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In the Loop

CIGRE - A 2017 Technical Overview

Prepared by Phil Southwell

With the start of a new year it seems appropriate to review the current status of CIGRE, its key areas of focus and how the individual Study Committees are addressing the strategic technical challenges that the power system is facing.  This article draws on the presentations by the International Chairman of Study Committee B3 and all the Australian Panel Convenors which were made at the Forum run by the Australian Technical Committee in November of 2017-  [Summary can be downloaded here] the day before last year’s AGM in Adelaide.

Over the past ten years, global membership in CIGRE has grown by approximately 75% to more than 16000 equivalent members today across more than ninety countries.  Membership is made up of a range of categories including large companies, organisations and individuals and includes a new and rapidly increasing membership of students over the last 2 years. 

The 16 study committees of CIGRE have approximately 230 working groups with each having an average membership of 17 experts.  Australia is a strong contributor to these working groups ranking in the top ten by membership across the world.

The rapid development of distributed generation, often in the form of renewable energy, is changing the way that power systems are built and operated.   This has required CIGRE to include distribution into its scope of works.  To facilitate the more rapid inclusion of distribution in the scope of Study Committees, six additional members from a non-transmission background will be allowed per Study Committee, with two members allowed from one country in some circumstances.  This is a temporary measure that is expected to be in place for eight years.

This article lists the 10 key technical areas that continue to guide CIGRE work and how they are addressed by the work of our Panels and Study Committees.

CLICK HERE for the Full Article.