into existing electricity networks.
Targeted at early-career engineers and professionals, as well as university students, the textbook publication marks the first instalment of a three-volume series. Volumes Two and Three, scheduled for release in 2027 and 2028, will build on this foundation and address advanced topics related to smart cities, cognitive power grids, and the future of energy systems.
