Mini-Course on Future Electricity Grids - Session 1/2

The European power system has changed considerably in the last 15 years. The liberalisation and unbundling of the electricity market has led to increased international power flows and reduced influence of the system operators. Meanwhile, renewable and other small-scale uncontrolled and variable energy sources are being installed in the system.

Session 1: The effects of these changes on the power system will be discussed. They will be analysed along with how investments in the transmission system can help, and the different options available. Special attention will be given to power flow controlling devices and HVDC as they are getting much attention in the power industry at the moment.

• Effects of wind energy in the international power system.
• Investments in the transmission system, why are they lacking, what the options are (overhead, cable, etc.).

Dirk Van Hertem graduated as a M.Eng. in 2001 from the KHK, Geel/Belgium and as a M.Sc.in Electrical Engineering from the K.U.L. Leuven/Belgium in 2003. In 2009, he obtained his PhD, also from the K.U.L. He is currently working as a post-doctoral researcher at KTH, Stockholm, and is a member of the electrical power systems research group. His special fields of interest are power system control, including HVDC and FACTS, and power system investments. He is an active member of both IEEE and Cigré.