Paris will once again host CIGRÉ's General Session, the 43^rd to be held since its foundation in France in 1921. This International Conference on Large Electric Systems now attracts the world's largest number of international delegates with almost 4400 travelling from more than 80 countries.

The conference's five-day Technical Programme is supported by an exhibition that continues to attract an ever-increasing number of the electricity industry's manufacturers, consultants and service providers from around the world. All the events will be held in the Palais des Congrès de Paris, which is centrally situated in close proximity to the Arc de Triomphe and many of the famous landmarks in the beautiful city of Paris.

These General Sessions, which are held every two years, have a reputation for providing a forum whereby the delegates, companions and exhibitors have a unique opportunity to share knowledge and experience.

In 2010, the electricity industry faces a major challenge in order to satisfy the increasing demand for electrical energy. With global fossil fuel reserves rapidly diminishing, utilities are already facing challenging problems in order to secure and maintain economic and reliable sources of supply. Many forms of sustainable renewable energy systems are being developed in order to comply with the legislation introduced to control global warming.

The content of this year's Technical Programme therefore addresses all of the challenges presented, from the need to interconnect large renewable energy projects to transmission systems to the large-scale transmission system interconnectors that employ the latest HVAC and HVDC technologies.

The programme benefits from CIGRÉ's organisational structure by presenting the latest developments linked to the key components of the transmission system, namely rotating machines, substations, transformers, overhead lines and cables moving forward to consider system design, operation, control, management and performance. The benefits available from the advanced information and telecommunication systems technologies now in wide-scale use in the industry are also included in the programme as they play an increasing role in the industry and, in particular, in the development of smart grids now being considered by transmission and distribution utilities.

CIGRÉ continues to offer every delegate the opportunity to benefit from the knowledge and experience available from the industry's experts on all aspects of research, manufacturing and utility management. The technical conference is well structured, addressing all the major issues, and all sessions include opportunities for every delegate to contribute and benefit from the assembled industry experts.

The CIGRÉ Organising Committee has arranged for a team of support staff to be available to service all delegate enquiries for the period Aug. 22-27.

Opening Ceremony and Keynote Address

The opening ceremony will be on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 22 and will include a keynote address on “Initiatives by the Power Industry Towards Low Carbon Emission Society and the Perspective in Japan.” This ceremony will be followed by the first networking opportunity. Light refreshments will be available for delegates and their guests.

Technical Meetings Programme

The Technical Programme starts on Monday, Aug. 23 and will continue daily until Friday, Aug. 27. The first day will be devoted to a meeting for CIGRÉ members held between the two major sessions that usually attract a large majority of the CIGRÉ delegates.

The Monday morning panel on “The Need for Technology & Intelligence in the Future Power System” will be presented in four lectures:

• Future Energy Networks — A Vision

• Towards a Smarter Grid: ABB's Technology Perspective

• CIGRÉ's Role — Shaping the Future

• Industry Smart Grid Interoperability — From Roadmap to Action.

The Monday afternoon workshop on “Large System Disturbances” will discuss the latest large disturbances and report on the follow-up corrective action on previous disturbances. Included in the topics for possible discussion are large recent disturbances in Brazil, Australia, Portugal and France/Spain.

The conference Technical Meetings comprise a four-track programme that starts on Tuesday, Aug. 24 and offers delegates the opportunity to select the subject of their choice from the 16 discussion group meetings. These meetings discuss the papers submitted for each of the specialist subjects that CIGRE's Study Committees select for presentation. From more than 570 papers received from authors around the world, the CIGRÉ Technical Committee has selected 430 papers for discussion. The Technical Meetings are well structured to include short presentations from invited authors who address the key issues and queries identified by the Study Committee's special reporter in advance of the meeting. By adopting this form of session management, the chairman has time to offer all the delegates the opportunity to contribute and benefit from the knowledge and experience exchanged in the discussion period.

Poster Sessions

This year, the Organising Committee has arranged six Poster Sessions that will be open to delegates from Tuesday, Aug. 24 to Thursday, Aug. 26 to discuss more in depth with the authors.

Technical Exhibition

The CIGRÉ 2010 Technical Exhibition at the Palais des Congrès will be the largest ever staged at a CIGRÉ General Session with companies from more than 20 countries being represented. As in the past, this will be held in close proximity with easy access to all the conference facilities. The exhibition will remain open to all delegates during conference hours from Aug. 23-27.

The exhibition hall will include displays and demonstrations by many of the world's leading manufacturers who develop, design and market the latest innovative equipment and technologies designed to meet the current demands of the power generation and transmission utilities. This feature of the General Session gives the delegates the knowledge and a range of solutions for applications on the world's extra high-voltage and high-voltage power delivery systems.

The exhibition is now recognised as an established showcase that strengthens the links between the research associates, manufacturers, end users and decision makers, as the membership of CIGRÉ includes every sector of the industry and is represented at the conference. With the demise of utility in-house research and development facilities, the exhibition is particularly valuable marketing opportunity for the specialist companies and research institutions that offer the electricity business much-needed contract services, research and testing facilities. Hence, every delegate seeking a smart solution will benefit from time spent with the exhibitors attending CIGRÉ 2010.

Companion and Social Events

The CIGRÉ Organising Committee has arranged an extensive programme of half-day and full-day 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 in Paris via the visits planned to the many museums and historic buildings. Also, they can experience the delights of beautiful French countryside with visits to the Loire Valley, Champagne and Rheims.

The 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 CIGRÉ with the assistance of the French National Committee will be held at Les Pavillons de Bercy on Thursday evening, Aug. 26.

