From August 23 to 28, the 51st CIGRE Paris Session (CIGRE Paris Session 2026) was held in Paris, France. With large power grid technologies in the context of energy transition as its core theme, the Session attracted more than 5,400 delegates from the global energy and power sector. Attending the Session from the Department of Electrical Engineering (DEE), Tsinghua University were Professors Kang Chongqing, Liang Xidong, He Jinliang, Wang Xiongfei and Zhang Bo, Associate Professors Zhang Ning, Zhong Haiwang and Wu Chao, Assistant Researcher Zuo Zhou, as well as a number of postdoctoral researchers and doctoral students.
Several faculty members chaired or participated in the core affairs of CIGRE Study Committees (SCs) and Working Groups (WGs), conducting extensive academic exchanges.
Kang Chongqing and Zhang Ning served as Conveners of Working Group C1.52 of Study Committee C1, entitled "Virtual Power Plants: Role and deployment in large power systems’ operation and planning", and Zhong Haiwang served as Convener of Working Group C1.54 of Study Committee C1, entitled "Assessment of system reserves and flexibility needs in the power systems of the future". Working group meetings were held accordingly, and the three faculty members jointly attended the closed meeting of Study Committee C1.
Since taking the lead in establishing CIGRE Working Group B5-55 on traveling wave protection in 2015 and serving as its Co-Convener, Dong Xinzhou attended the B5-55 working group meeting at this Session together with Dr. Lin Jiahao and doctoral student Li Xinyuan. The meeting focused on the final report of the working group, which largely adopted the research achievements of Tsinghua University in the field of traveling wave protection.
Liang Xidong attended the kick-off meeting of CIGRE Working Group D1.84 on tracking-resistant insulation materials for DC insulation. As Convener of IEC TC 36 WG11, he also held a working group meeting on IEC 60815-4, which addresses the selection and dimensioning of DC outdoor insulation. Through these efforts, China’s decades of engineering experience and research achievements in the field of polluted outdoor insulation have been systematically integrated into the international standards system. Wu Chao attended the closed meeting of Study Committee D1 and delivered a presentation at the SC D1 Group Discussion Meeting, discussing the latest research progress on "AI-assisted molecular structure design of dielectric materials" and the prospects for its application and promotion.
He Jinliang served as Convener of JWG C4/A3.79, entitled "Temporary overvoltage protection technologies for high-voltage transmission systems with large-scale renewable energy bases", and was elected the keynote speaker of Study Committee C4 this year — the first time a Chinese expert has received this honor. He also chaired the Group Discussion Meeting of SC C4. In addition, he delivered an invited presentation at the Ningbo Orient Wires & Cables technical seminar, which drew wide attention from international peers. Zhang Bo served as Convener of Working Group B2.89 of Study Committee B2, entitled "Impact of rain upon the characteristics of corona discharge from HVAC and DC overhead transmission lines", held a working group meeting, and delivered a presentation at the SC B2 Group Discussion Meeting.
Wang Xiongfei was invited to attend the Joint Workshop of SC B4 & C4, "Grid-Forming Technologies and Control in Modern Power Systems", and delivered an invited presentation. Among the 11 invited experts worldwide, Professor Wang Xiongfei was the only representative from academia; the other speakers came from grid companies and equipment manufacturers in China, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Republic of Korea and other countries.
During the Session, DEE faculty and students engaged in in-depth exchanges with scholars and engineering experts from around the world on the frontier challenges and opportunities of large power grid technologies in the context of energy transition. This not only showcased the solid strengths of DEE in the field of large power grid technologies, but also further expanded its cooperation network with international peers, contributing Tsinghua wisdom to the global energy transition.
