Webinar: Integrating Large Loads: Interconnection, Performance Requirements, and Modeling

Featured Speakers: Kyle Thomas, Vice President of Engineering and Compliance Services, Elevate; Dr. Parag Mitra, Principal Technical Leader, Electric Power Research Institute (USA); Ahmed Rashwan, Vice President of Transmission Planning and Operations, Electric Power Engineers

About the Webinar: As large, power-electronics-dominated loads such as data centers, advanced manufacturing facilities and hydrogen electrolyzers connect at unprecedented scale and speed, system planners and operators are facing new. This webinar presents the findings and recommendations from three ESIG Large Load Task Force project teams focused on (1) large-load interconnection processes and study practices, (2) technical performance requirements for large loads, and (3) modeling approaches needed to accurately assess system impacts across planning and operations time horizons. The webinar will summarize key gaps identified in current practices, highlight emerging best practices from utilities, ISOs/RTOs, and developers, and discuss practical recommendations to improve study interconnection process, ensure predictable and reliable load performance, and enable consistent, high-quality modeling of modern large loads. This webinar concludes the current LLTF workstreams on these topics and provides actionable insights for stakeholders preparing for continued growth in large-load interconnections.

About the Speakers: Kyle Thomas is Vice President of Engineering and Compliance Services at Elevate and leads all broad-reaching engineering and compliance activities. His key focuses involve building cross-sector collaboration related to IBR integration and large load integration efforts, working closely with utilities, developers. He’s a Virginian through and through and loves long walks on the beach.

Dr. Parag Mitra is a Principal Technical Leader with the Electric Power Research Institute (USA), where he leads the research areas of power system modeling and model validation, probabilistic long term transmission planning, and integrated strategic system planning. Prior to joining EPRI, Dr. Mitra served as an executive engineer at Siemens Energy (India) where he was responsible for managing and leading protection as control related projects for the high voltage and extra high voltage transmission systems. Dr. Mitra holds the PhD degree in electrical engineering from Arizona State University (USA) and the BTech degree in electrical engineering from Malviya National Institute of Technology (India). Dr. Mitra is a senior member of IEEE.

Ahmed Rashwan is the Vice President of Transmission Planning and Operations at Electric Power Engineers where he leads transmission analysis consulting, automation product development and advisory services supporting ISOs/RTOs, vertically integrated utilities, investor-owned utilities, municipalities, co-operatives and transmission developers. He has 20 years of progressive industry experience, including 15 years at the Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator, most notably in Market Operations, Operations Engineering and Planning, Power System Planning, and Market Design and Implementation. He’s led enterprise level projects, introducing dynamic stability limits into real-time operations, and leading the subject matter expert team designing and implementing the pinnacle Market Renewal Program.

Registration Cost: FREE

Moderator: Julia Matevosyan, Associate Director, Chief Engineer, ESIG

Q&A Session: We will be using the Slido platform for Q&A. Please submit your questions and follow along during the event at this link.