The Global Power System Transformation (G-PST) Consortium’s Grid-Forming (GFM) Technologies Council is a key forum for addressing the challenges of commercializing GFM inverter-based equipment and accelerating its deployment. By bringing together system operators, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), project developers, consultants, software developers, and standards bodies, the Council ensures that research outcomes from G-PST are translated into technologies that can be deployed in power systems worldwide.

The Council addresses the cycle of uncertainty in which operators are unsure which specifications to request, OEMs lack clear technical guidance, and standards organizations offer limited direction, slowing overall GFM technology adoption. Through collaboration with key partners, including the Energy Systems Integration Group (ESIG), the Universal Interoperability for Grid-Forming Inverters (UNIFI) Consortium, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), G-PST is working to develop global standards and solutions to accelerate GFM technology adoption.

To enable effective deployment, system-level interconnection requirements and grid codes must balance the needs of operators, end users, and society. The Council’s collaborative efforts ensure that GFM technologies meet evolving grid needs and are deployed cost-effectively through standards, codes, and market structures.

Learn more: Summary of GFM Capability & Performance Requirements Driven by System Needs.

Following is a list of companies from the OEM, project developer, system operator and software sectors for possible participation in the GFM Technology Council. 

Developers: 

  • Ørsted 
  • Enel 
  • Invenergy 
  • Zenobe 
  • Nextera 
  • Fluence
  • Shell

System Operators:

  • AEMO
  • AESO
  • Amprion
  • CAISO
  • CEN
  • EirGrid
  • Elia
  • ENTSO-E
  • ERCOT
  • Energinet
  • FinGrid
  • 50 Hertz
  • FinGrid
  • NESO
  • NTCSA (formerly ESKOM)
  • Nova Scotia Power
  • Stattnett
  • TenneT
  • XM

OEM Participants:

  • GE Vernova
  • Hitachi Energy
  • SGRE
  • Siemens
  • Smart Wires
  • SMA
  • Vestas

Leadership includes: 

  • Chair: Mark Ahlstrom, NextEra Energy Resources
  • Staff Support: 
    • Julia Matevosyan, Chief Engineer and Associate Director, ESIG
    • Jason MacDowell, Chief Systems Integration Officer, ESIG 
    • Karin Wadsack, Director of the Secretariat, G-PST

The Grid-Forming Technologies Council convened in person at the Global System Operations Summit in Berlin in September 2025 to continue its work advancing GFM specification, testing, and deployment. Building on progress since 2023, the meeting focused on real-world integration experiences, emerging international testing procedures, and collaborative efforts to accelerate safe, reliable GFM adoption.

A portion of the agenda addressed international efforts to develop GFM battery energy storage system requirements, with grid operators sharing lessons on both technical and procedural considerations. The group also discussed ongoing coordination between IEC and IEEE through IEC SC 8A.

Participants reviewed the state of the art in GFM BESS testing procedures, including work underway across multiple industry and standards organizations. Sessions highlighted the development process, core assumptions, and current challenges in establishing broadly applicable testing protocols.

The Council also explored lessons learned from real-world performance events and field tests, including examples of GFM behavior in extreme system conditions and insights into the planning and interconnection processes needed to enable strong GFM performance.

Expert speakers from industry, system operators, and academia shared perspectives on grid-forming technology deployment and integration. Pedro Arsuaga (GE Vernova) addressed approaches to developing and deploying grid-forming technologies. Dr. Xiaoyao Zhou (National Energy System Operator) discussed Great Britain’s experience integrating grid-forming resources. Professor Behrooz Bahrani (Monash University and Imperial College London) shared project-level lessons from Australia. Presentations were also given by representatives of the UNIFI Consortium.