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 EEE Trans. Power Systems and PES Letters
- Associate Editor IEEE Trans. on Industry Applications
- Associate Editor IET Renewable Power Generation
Professional Activities
- Senior Member IEEE
- IEEE Power and Energy Society (PES) Task Force Member and Section Leader (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-2018
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. Siqi Bu (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong)
- 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:
- C4NET & AGL - Demand Response Initiative
- Pacific Hydro - Novel Inertia Support to Complement Wind Parks
- AusGrid - Harmonic Modelling and Verification Project – Network and Load Modelling (External Reviewer)
- EirGrid - Dynamic Modelling of Northern-Ireland Power Network with Wind Generation
- Alzubaidi, M.,Hasan, K.,Meegahapola, L. (2024). Probabilistic steady-state and short-term voltage stability assessment considering correlated system uncertainties In: Electric Power Systems Research, 228, 1 - 14
- Moradi Amani, A.,Sajjadi, S.,Al Khafaf, N.,Song, H.,Jalili, M.,Yu, X.,Meegahapola, L.,McTaggart, P. (2023). Technology balancing for reliable EV uptake in distribution grids: An Australian case study In: Renewable Energy, 206, 939 - 948
- Moradi Amani, A.,Csereklyei, Z.,Dwyer, S.,Bai, F.,Dargaville, R.,De Jong, P.,Hargroves, C.,Jalili, M.,Lu, J.,Meegahapola, L.,Nagrath, K.,SAJJADI, S. (2023). My V2X EV: Informing strategic electric vehicle integration In: RACE for 2030 (CRC) Melbourne, Asutralia
- Hungbo, M.,Gu, M.,Meegahapola, L.,Littler, T.,Bu, S. (2023). Impact of electric vehicles on low-voltage residential distribution networks: A probabilistic analysis In: IET Smart Grid, 6, 536 - 548
- Song, H.,Gu, M.,Liu, C.,Moradi Amani, A.,Jalili, M.,Meegahapola, L.,Yu, X.,Dickeson, G. (2023). Multi-objective battery energy storage optimization for virtual power plant applications In: Applied Energy, 352, 1 - 12
- Kamoona, A.,Song, H.,Keshavarzian, K.,Levy, K.,Jalili, M.,Wilkinson, R.,Yu, X.,McGrath, B.,Meegahapola, L. (2023). Machine learning based energy demand prediction In: Energy Reports, 9, 171 - 176
- Mehrnia, S.,Song, H.,Al Khafaf, N.,Jalili, M.,McGrath, B.,Meegahapola, L. (2023). Multi-Objective Electric Vehicle Charge Scheduling Using Incentive-Based Compensation Mechanism to Increase Vehicle-to-Grid Participation In: Proceedings of the 49th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society (IECON 2023), Singapore, 16/10/2023-19/10/2023
- Anguswamy, M.,Datta, M.,Meegahapola, L.,Vahidnia, A. (2023). Distribution Network Power Quality Insights with Optimally Placed Micro-PMUs Incorporating Synthetic and Real Field Data In: IEEE Access, 11, 118737 - 118761
- Espin-Sarzosa, D.,Palma-Behnke, R.,Canizares, C.,Annakkage, U.,Meegahapola, L., et al, . (2023). Microgrid Modeling for Stability Analysis In: IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, , 1 - 20
- Meegahapola, L.,Jalili, M.,Wilkinson, R.,Hasan, K.,Yu, X.,Gu, M.,Song, H.,Kamoona, A.,Ahmed, M. (2023). Optimisation of Behind the Meter DER Generation Assets within Network Constraints: A Roadmap to Successful DR Program – Final Project Report In: C4NET Melbourne, Australia
11 PhD Completions and 1 Masters by Research Completions12 PhD Current Supervisions and 1 Masters by Research Current Supervisions
- Dynamic planning mechanism for allocation of EV charging resources in distribution networks. Funded by: RACE for 2030 Industry PhD Program Scholarship from (2024 to 2026)
- Accelerated Finite-time Learning and Control in Cyber-Physical Systems. Funded by: ARC-Discovery Projects from (2023 to 2026)
- 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 2024)