This newsletter highlights recent projects, partnerships, and resources from the Global Power System Transformation (G-PST) Consortium. In this edition, discover the latest advancements in G-PST’s work on power system stability and oscillations, key events from 2024, new publications, webinar recordings, and more!
New Year, New Frontiers: G-PST’s Technical Network Advances Power System Innovation
As we begin 2025, we want to acknowledge and celebrate the exceptional work of our global partners, whose efforts have made G-PST’s research, technical assistance, and knowledge-sharing initiatives so impactful. Our latest video highlights this collaborative success through insights from system operators and research institutions driving grid transformation worldwide.
The value of G-PST’s technical network is showcased in the video in part by Dudu Hadebe, a staff member of the National Transmission Company of South Africa (formerly ESKOM), and Sreehari Korampatta of Grid India. They emphasize how engagement with G-PST accelerates both individual professional growth and organization-wide advancements in technical solutions. Their experiences illustrate why global leaders in power systems continue to collaborate with G-PST to address complex challenges.
We invite you to watch this video and see how G-PST’s network approach delivers practical solutions for system operators while supporting the implementation of advanced grid technologies. Learn how your organization can leverage these resources to advance power system transformation goals in 2025 and beyond.
Featured News
Diagnosis and Mitigation of Observed Oscillations in IBR-Dominant Power Systems: A Practical Guide
Managing Grid Oscillations in Power Systems: Latest Developments and Resources
The increasing integration of inverter-based resources (IBRs) has introduced new questions in power system stability, particularly around grid oscillations. While IBRs like solar PV, wind, and battery systems offer enhanced capabilities, their sophisticated controls and faster response times can create complex oscillatory behaviors that require innovative management approaches. This year, G-PST and its partners delivered several key resources to address these challenges:
- A comprehensive guide: “Diagnosis and Mitigation of Observed Oscillations in IBR-Dominant Power Systems: A Practical Guide,” published by the Energy System Integration Group (ESIG) Task Force on power system stability
- A special technical workshop on oscillations (March 2024), co-hosted with ESIG, brought together experts to share experiences and strategies
- Two webinars:
- November 2024: Dr. Balarko Chaudhuri from Imperial College London presented on IBR-driven sub-synchronous oscillations
- December 2024: Featured practical identification and mitigation approaches, including NREL’s analysis of a significant 2021 low-frequency oscillation event and its implications for future grid topology changes.
Through collaborative learning and shared experiences, system operators worldwide can better anticipate, identify, and address oscillation challenges in their evolving power systems. Visit the G-PST resource library to access additional materials on managing grid oscillations in IBR-dominant systems and enhancing system stability.
Strengthening Chile’s Path to 100% Renewable Energy
Chile is targeting the phase-out of coal-fired power plants and a fully renewable electricity system by 2030. Two new reports, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in collaboration with Chile’s grid system operator, Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional, through G-PST’s System Operator Technical Support Pillar (Pillar 2), examine key technologies and strategies shaping this transition, with a focus on advanced inverter technologies and updated grid requirements.
The first report, A Review of the Generic Grid-Forming Model Used by the System Operator in Chile, examines how grid-forming inverters can support stability and reliability as Chile transitions to renewable energy. This study tested a generic model of grid-forming inverters under various conditions and compared its performance with manufacturer-specific models. The results provide practical recommendations for improving grid planning and operations, helping Chile’s power system integrate more renewable energy while maintaining reliability.
The second report, Review of Technical Requirements for Inverter-Based Resources in Chile, evaluates Chile’s grid code alongside international standards. It outlines steps to modernize technical requirements to reflect advancements in inverter-based resources, addressing challenges like stability and reliability as the grid moves toward a renewable energy future.
These reports highlight how cutting-edge research, rigorous testing, and international collaboration are helping Chile achieve its energy goals. They provide actionable insights for system operators, engineers, and policymakers navigating the complexities of grid transformation. Explore the full reports for detailed findings and recommendations:
The 2024 NREL cohort of Women in PST interns. Image courtesy of Erin Johnson, NREL.
Women in Power System Transformation Celebrates 2024 Milestones
The Women in Power System Transformation (PST) initiative marked 2024 with significant achievements in driving inclusivity and innovation in the global energy sector. This summer, the Women in PST internship program welcomed nine talented women to participate in experiential learning opportunities at NREL and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). These emerging leaders engaged in projects ranging from optimizing renewable energy integration in Southern Africa to developing battery storage solutions in Barbados and advancing electric vehicle infrastructure in Laos. Alongside their technical work, interns participated in the Johns Hopkins University Self-Empowerment and Equity for Change (SEE Change) leadership training program and engaged with experts from institutions like Texas A&M University and Vestas, equipping with the skills and knowledge to lead in addressing the world’s energy challenges.
