e-News for power industry leaders

Dear Reader

Welcome to 2018 and another year !

As is always the case with an even numbered year, 2018 will see the biennial Session 47 held in Paris August 26th - 31st.  This is the pre-eminent CIGRE event and whilst being very convenient for the European members continues to attract significant numbers of members from the America's and Asia Pacific areas. 

In 2016 Australia had some 95 attendees and this coming year is shaping up to be even more popular as we have had a record twenty-four technical papers accepted for presentation during the session.   

As with previous years, we are continuing to offer two scholarships to our young engineers.  The applications close on 15th February and information is on our website, so if you are interested or have young engineers that may be, act quickly to ensure you have time to get the application in.

In addition to the Paris Session, we are planning to offer some interesting technical seminars and events, including a Master class series on High voltage Insulators presented by Dr. Wallace Vosloo and  jointly organised with CIGRE Australia and The Australian Power Institute (API).  Information on this and all our planned events can be viewed on our events website - HERE

Apart from our events coverage, articles this edition include :

• a summary of the recent technical activity across our 16 Panel areas, including  a link to download the 2017 Australian Technical Committee Report

• an overview on the Technical Brochure arising from the work of Working Group WG B2.56 – Ground Potential Rise at Overhead AC Transmission Line Structures During Power Frequency Faults and

• an update on a recently formed CIGRE Task Force TFB4.77 “AC Fault response options for VSC HVDC Converters”, chaired by John Gleadow from New Zealand.

• Finally there is a short article showing where our members are based and presenting some statistics on our website and conference presentations which may surprise you.

I would like to draw your attention to the CIGRE Australia Technical summary seminar that the Board is hosting in Perth on 15th of February. This is a free event and will outline what CIGRE is about and some of the interesting projects that we are currently involved in.  If you are in Perth on the 15th and have a couple of spare hours in the afternoon, I am sure you will find this session of interest.  More information can be found on our event site HERE.

I am also pleased to be able to announce that CIGRE International based in Paris has decided to adapt CIGRE Australia's marketing and branding concept and has contracted the same Marketing and Branding company that we used in assisting us develop our website and other tools over the last three years.  The Paris based CIGRE will  officially launch the new offerings and look to all National Committees at the Paris Session in August of this year.  This follows the adoption/adaption of our Knowledge management and collaboration tool which was taken up globally at the last Session and is a great acknowledgement of our intiative and work in this area.

As always, I trust you will find the content of this newsletter relevant and interesting.  If you have any comments or suggestions, please feel free to contact me by phone (07) 3310 8839  or email enquiries@cigreaustralia.org.au

Terry Killen
Executive Manager
CIGRE Australia

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