26th International CIRED 2021 Conference on Electricity Distribution Goes Virtual

The 26th International Conference on Electricity Distribution (CIRED) originally planned as an in-person event in Geneva is now a fully virtual event due to the continuing uncertainties with the Covid-19 pandemic.This decision gives the opportunity to delegates from around the world to participate in this prestigious Conference in a very safe way. Organized this year by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), this virtual event will offer the global electricity distribution community the opportunity to join together online to benefit from the interaction with key decision leaders in the field of electricity distribution.

The program for this CIRED Conference will deliver the high-quality content and experience that delegates have come to expect while still offering networking opportunities albeit via a digital platform for half the registration fee of an in-person CIRED event. Therefore, CIRED 2021 will offer all delegates the opportunity to:

Participate in the six conference sessions each focusing on a critical aspect of electricity distribution.
Engage with the latest cutting-edge research from practitioners and academics.
Meet industry leaders tackling the ever changing challenges in the market.
Learn from world-renowned keynote speakers and industry experts.

As networking and engaging with fellow professionals in the industry is regarded as one of the most important benefits gained from attending CIRED, there will be many opportunities to network and interact with each other via discussion boards, live chat, activity challenges and networking events.

CIRED 2021 Daily Schedule

Monday, Sept. 20:

CIRED 2021 will be officially launched by a series of premier keynote speakers presented in the now renowned CIRED Opening Forum commencing 15.00 hours.

The series of four Tutorials commences at 09.15 hours and finishes at 13.45 hours, prior to the start of the Opening Forum.

Please note, places for Tutorials are strictly limited and should be booked in advance for an additional fee of €99 via the online Registration Form.

Tuesday, Sept. 21 - Thursday, Sept. 24:

The Main Sessions, Round Tables and Research and Innovation Forums and Poster Sessions all linked to the more than 700 Papers received from authors around the world that have been selected for this Conference by the CIRED Technical Committee.

CIRED 2021 Technical Program

The three-day Technical Program will be presented in the successful format with presentations and discussion meetings well-managed by experienced Chairmen and Rapporteurs. The Conference starts on Monday, Sept. 20, with the first of four Tutorial Sessions followed by the Opening Forum.

The four Tutorials that must be booked in advance will address these key topics:

Tutorial 1: New developments in grounding design including risk analysis.
Tutorial 2: Measurement and evaluation of 2 kHz to 150 kHz disturbances (supraharmonics) in distribution networks.
Tutorial 3: The connection of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) into unbalanced three-phase MV and LV networks: challenges and solutions.
Tutorial 4: Network pricing for smarter electricity distribution networks.

The main sessions of the technical program have been arranged in six Sessions that commence on Tuesday, Sept. 21, and continue daily until Sept. 23. These sessions will address the following themes:

Session 1: Network components.
Session 2: Power quality and electromagnetic compatibility.
Session 3: Operation, control and protection.
Session 4: Distributed energy resources and efficient utilization of electricity.
Session 5: Planning of power distribution systems.
Session 6: DSO customers, regulation and business models.

In support of and linked to each of the main six Technical Sessions there is a daily program of Round Table Discussions (18) and Research and Innovation Forums (RIFs).

Poster Sessions

The Poster Sessions will be held daily from Sept. 21-23 that will provide delegates with excellent, well-structured interactive guided tours offering the opportunity for in-depth discussions with every author.

Technical Program Timetable

A summary of all the events included in the Technical Program are included in the following three-day tmetable.

Technical Engagement Opportunities

For 2021, CIRED will offer virtual sponsorship and exhibition packages for companies to showcase their brands. The virtual platform will allow companies to collect data, network with delegates, promote products and services, and expose brands to hundreds of key decision makers. New for this year, companies will also be given a presentation slot to showcase brands to attendees.

CIRED Conferences are a biennial event that provide professional staff in distribution utilities to join forces with their industry colleagues from around the globe in order to expand and share their technical knowledge and experience. By moving to a virtual event CIRED will again offer a high-quality experience that anyone in the world can now safely attend and enjoy.

For full registration details and all the Conference information, please visit the website www.cired2021.org/programme-overview/.

CIRED is an international non-profit association working for the purpose of increasing the business relevant competencies, skills and knowledge of those who are part of the electricity distribution community whether they are from the utility, product, consultancy, services, business or academic sectors.

The first CIRED Conference was held in Liège in May 1971 organized by the Association des Ingénieurs sortis de l’Institut d’ Electricité Montefiore (AIM). Similarly, there were Conferences held in the UK organized by the Electrical Research Association (ERA) in 1967 and the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) and the ERA in 1970 demonstrating the need for an International Conference on Electricity Distribution. To avoid a major overlap, it was decided to hold a Conference every two years under the name of CIRED arranged alternatively by the AIM in Belgium and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) formerly the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) in the United Kingdom.