CIGRÉ's 42^nd General Session is an International Conference on Large High-Voltage Electric Systems that provides a unique permanent forum for delegates and exhibitors from around the world.

This year the beautiful city of Paris, France, will once again host one of the world's largest conferences, together with an exhibition for transmission and distribution industry professionals. The attendance, including conference delegates and exhibition visitors, is expected to exceed 4000 from around the globe, as the increasing popularity of this event has resulted in the Technical Programme being supported by the largest-ever exhibition.

The electricity industry currently faces some of its largest challenges as the demand for economic, reliable and secure electrical energy continues to increase at a time when environmentalists link energy production and consumption to global warming. Hence, the range of innovative renewable energy sources and the impact of distributed generation on power systems are among the new technologies that this year's conference will address.

As the large extra-high-voltage (EHV) transmission interconnections continue to increase in order to optimise system capacity and facilitate international-based energy marketing, a new range of ac and dc technologies are now available to maintain system stability and security.

CIGRÉ offers a unique learning opportunity as every delegate will benefit from the knowledge and experience available from the industry's experts on all aspects of research, manufacturing and utility management. The conference, which extends over a five-day period, is well structured in addressing all the major issues, and all sessions include time slots for every delegate to contribute and benefit from the assembled industry experts.

The CIGRÉ 2008 General Session will be staged in the Palais des Congrés situated in northwest Paris on the edge of the Boulogne Woods and in close proximity to the Arc de Triomphe. This conference facility is ideally designed to accommodate the four-track programme of Technical Meetings in comfortable and well-equipped auditoriums that are all positioned very close to the large area assigned for the exhibition.

OPENING CEREMONY AND KEYNOTE ADDRESS

The official opening ceremony will be on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 24, and will include a keynote address on “Climate Change and Energy,” by European Energy Commissioner Andris Pielbags. This will be followed by the first networking opportunity for delegates and guests.

TECHNICAL PROGRAMME

The Technical Programme starts on Monday, Aug. 25 and continues daily until Friday, Aug. 29. The first day will be devoted to a meeting for CIGRÉ members held between the two keynote sessions that, not surprisingly, normally attract a large majority of the CIGRÉ attendees. This year these sessions will address: “Effect of Sustainability Criteria and of Carbon Reduction Targets on the Operation and Development of Power Electric Systems: Constraints and Challenges” and “Large System Disturbances.”

The four-track programme of Technical Meetings starts on Tuesday, Aug. 26, giving all delegates the opportunity to select a topic of their choice from the 16 discussion group meetings. These meetings discuss the papers submitted for each of the specialist subjects considered by CIGRÉ's Study Committees. Of the some 600 papers received by the CIGRÉ Technical Committee from authors around the world, 424 papers have been selected for discussion. In advance of the Technical Meetings, the Study Committee's special reporter identifies several common key issues that the authors are invited to address at each Technical Meeting. This standard form of session management gives all the delegates the opportunity to contribute and benefit from the knowledge and experience exchanged in the discussion period. Following these meetings, the special reporter prepares a summary of the short presentations and discussion that are made available to the delegates on the following day.

This year the Organising Committee has arranged five Poster Sessions that will be open to delegates from Tuesday, Aug. 24 to Thursday morning, Aug. 28.

COMPANION AND SOCIAL EVENTS

The CIGRÉ Organising Committee has arranged an extensive programme of activities to suit all tastes for those persons accompanying conference delegates. This year they will be able to discover the history, timeless treasures and arts via visits planned to the many museums and historic buildings. They can experience the delights of French cuisine, wine tasting and also visit the French countryside that surrounds Paris.

Many evening functions will give delegates and their companions the opportunity to relax and enjoy leisure time with fellow professionals in a convivial atmosphere. The buffet dinner organised by the French National Committee and the CIGRÉ Organising Committee, to be held at Les Pavillons de Bercy on the evening of Thursday, Aug. 28, will give all guests a memorable experience.

TECHNICAL EXHIBITION

The Palais des Congrés will also stage the largest-ever CIGRÉ exhibition with more than 120 exhibitors from some 20 countries. This will be held in a 4500-sq-m (48,438-sq-ft) area that is in close proximity to all the conference facilities. The exhibition will remain open to all delegates during conference hours from Aug. 25-28.

The exhibition hall again will include displays and demonstrations by many of the world's leading manufacturers who select this event to promote new developments and innovative technology designed to meet the current demands of the power generation and transmission utilities. It provides attendees with a source of knowledge and solutions as every exhibitor will offer equipment, software and/or services directly linked to applications on EHV and HV power-delivery systems.

The exhibition is now an established showcase that strengthens the links between the research associates, manufacturers, end users and decision makers as every sector of the industry is represented at the conference. With the demise of utility in-house research and development facilities, the exhibition will include a growing number of specialist companies and research institutions offering the electricity business much-needed contract services, research and testing facilities. Hence, all delegates will be sure to benefit from time spent within the exhibition.

CIGRÉ'S PERSPECTIVE FOR THE FUTURE

Since CIGRÉ was founded in France in 1921, the objectives of this international electricity organisation have remained unchanged, but with the passage of time changes have been made to respond to the growth and technical developments within electric utilities.

Currently on an international basis, the industry is faced with ever-increasing investment programmes to supplement existing energy supplies and cater for the continual growth in demand. Therefore, the role of CIGRÉ's international forum with more than an 80-year reputation for developing technologies and establishing the industry's standards continues to expand to satisfy engineering goals with economic efficiency.

CIGRÉ's well-structured organisation that has an increasing membership in more than 80 countries continues to attract and bring together the world experts. They all look forward to sharing their diverse range of technical expertise with all the fellow professionals attending CIGRÉ 2008.

It is more than worthwhile to accept the CIGRÉ Organising Committee's invitation to attend and participate in one of the world's largest international conferences in Paris on EHV and HV electric systems. For full details and to register for CIGRÉ 2008, visit www.cigre.org.

Date	Special subject (Number of technical papers submitted to the Study Committee for each session)
Tuesday Aug. 26	A2 - Transformers (30) B2 - Overhead lines (27) C5 - Electricity markets and regulation (30) D2 - Information systems and telecommunication (29)
Wednesday Aug. 27	A1 - Rotating electrical machines (28) B1 - Insulated cables (22) B5 - Protection and automation (23) C1 - System development and economics (27)
Thursday Aug. 28	B3 - Substations (24) C2 - System operation and control (32) C3 - System environmental performance (23) D1 - Materials and emerging technologies (24)
Friday Aug. 29	A3 - High-voltage equipment (31) B4 - HVDC and power electronics (30) C4 - System technical performance (27) C6 - Distribution systems and dispersed generation (27)