STAFF PROFILE
Associate Professor Lasantha Meegahapola
Dr Meegahapola specialises in Power System Stability with Renewable Power Generation. He has conducted extensive research studies in renewable power integration into power systems, and microgrid control & stability during the past fourteen (14) years, collaborating with the power industry and international research institutions. Dr Meegahapola has published more than 100 journal and conference articles and has supervised 10 PhD students to completion in his academic career.
Research Expertise
- Power System Stability with Renewable Power Generation
- Microgrid Stability and Control
- Power Plant Modelling and Simulation
- Real-time Stability Evaluation with Synchrophasors
Editorial Roles
- Associate Editor IEEE ACCESS (2018 to date)
- Associate Editor IET Renewable Power Generation (2019 to date)
- Guest Editor-in-Chief Energies (Special Issue on "Wind Power Integration into Power Systems: Stability and Control Aspects")
Professional Activities
- Senior Member IEEE
- IEEE Power and Energy Society (PES) Working Group Member (Microgrid Stability and Definitions, Microgrid Modelling and Control)
- IEEE IAS Student Branch Chapter Adviser (2014 – 2019)
Executive Dean's Teaching Excellence Award for the best Lecturer in School of Engineering-2017
Citation: Lasantha is a very deserved recipient of this award. His modernisation of three major electrical courses significantly improved CES to outstanding levels. While maintaining high-standards, the teaching enhancements have also improved student performance and learning outcomes. He innovates and effectively blends online resources with face to face teaching, at undergraduate and postgraduate level, both on shore and offshore.
Research Collaborators (International)
- Prof. Damian Flynn (University College Dublin, Ireland)
- Prof. Andrew Keane (University College Dublin, Ireland)
- Dr. Tim Littler (The Queens University Belfast, UK)
- Dr. David Laverty (The Queens University Belfast, UK)
Reviewer for International Journals and Publishers
IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy, IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion, IEEE Transactions on Smart Grids, and IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, IEEE ACCESS, and International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems; Book proposal reviewer for CRC press and Taylor & Francis.
Reviewer for Competitive Research Funding
Australian Research Council (ARC) – Discovery Projects, Linkage Projects, Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards.
Programme Manager (Bachelor of Electrical Engineering-HK) – 2017 to date
Subject Coordinator:
- EEET2106/ EEET2339/ EEET2202: Power System Analysis and Control
- EEET2384/ EEET2385: Introduction to Electrical Building Design
- EEET2380/ EEET2380: Advanced Power Systems
School Research Committee E&B Representative
IEEE IAS Student Branch Chapter Adviser (2014-2019)
- 2007-2010: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD., Power System Stability with Renewable Power Generation), Power and Energy Research Centre, The Queen's University of Belfast, United Kingdom
- 2002-2006: BSc. Eng. Hons. in Electrical Engineering (First Class Honours), University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
Past and current industry involvements:
- AusGrid - Harmonic Modelling and Verification Project – Network and Load Modelling (External Reviewer)
- EirGrid - Dynamic Modelling of Northern-Ireland Power Network with Wind Generation
- Pacific Hydro - Novel Inertia Support to Complement Wind Parks
- Munkhchuluun, E.,Meegahapola, L.,Vahidnia, A. (2023). Reactive power assisted frequency regulation scheme for large-scale solar-PV plants In: International Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems, 146, 1 - 15
- Lunardi, A.,Conde D, E.,Assis, J.,Meegahapola, L.,Fernandes, D.,Sguarezi Filho, A. (2022). Repetitive Predictive Control for Current Control of Grid-Connected Inverter under Distorted Voltage Conditions In: IEEE Access, 10, 16931 - 16941
- Ahmed, M.,Ganeshan, A.,Moradiamani, A.,Al Khafaf, N.,Nutkani, I.,Vahidnia, A.,Jalili, M.,Hasan, K.,Datta, M.,Razzaghi, R.,McGrath, B.,Meegahapola, L. (2022). Effects of Household Battery Systems on LV Residential Feeder Voltage Management In: IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, 37, 5325 - 5336
- Gu, M.,Meegahapola, L.,Wong, A. (2022). Enhancing dynamic stability performance of hybrid ac/dc power grids using decentralised model predictive control In: Electric Power Systems Research, 213, 1 - 15
- Lunardi, A.,Lourenco, L.,Munkhchuluun, E.,Meegahapola, L.,Sguarezi, A. (2022). Grid-Connected Power Converters: An Overview of Control Strategies for Renewable Energy In: Energies, 15, 1 - 33
- Anguswamy, M.,Datta, M.,Meegahapola, L.,Vahidnia, A. (2022). Optimal Micro-PMU Placement in Distribution Networks Considering Usable Zero-Injection Phase Strings In: IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, 13, 3662 - 3675
- Bu, S.,Meegahapola, L.,Wadduwage, D.,Foley, A. (2022). Stability and Dynamics of Active Distribution Networks (ADNs) with D-PMU Technology: A Review In: IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, , 1 - 13
- Steger, F.,Krogh, J.,Meegahapola, L.,Schweiger, H. (2022). Calculating Available Charge and Energy of Lithium-Ion Cells Based on OCV and Internal Resistance In: Energies, 15, 1 - 23
- Lourenco, L.,Louni, A.,Damm, G.,Netto, M.,Drissi-Habti, M.,Grillo, S.,Sguarezi Filho, A.,Meegahapola, L. (2022). A Review on Multi-Terminal High Voltage Direct Current Networks for Wind Power Integration In: Energies, 15, 1 - 22
- Tirunagari, S.,Gu, M.,Meegahapola, L. (2022). Reaping the Benefits of Smart Electric Vehicle Charging and Vehicle-to-Grid Technologies: Regulatory, Policy and Technical Aspects In: IEEE Access, 10, 114657 - 114672
10 PhD Current Supervisions8 PhD Completions and 1 Masters by Research Completions
- ICECRP Clean Energy Living Lab (Integrated Circular Economy Hub - VHESIF Pool 1). Funded by: Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund (VHESIF) - Pool 1 from (2021 to 2025)
- Develop a software prototype for a Multi-Objective Optimisation Tool. Funded by: Desert Knowledge Australia Contract from (2021 to 2022)
- Project 69: C4NET Demand Response Initiative - Optimisation of behind the meter DER generation assets within network constraints: A roadmap to successful DR program. Funded by: Centre for New Energy Technologies (C4NET) from (2021 to 2023)
- Opportunity Assessment: N1 Electric Vehicles and the Grid. Funded by: Race for 2030 Limited CRC - Competitive from (2021 to 2021)
- Dynamic Deep Learning for Electricity Demand Forecasting. Funded by: ARC Linkage Project Grants 2018 from (2020 to 2023)