In partnership with Imperial College London, Women in PST developed two new classroom-ready courses on power system resilience and multicarrier energy systems, aligned with the G-PST Teaching Agenda. This curriculum continues to be an essential tool for upskilling both students and industry practitioners and can be accessed through the Women in PST web page.
The program’s impact extended through its partnership with the Global Women’s Network for the Energy Transition, connecting 20 mentor-mentee pairs across 28 countries. This global network spans Asia, the Pacific Islands, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa, accelerating career development for women in junior and mid-level positions within the power sector through professional growth, networking, and leadership development opportunities.
Moving forward, Women in PST is expanding its reach with targeted initiatives in Ecuador and Pakistan, including Spanish-language training programs and specialized SEE Change leadership development to help participants overcome workplace obstacles and set ambitious professional goals. The initiative is also launching a K-12 outreach program featuring role models and career profiles to inspire the next generation of women in power systems. For involvement opportunities, contact Erin.Johnson@nrel.gov.
Key Events
The graduate poster session at the G-PST summit. Image courtesy of Sylvia Raskin, NREL.
Strategic Progress at the 2024 G-PST Research and Implementation Summit
The June 2024 G-PST Research and Implementation Summit at the Danish Technical University convened 150 leading power system experts, researchers, and operators to advance critical initiatives in grid transformation. The week-long summit in Copenhagen marked several significant developments in G-PST’s technical agenda, including the establishment of two key implementation councils. Major achievements included:
- Launch of the Control Room of the Future Implementation Council, focusing on next-generation operational tools and interfaces
- Progress on grid-forming technology implementation through the quarterly council meeting
- Strategic alignment of research priorities between the Electric Power Innovation for a Carbon-free Society (EPICS) Global Research Centre partners, including Johns Hopkins University, Imperial College London, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), and the University of Melbourne, and G-PST’s technical agenda.
- Development of the 2024 Research Agenda update, incorporating emerging challenges from system operators worldwide
The summit’s working sessions fostered robust knowledge exchange between participants. “I’ve learned more in the last five days than in the last six years,” noted one PhD student, while a system operator engineer highlighted the direct relevance of academic research to operational challenges. The value of in-person technical collaboration was echoed throughout the event, with one participant observing, “This week in person was worth more than 100 Zoom meetings.”
This convergence of research institutions, system operators, and industry experts represents a step toward translating cutting-edge power systems research into practical solutions for grid transformation. For more information about the technical outcomes and ongoing initiatives, contact our team at globalpst@nrel.gov.
A selection of featured speakers from the Kuala Lumpar workshop in August, including G-PST representative Barbara O’Neill, NREL (top center). Photo courtesy of ACE.
Southeast Asia Advances Power System Integration Through Regional Forums
This year, G-PST and the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) collaborated on three Community of Practice events to foster regional collaboration on power system integration and grid management in Southeast Asia.
In April, a virtual event drew over 350 participants to discuss the Lao PDR – Thailand – Malaysia – Singapore energy trading arrangement, with insights from the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) on trading models and system operator roles. Learn more on the ACE website.
ACE, alongside the ASEAN Power System Operators, G-PST, and Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities/Authorities (HAPUA) Working Group 5, hosted a technical workshop in Kuala Lumpur on May 14-15, 2024. This two-day event brought together experts to share strategies and best practices for grid stability, renewable energy integration, and innovative technologies like IBR-resources and synchrophasor systems. Learn more on the ACE website.
Most recently in August, the 9th ASEAN Power Systems Operators Workshop in metro Manila brought together over 180 participants to discuss integrating variable renewable energy and distributed energy resources, supported by ACE, G-PST, the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) Smart Power Program, and others. Learn more on the ACE website.
These forums highlight the value of regional cooperation in advancing energy integration, flexibility, and resilience in Southeast Asia. Explore event highlights and resources through the links above, and contact Mike Campton at mike.campton@nrel.gov for more information about G-PST’s regional Community of Practice activities.
