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