Two teams from UTAR Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES) took part in the Electrical Power System Simulation Competition 2020 (EPSSCom) 2020 on 17 November 2020 via Microsoft Teams. The teams respectively won the first prize and the consolation prize.

The two teams were coached by LKC FES Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering lecturers Dr Chua Kein Huat, Ir Dr Wong Jianhui, Assoc Prof Dr Lim Boon Han and Ir Prof Dr Lim Yun Seng. The teams' presentation was titled “Electrical Power System Simulation”.

Team UTAR Two won the first prize and they were supervised by Dr Wong. The winning team consisted of Year Two Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Electrical and Electronic students, namely Ariana Chin Sue Rei, Chow Zhi Onn, Fong Chien Yoong, Ho Jun Kin and Lew Yanzhe. They won cash prize worth RM3,000.

The consolation prize was won by Team UTAR One. They were supervised by Dr Chua. The team consisted of Year Four Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Electrical and Electronic students, namely Chua Xin Rong, Eddy Sii Yao Ing, Lee Yao Dong, Low Kai Han and Low Mun Seng. They won cash prize worth RM250.

Team UTAR Two leader Foong said, “I would like to thank Dr Chua for consistently supervising us during the competition. In the meantime, we were also taking the introductory Power Systems course conducted by Dr Wong during the competition. Hence, we would like to credit her for teaching us the fundamentals; it enabled us to tackle some of the problems faced in the competition. In addition, teamwork and accountability to one another were also crucial in accomplishing our goals. Lastly, we are indebted to Dr Lim for his invaluable guidance in regards to off-grid photovoltaic system development. We also thank the other UTAR team for their contributions which have empowered us in many ways.”

Ariana Chin from Team UTAR Two said, “I am so happy and proud of my teammates. This competition taught me that the lack of knowledge should not become fear that stops us from taking up new challenges but rather we should view it as an opportunity to learn. Hard work and perseverance really do pay off.”  Another team member, Chow, mentioned that he gained a lot of knowledge about the practical power system analysis which will be useful in the future and he is looking forward to the next competition. Ho, from Team UTAR Two, also shared that it was a great experience participating in EPPSCom. He is looking forward to competing in the next competition to boost his practical skills for the future. Lew shared that the success would have not been possible without the generous help and guidance from the lecturers. He hopes this winning will be a reminder to motivate him to achieve more success in the upcoming competition.

Team UTAR One leader Xin Rong expressed her gratitude to the team supervisor Dr Chua for his guidance and support. Another team member, Lee said, “The competition enhanced our knowledge, especially in the electrical field. We were able to apply the knowledge we have learnt in power system, electrical design and utilization, and power protection and switchgear.”

When asked about how this competition helped students in their academic performance, Team UTAR Two leader Foong said, “The competition was an excellent incentive in pushing us to explore various power simulation software such as PSS®E Xplore, ETAP and PSCAD and research various topics that were previously unknown to us. In the classroom, simulation projects usually comprise of basic examples and brief reports but the competition has taught us that industrial engineering analyses are way more complex and must also adhere to various industry standards to ensure safety and stability.”

Team UTAR One member Low shared, “The competition provided a number of questions which were closely related to real-life problems faced in the industry. The competition encouraged me to explore new software which was useful for power flow and fault analysis. This enhanced my capability to design and analyse a power system effectively. I have also learnt about the problems faced in the industry while constructing a power distribution network. Throughout the competition, I had to apply the knowledge I have learnt as an E&E student and carry out research on new topics that I have not approached before. This has improved my knowledge of power system design and study significantly.”

The teams’ supervisor Dr Chua said, “I was impressed with the determination and dedication illustrated by our students in this competition. They managed to organise their time accordingly during the competition period although facing numerous examinations and final year projects. I hope their dedications and high spirits can be a good learning model for all the students.”

The online competition was organised by IEEE Power and Energy Society Malaysia Chapter and co-organised by Pertubuhan CIRED Malaysia and Advanced Power Solutions (APS). The competition aimed to provide a platform for undergraduate Electrical Engineering students to present their simulation works, as well as sharing their experiences and ideas in power and energy engineering with industrial experts and academic scholars.