G-PST Co-hosts Model Interoperability Workshop with Breakthrough Energy and ESIG
Leaders of G-PST’s Open Data and Tools Pillar (Pillar 5), in partnership with Breakthrough Energy and ESIG, hosted a workshop on integrated planning and model interoperability at the Fall ESIG Technical Conference on October 21 in Providence, Rhode Island. The event brought together modeling experts and power system operators to share best practices and address key challenges in advancing integrated power system planning. This workshop is part of a broader Breakthrough Energy initiative and furthers Pillar 5’s efforts on model interoperability. Additionally, Juha Kiviluoma, Pillar 5 co-lead, recently published an article on the ESIG website discussing the evolving landscape of data and tools for capacity expansion planning in utility applications.
Imperial College London Summer School on IBR-Dominated Power Systems
In September 2024, Imperial College London hosted the Summer School on IBR-Dominated Power Systems, focusing on the transition from fossil fuel-based generation to renewable-powered IBRs. Held in person from September 2–6 at Imperial’s South Kensington campus, the event provided technical training on challenges related to grid stability, system reliability, and energy storage in IBR-dominated systems. The program featured over 20 presenters and attracted early-career researchers, engineers, and advanced students, offering valuable insights into the integration and management of IBRs. Supported by G-PST, EPICS, the Imperial-Tsinghua Joint Research Centre, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Power & Energy Society Student Branch, the Summer School contributed to advancing solutions for the global transition to renewable energy. For more details, visit the Summer School’s web page.
Workshop attendees. Image courtesy of CSIRO.
Workshop on Managing Renewable Energy Integration in Southeast Asia
In October 2024, the Energy Systems program of Australia’s CSIRO hosted a workshop with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and their Partnerships for Infrastructure program. The event focused on strategies for managing electricity systems with higher levels of renewable energy, bringing together representatives from organizations such as the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), the Department of Climate Change, Energy and Environment and Water, and South Australia Power Networks. The workshop also featured 25 representatives from four Southeast Asian countries, who shared their experiences with renewable energy integration. A key focus of the workshop included exploring recent outcomes from G-PST’s research. The event was part of the Australian government’s efforts to promote sustainable growth and cooperation with Southeast Asia. More details and copies of the workshop’s presentations can be found on CSIRO’s website.
Announcements
Updates to G-PST’s Open Tools and Data Portal
G-PST’s Open Tools and Data Pillar has launched updates to its open-source tool portal, designed to streamline access to power system software for system operators, planners, and modelers. The portal provides a centralized resource for tools used in managing grids with high shares of variable renewables like wind and solar. The updated portal includes improved navigation and clearer categorization of tools, such as those for capacity expansion planning, production cost modeling, and power flow analysis. It offers users direct access to essential details on tool linkages, dependencies, compatibility, and data formats, as well as information about developers and licenses. The portal’s data is also available in a machine-readable format, making it accessible to researchers and analysts. In addition, the process for submitting tools and datasets has been simplified, enabling developers to contribute easily and ensuring the portal remains current and comprehensive. Explore the enhanced portal and submit your tools and datasets: G-PST Open Tools Portal
Mark Ahlstrom Named Chair of Grid-Forming Technologies Implementation Council
G-PST is excited to announce that Mark Ahlstrom, Vice President of Renewable Energy Policy at NextEra Energy Resources, has been appointed Chair of the G-PST Grid-Forming Technologies Implementation Council, succeeding Sten Stoltze of Ørsted. A highly respected leader in renewable energy integration, Ahlstrom brings decades of experience in grid reliability, market design, and technical policy for future energy systems. In addition to his role at NextEra, he serves as President of ESIG’s Board of Directors. Mark’s deep expertise and forward-thinking leadership will drive the council’s mission to accelerate the adoption of grid-forming technologies, a critical step toward achieving reliable, renewable energy systems. We look forward to the impactful progress ahead under his guidance.
G-PST Welcomes Canada’s Electricity Transition Hub as New Implementation Partner
G-PST has formally partnered with Canada’s Electricity Transition Hub (ETH), operated by the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA). Over the past two years, ETH has built critical infrastructure and relationships to accelerate Canada’s energy transition. This collaboration enhances global renewable energy integration and storage solutions, with ETH already leveraging G-PST resources at its summit and workshops to connect Canadian operators with international expertise. Together, G-PST and ETH are advancing the shared goal of a 100% renewable energy future.
