A Recap of the 2023 IEEE Power & Energy General Meeting - Panel

From July 16-20, I had the privilege of participating in the 2023 IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting in Orlando, FL. In addition to leading and co-leading two panel sessions, the event was one of dialogue and interaction. With a focus on synchro-phasor technology and how it’s being used for grid-enhancing technologies, the event included six presentations – a balanced mix of three from North America and three from the UK/Europe – and a range of industry experts, professors, utilities, vendors, and consultants. Among those in attendance were Marjan Popov , Damir Novosel , Mario Paolone , @Vahid Madani, and Vladimir Terzija , who I’d like to thank for their interest, input, and inspiration.

There was certainly a high level of engagement and interaction at the event. From cross-domain power engineers that are entering the industry and doing research, to students with thought-provoking questions, the driving forces behind opportunity and motivation were, and are, clear. In fact, I found the Q&A sessions to be particularly interesting, with most questions being related to the role of synchrophaser data for control, especially in the light of artificial intelligence and the rise of cybersecurity and digitization. How can we enhance our grids to be more resilient? How can we futureproof our networks? How can utilities use this technology for wide-area monitoring, protection, and control WAMPAC.

We know utilities and grid operators are looking for holistic solutions to meet sustainability targets and modernize grid infrastructure, all while allowing for affordable and reliable power. North America and Europe are both looking at synchro-phasor technology at a solutions level, making this a horizontal technology that works across different applications. Every region has its own specific challenges, however, and the use cases vary, but there are similarities in how this technology can be used. For instance, the North American grid is more geographically dispersed. As a result, challenges are more related to grid modernization of aging infrastructure. On the other hand, in Europe/UK/Australia, there is a higher penetration of renewables with traditional centralized controls, needs to grid system support services such as inertia, system strength. The question then becomes how can we use synchro-phasors for system performance challenges?

Ultimately there are no significant technical challenges with the deployment of this technology, specifically in terms of multiple-vendor interoperability. As with any new technology, though, we are looking for validation and there is work required on regulations/policy/standards, but I am optimistic of its immense benefits. The technology readiness level is being surveyed very closely and we know that innovation and collaboration will be the key enablers for this part of the collective energy transition.?