CIGRÉ's Perspective for the Future

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

Currently on an international basis, the industry is faced with ever-increasing investment programmes to supplement existing energy supplies and cater to the continual growth in demand. Although CIGRÉ's international forum now has an almost a 90-year reputation for developing technologies and establishing the industry's standards, the Technical Committee is now establishing the strategic directions for the next decade. As a result of considering the factors that will shape the future of the electricity industry, four major strategic directions have been identified:

1. The electrical power system of the future

2. Making the best use of the existing system

3. Focus on the environment and sustainability, and

4. Interactive communication with the public and political decision-makers.

CIGRE's well-structured organisation has an increasing membership in more than 80 countries that continues to attract the world experts who look forward to sharing their diverse range of technical expertise with all their fellow professionals attending CIGRÉ 2010.

So please accept the CIGRÉ Organising Committee's invitation to attend and participate in one of the world's largest international conferences in Paris from the Aug. 22-27, 2010.

Sessions at a Glance

Date	Special Subject (Number of technical papers submitted to the Study Committee for each session)
Tuesday, Aug. 24*	A3 - High-Voltage Equipment	(26 papers)
	B4 - HVDC and Power Electronics	(26 papers)
	C4 - System Technical Performance	(27 papers)
	C6 - Distribution Systems and Dispersed Generation	(29 papers)
Wednesday, Aug. 25	A2 - Transformers	(29 papers)
	B2 - Overhead Lines	(27 papers)
	C5 - Electricity Markets and Regulation	(22 papers)
	D2 - Information Systems and Telecommunications	(28 papers)
Thursday, Aug. 26	A1 - Rotating Electrical Machines	(22 papers)
	B1 - Insulated Cables	(28 papers)
	B5 - Protection and Automation	(42 papers)
	C1 - System Development and Economics	(26 papers)
Friday, Aug. 27	B3 - Substations	(26 papers)
	C2 - System Operation and Control	(26 papers)
	C3 - System Environmental Performance	(21 papers)
	D1 - Materials and Emerging Test Technologies	(25 papers)
* On Tuesday, Aug. 24 there also will be a meeting of the EPEE Panel, which is responsible for addressing the issues on Electric Power Engineering Education.

Exhibitors

3M

ABB Ltd.

ALROC S.A.S.

AMA-SYSTEMS GmbH

American Superconductor

AREVA T&D

ARKEMA France

BAUR Prüf- und Messtechnik GmbH

BCP Busarello + Cott + Partner AG

BPL Global

Brugg Kabel AG

CableCURE

CESI S.p.A.

CIRED

Coil Innovation GmbH

Cooper Power Systems

CYME International T&D Inc. (Cooper Power Systems)

DALEKOVOD

DIgSILENT GmbH

DILO Armaturen und Anlagen GmbH

Doble Engineering Co.

Dow Wire & Cable

Dynamic Ratings

Efacec

Electricité de France CIST

Electrotecnica Arteche Hermanos, S.A.

Ellis Patents

Energy Support GmbH

FISO Technologies Inc.

Fugro Geoid S.A.S.

GE Energy

Global Insulator Group Ltd.

Haefely Test AG

Hapam bv

High Voltage Inc.

HSP Hochpannungsgeräte GmbH

IEEE Power & Energy Society

Ingeteam Transmission & Distribution, S.A.

Iris Power LP

ISA Europa Sarl

Japan AE Power Systems Corp.

JST transformateurs

KALKI Communication Technologies Ltd.

KEMA

KoCoS Messtechnik AG

KONCAR

Lamifil

Lapp Insulators GmbH

LIOS Technology GmbH

Lumpi-Berndorf Draht-und Seilwerk GmbH

Manitoba HVDC Research Centre

Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH

Maxwell Technologies, S.A.

Megger

Metal Deploye Resistor

Micca Informationstechnologie GmbH

Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V.

Morgan Schaffer Inc.

Mosdorfer GmbH

MTE Meter Test Equipment AG

Nanjing Nari-Relays Electric Co. Ltd.

Narec

National Electric Coil

Neoptix Fiber Optic Sensors Inc.

Nexans France

nkt cables GmbH

OMICRON electronics GmbH

Opal-RT Technologies Inc.

Opsens

OPTEN

P.M.V. Systems B.V./Decision Support Associates

Parsons Brinckerhoff

PFISTERER SAS

Phenix Technologies Inc.

Power Diagnostix Systems GmbH

Power Line Systems Inc.

Protecta

Prysmian Cables & Systems

Psymetrix Ltd.

Qualitrol Corp.

Quintas & Quintas, Condutores Eléctricos, S.A.

Research, Development and Testing National Institute for Electrical Engineering - ICMET Craiova

RTDS Technologies Inc.

Réseau de Transport d'Electricité - RTE

RuggedCom Inc.

Schniewindt GmbH & Co. KG

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

SDCEM

SebaKMT

SecuControl Produktions GmbH

Sediver S.A.

SELTA SPA

SERGI France

SGB - SMIT Group

Siemens AG

Silec Cable

Solvay Fluor GmbH

Statnett SF

STRI AB

Taurus Powertronics Systems

Toshiba

Transmission & Distribution World

Trench France S.A.S.

Tyco Electronics

UCA International Users Group

Von Roll Transformers Ltd

Wacker Chemie AG

WIKA Alexander Wiegand SE & Co. KG

Zensol Automation Inc.

ZIV Aplicaciones y Tecnología

For full conference details and to register for CIGRÉ 2010, visit www.cigre.org.