Topics
Theme 1: System Operation and Control
- Challenges in operations of interconnected power systems
- Managing new challenges in operationalplanning and real-time operation of Power Systems
- Control Decision making tools and methods, system visualization techniques.
- Utility experiences in wide area modeling and assessment of WAMS.
- New applications in system operation and control for detection and mitigation of system conditions.
- Evolution of operation reliability standards in the context of open markets and reduced security margins.
- Criteria and standards level metrics and performance indicators.
- Implications of climate change on the electric power system.
- Specification, assessment and improvement of System Technical Performance.
- Coordination, lightning protection, power quality and power system security.
- Influence of environmental stresses (such as lightning & pollution) on power system reliability.
- The interaction of electrical equipment and customer installations with the power system.
- Experiences and developments in GCC interconnected systems operations.
Theme 2: System Development & Economics
- Planning of long term network developments, economic vs. non-economic, probability, risk, impact.
- Development of a capital expenditure plan, business organization, performance indicators.
- Planning and investing for effective supply restoration plans.
- Strategic environmental assessment methodologies in the planning of system expansion.
- Adequacy and security in Generation and Transmission in the context of the future generation mix and location.
- Planning approaches to mitigate technical limits and constraints imposed by rapid expansion of GCC power systems.
Theme 3: Electricity Markets and Regulation
- Prospects and experiences of electricity trading and creation of electricity markets
- Obstacles and solutions to mitigate the development of electricity markets
- Electricity Market standards, models, mechanics, design and business models for GCC and Arab Countries
- Regulatory aspects related to Energy Policies & Policy developments, and Market Rules.
- Incentives for investing in generation and transmission in an electricity market environment.
- Investment criteria (for generation and transmission) in a market environment, role of capacity markets.
- Interactions between system security rules and market rules.
- Harmonization of grid codes and transmission tariffs structures for trading between Interconnected systems.
Theme 4: Distribution Systems
- Integration issues at the planning and operation stage, experience: impact of large scale integration, constraints.
- Concepts and technologies for active distribution networks.
Theme 5: Substations, Switchgear and HV Equipment
- Impact of stronger constraints with respect to footprint, severe climatic conditions and public amenity on substation design
- EHV/UHV substations for GCC and Arab region
- Design and application of GIL for bulk power transmission
- Impacts of new/future network concept changes on substation design.
- Residual life estimation – Risk assessment, replacement or refurbishment options
- Uprating of substations and existing equipment to increase network capacity
- Technical solutions for extension of substations on already existing footprint
- Reducing the impact of substations on the environment
- End of life assessment (age, capability, reliability, technical risks, and expertise).
- Refurbishment and replacement strategies.
- Application of monitoring and condition assessment techniques.
- Operation of equipment beyond design life.
- Testing of hybrid switchgear assemblies.
- Acceptance and experience of new substation equipment and techniques
- Applications of surge arresters (mid-line, non-line to ground).
- Non-conventional instrument transformers, IEC 61850 and monitoring and intelligence within equipment.
- Mixed technology and composite insulated switchgear.
Theme 6: Substation Protection and Automation
- New requirements and concepts for Substation Automation and Protection
- Impact of Process-Bus (IEC61850-9-2) on protection and substation automation Systems (system reliability / system architecture / experiences so far).
- Protection coordination and special protection systems for interconnected power systems
- Life cycle management of protection and control systems.
- Innovative testing techniques for protection and substation automation systems.
Theme 7: Transformer Design, Manufacturing, Life Cycle and Performance
- Fire and explosion prevention: new oils, new bushing technologies, avoidance of tank rupture, effectiveness of existing test standards (for equipment and material) in failure prevention, design factors and improvements.
- Fire mitigation: use of fluids with high fire point, fire wall, distances, sprinklers, risk assessment, modeling of internal overpressures by 3D methods
- Experiences of power transformers monitoring, incidents, failures and repairs
- Thermal, electrical and environmental performances.
