Dear PES Members,

There’s a generally recognized truth that results can be achieved in proportion to the amount of effort made. With that thought in mind, and as we pursue a course of action that ensures IEEE PES plays a leading role in fostering collaboration to address the complex long-term issues impacting the energy sector, it’s rewarding for me to share some recent notable achievements made through coordinated efforts of the recently restructured IEEE PES Industry Technical Support (ITS) Task Force.

Today, the complex world we are heading toward requires not just technical understanding, but also having the ability to take entangling technical concepts and make them understandable to all audiences so that appropriate policy and business actions are made. To do this effectively requires a number of different individuals from varied backgrounds, and that is where the IEEE PES ITS Task Force comes into play.

Firstly, I would like to recognize the outstanding work of our IEEE PES Volunteers in helping increase our responsiveness to the industry as a whole and, in particular, to important and time-sensitive requests from government and regulatory bodies. In this case, I would like to personally thank Babak Enayati, Dagmar Niebur and Miriam Sanders for their dedication and accomplishments as the IEEE PES ITS Task Force worked to deliver three “fast-tracked” technical reports released in July of this year. Also, special thanks to Dan Toland, IEEE PES Program Director, for his support in helping the IEEE PES ITS Task Force better serve government and regulatory agencies growing need for unbiased, independent and objective technical leadership and support on key electric power and energy topics. And, I would be remiss to not point out the importance of dedication and leadership in these efforts as demonstrated by IEEE PES ITS Task Force chair Damir Novosel. Damir continues to champion efforts to identify gaps in our industry where PES services can be utilized to maximum benefit.

It’s further rewarding for me to point out that, since their publication, the technical reports have been the top three most widely viewed IEEE PES reports by a fairly large margin. Seeing this level of interest indicates to me that our engagement through the IEEE PES ITS Task Force is highly responsive in helping to enhance support and increased cooperation with governments, regulators and other industry organizations globally on emergent technical issues related to power, energy and policy topics.

It also shows the benefit of coordinating efforts with the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA), and drawing upon the vast knowledge base from IEEE membership, industry stakeholders, technical committees and various PES organizations, such as Smart Grid, Smart Cities and others, to increase the relevancy of IEEE PES around the world. As a result, the IEEE PES ITS Task Force can more readily identify and coordinate activities in the areas of standards and interoperability, technology, conferences and meetings, and education, including delivering educational and informational materials, such as webinars, tutorials, publications and workshops.

Here is a summary of the three “fast-tracked” technical reports:

  • Delivered to the US Department of Energy (DOE), the IEEE PES “Impact of IEEE 1547 Standard on Smart Inverters” technical report presents smart inverter features, particularly related to solar photovoltaics (PV), along with the implementation challenges and potential solutions. Comprehension of the new IEEE 1547-2018 Standard is strategic for utilities, manufacturers and regulators due to the increasing level of implementation of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) in power systems. Work on this technical report began at the end of 2017 and was completed in mid-May 2018.
  • Developed jointly with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), with work beginning in Q4-2017 and completed in June 2018, the “Impact of Inverter Based Generation Dynamics and Short-Circuit Performance” technical report explores and provides a better understanding of the implications of potential low fault current and short circuit strength conditions on the bulk power system, and how to accommodate a changing resource mix. It also addresses how large penetrations of inverter-based resources affect the total system inertia and frequency.
  • Delivered to the Federal Regulatory Commission (FERC) in less than one month, the “Definition and Quantification of Resilience” technical report providing the expert viewpoint of IEEE PES volunteers on the important industry topic of resilience of the electric grid.

While it’s nice to see hard work come to fruition, there is still much to be done to ensure we can meet the energy challenges today and for the future. With a paradigm shift taking place in how power and energy is generated, distributed and used, IEEE PES is uniquely positioned to make a meaningful difference, and the IEEE PES ITS Task Force offers a unique opportunity for new and existing members to become involved in a frontline effort to further push the boundaries of PES and our industry. I encourage our members to consider how your unique background, experience and perspectives can be brought to bear as we work collectively towards advancing energy technology for brighter energy future.

To learn more or become involved with the IEEE PES ITS Task Force, please send an email request to d.toland@ieee.org.