Nova Scotia Power offers a compelling example of this partnership’s impact. Joy Brake, Senior Specialist Engineer, explains:
“Nova Scotia is developing a transmission system capable of integrating large scale inverter-based resources including wind energy conversion systems, battery energy storage systems, and solar onto a weak grid. Learning from the experience of industry leaders has enabled us to be aware of the most recent changes in technology and practices, issues with inverter-based resources in weak grids, and solutions put forward by other entities. The Electricity Transition Hub brought the G-PST Implementation Partnership to our attention. G-PST is a large network of experts in this field who, along with the Hub in Canada, align with our goal to promote the sharing of information and lessons learned to increase the momentum needed to meet our 2030 and future renewables targets. Connecting with utilities and experts in the various fields supports the development of study practices and integration tools needed to design a secure and reliable transmission system that does not place limits on the delivery of the preferred generation mix.” – Joy Brake, Engineer, Sr. Specialist, Nova Scotia Power, Inc.
Phil McKay, Executive Director of the Electricity Transition Hub, emphasizes the partnership’s potential:
“The Electricity Transition Hub is very excited to be engaging with G-PST as an Implementation Partner. These are the types of collaborations needed to expedite renewable energy integration around the world. The amount of progress being made is staggering and it needs to be shared. In this environment, every connection we can make to foster the exchange of knowledge and experience is extremely valuable and this connection with the G-PST is singular in potential for our work at the Hub.” – Phil McKay, Executive Director, Electricity Transition Hub.
This collaboration between G-PST, ETH, and CanREA represents a significant step forward in accelerating the global energy transition through shared expertise and resources.
Resources
Publications
What Is Power System Curtailment? – This fact sheet explores the curtailment of variable renewable energy (VRE) resources, examining its causes, economic impacts, and potential solutions like energy storage, demand-side management, and grid expansion to optimize VRE use and support grid decarbonization.
Control Center of the Future Assessment for XM Colombia – This assessment, created by EPRI and NREL, outlines a roadmap to enhance XM’s control room capabilities, addressing operational challenges and supporting the integration of renewable energy, distributed resources, and advanced technologies for reliable and resilient grid management in Colombia through 2033 and beyond.
Emergency Management Industry Benchmarking Summary – In 2023, AEMO engaged G-PST partners to benchmark its emergency preparedness procedures against industry best practices, identifying areas for improvement and aligning with standards set by other grid operators like the California Independent System Operator and National Grid ESO.
eGridGPT: Trustworthy AI in the Control Room – This report explores the first research effort to apply generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), specifically large language models (LLMs), in power grid control rooms, highlighting how the eGridGPT system can assist operators with data analysis, action suggestions, and scenario simulations while addressing challenges like accuracy, ethical use, and cybersecurity.
Webinars
Unlocking Renewable Forecasting Potential in Vietnam’s Energy Future – Examines the role of AI, machine learning, and satellite imagery in improving renewable energy forecasting for better grid management in Vietnam.
Benefits of Open Source Software: A Power System Operator Perspective – Discusses how open source software benefits power system operators, accelerates innovation, and supports the energy transition, with insights from RTE, the French transmission system operator.
Advanced Grid Solutions – Covers advanced grid solutions such as energy storage, dynamic line rating, and virtual power plants, with case studies and expert insights.
Emerging Global Practices for Inertia Needs Assessment and Real-Time Monitoring – Reviews the need for real-time inertia monitoring in inverter-based grids, summarizing G-PST’s trends and collaboration with Eskom and NREL.
G-PST/ESIG Webinar: GFM Technology Adoption in ERCOT – Status Update – Updates on integrating IBRs and advanced storage technologies into the ERCOT grid, with insights from Shun Hsien (Fred) Huang, Director of Operations Support at ERCOT.
G-PST/ESIG Webinar: ENTSO-E Grid Stability Initiatives: How is Grid Stability Ensured in a Changing Power System? – Explores ENTSO-E’s strategies for grid stability, including collaboration, advanced modeling, and case studies from European TSOs.
G-PST/ESIG Webinar: Delivering MCCS – Software and Modular Control Center System of the Future – Presents the Modular Control Centre System designed to integrate 100% renewable energy into the German grid by 2032.
G-PST/ESIG Webinar: Including High Impact Events in System Planning Scenarios – Discusses enhancing reliability through stress testing and integrating extreme events into system planning, based on ESIG’s Resource Adequacy Task Force report.
G-PST/ESIG Webinar: Market Products for System Stability – Outlines the development of a stability market in Great Britain, including the Stability Pathfinders and plans for procuring inertia services starting in 2025.