- Reliability and economic aspects.
- Effects of transients on performances.
- maintenance practice, diagnostic, new technologies, life assessment, use of onlinemonitoring system and expert system
- Loading, switching operations, experiences in service, system aspects, new applications and designs.
- Reinvestment policy options: Purchasing vs. "refurbishment to new" (technical economical comparisons, use of spares units, reliability, testing, technical improvements on aged units).
- Diagnostics, risk assessment, post-mortem post scrapping investigations, on-line monitoring, moisture assessment, maintenance operation (drying, online degassers and dehumidifiers), quality controls.
- Corrosive Oils & mitigation technique, re-inhibiting and metal passivators experiences.
- Reliability, condition assessment, end of life evaluation.
- Design, manufacturing processes, application and performance of different winding types and material.
- Experience and evaluation of winding mechanical (short-circuit and load noise), thermal, dielectric and efficiency performance.
- Effects of ageing and maintenance practices on transformers performance.
- Design of large transformers and its imapcts on transformers life cycle and rate of failure
Theme 8: Overhead Lines and Insulated Cables
- Techniques, new innovative solutions, diagnostic tools and methods for line up rating and optimized use of existing capacities.
- Maintenance and refurbishment methods based on diagnostic tools and methods.
- Increasing reliability and security by improving electrical and mechanical performances: mechanical strength coordination, foundation assessment, de-icing methods, anti-cascading towers, wind vibration issues, etc...
- Solutions for a quick recovery: emergency structures, details of fault and emergency recovery plans; construction of temporary lines,
- Design, installations & in - experiences service.
- Maintenance policies
- Diagnostic methods applied to Cable Systems.
- Remaining Life Assessment Methods.
Theme 9: HVDC and FACTS Technology
HVDC and FACTS technology
- HVDC and FACTS as a means to improve System Capacity, Performance and Efficiency.
- New technologies for HVDC and FACTS in AC Networks.
HVDC and FACTs Schemes
- Operational Performance of existing HVDC interconnections, Upgrading / replacement of older projects.
- Feasibility studies of new HVDC projects.
- Planning, Design and Reliability criteria and characteristics of new HVDC projects, including considerations on overload capabilities and market aspects.
- Issues and experiences with ground return and ground electrodes.
- Operational performance and system impact of existing FACTs.
Theme 10: Renewable Energy and Nuclear Energy for the Gulf States
- Grid Codes , Policy & regulation requirements for nonconventional generation
- Development of renewable energy sources and storage systems for GCC
- Designs and methods to improve control grid stability, voltage dip survival, stabilization after grid faults, and provide reactive power control and energy storage.
- Drivers and opportunities for nuclear energy in the Gulf States
- Innovative nuclear technologies to meet GCC growing power demands
- Nuclear Fuel cycles and disposing methodologies for the GCC countries
Theme 11: Smart Grids
- Grid Code, Policy & regulation for smart grids
- Experiences in implementing Smart Grids in GCC and Arab region
- Growing complexities in Modern Grids leading to the drivers and opportunities for smart grids
- Design and development of smart grids to address capabilities required for managing future grids.
- Innovative Technologies to enable smart grid implementation
- Standards for communication and data management
Theme 12: Asset Management for Power Systems
- Asset management challenges/strategies (replacement, refurbishment and maintenance)
- Substation lifecycle cost optimization.
- Experiences and development of condition monitoring systems and techniques for decision support.
- Use of on-line monitoring and diagnostics for risk mitigation - costs and benefits of their implementation.
- Designs for least environmental impact.
- Risk analysis techniques for evaluating costs associated with increasing maintenance, failure rates and repairs, due to deferred capital expenditures.
- Considerations for a low carbon energy future.
- Future integration of large scale renewable and implications on asset management practices
- Enhanced information needed
- Dealing with flatter load profiles, active distribution networks, uncertain generation, integration of new technology