From May 26 to 28, the inaugural International Forum on Large Electric System 2026 (IFLES2026) was held at Yanqi Lake in Huairou, Beijing. Under the theme “Large Power Grid with Digital Intelligence and Power Electronics,” top experts, scholars, and industry representatives from important academic and standard organizations, power enterprises, research institutions, and universities at home and abroad gathered together to exchange views and discuss cutting-edge technologies and practical pathways for the green, low-carbon development and safe, efficient operation of large power grids under the new circumstances of large-scale new energy development, rapid iteration of artificial intelligence technology, and widespread application of power electronics technology, jointly mapping out a new blueprint for global energy transition and sustainable development.
Philippe Adam, Secretary General of the International Council on Large Electric Systems (CIGRE), delivered a video address, highly commending the outstanding achievements and important contributions of the Chinese National Committee since its establishment in 1957 within CIGRE, and praising the leading position of China’s power industry in global energy transition and low-carbon power technology innovation.
Philippe Adam delivering a video speech
Liang Changxin, Director-General of Regulation at the National Energy Administration, summarized in his address China’s remarkable achievements in power supply security, grid construction, technological innovation, market reform, and international cooperation, and proposed building a green, low-carbon supply structure, developing a new-type power grid, promoting demand-side coordination, and strengthening system regulation capabilities.
Liang Changxin delivering a speech
Wang Shaowu, Deputy General Manager of China Southern Power Grid Company, shared in his address the practical achievements of Southern Power Grid in renewable energy, ultra-high voltage (UHV), and digital transformation, and proposed deepening international cooperation through joint standard development, data sharing, talent cultivation, and collaborative technology research, contributing Chinese strength to the building of a global modernized power system.
Wang Shaowu delivering a speech
The opening ceremony was moderated by Chen Mei, Vice Chairwoman of the CIGRE Chinese National Committee and Vice President of the Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering (CSEE).
Chen Mei moderating the opening ceremony
Seven world-leading industry experts delivered keynote presentations at the forum, presenting significant insights on the technological frontiers and development pathways of large power grids.
Tang Guangfu, Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Director of Huairou Laboratory, and Advisor to the State Grid Corporation of China, delivered a presentation titled “Construction of New-Type Power System and Development of Large Power Grid,” providing an in-depth analysis of the challenges and opportunities facing large power grids under the “dual-high” characteristics of the new-type power system, and proposing technical pathways for building a new-type power system through ultra-high voltage (UHV)/high-voltage flexible AC transmission, flexible DC transmission, grid-forming converters, and virtual synchronous machines, while also introducing DC back-to-back interconnection of regional power grids and flexible upgrading at the entire network level.
Tang Guangfu delivering a presentation
Konstantin Papailiou, CIGRE President, in his presentation “CIGRE in Action: Advancing a Fully Electrified Future,” systematically reviewed the key technological evolution of overhead transmission lines over the past nearly 50 years, predicting that in the next 50 years, power transmission will shift toward more underground cables, submarine cables, and large-scale high-voltage direct current (HVDC) interconnections.
He pointed out that under the global zero-carbon scenario by 2050, electricity demand will reach 25,000–40,000 GW, requiring large-scale new construction and renovation of UHV/high-voltage transmission lines, including a substantial number of HVDC channels to support high-proportion new energy grid integration and cross-regional resource optimization.
Konstantin Papailiou delivering a presentation
Zhang Wenfeng, Director and General Manager of the State Grid Corporation of China, delivered a presentation titled “Accelerating Digital and Intelligent Empowerment to Enhance Safe Operation of Large Power Grids,” introducing the innovative practices of State Grid in empowering the safe and efficient operation of large power grids through digital and intelligent technologies and supporting large-scale new energy accommodation.
He noted that to meet the construction needs of the new-type power system, a new-type power grid will be built with a robust grid framework as the foundation and digital and intelligent technologies as the support, featuring safety, reliability, greenness, low-carbon, strong resilience, and intelligent flexibility, advancing coordination of main, distribution, and micro grids, unified computing power and data infrastructure, and full-scenario “AI+” applications, to solve the coordination dilemma among safety, greenness, and economy, and facilitate energy transition and the achievement of dual-carbon goals.
Zhang Wenfeng delivering a presentation
Jo Cops, Chairman of the 37th International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), in his presentation “Smart Digital Power Grid: IEC Standards Empowering the Next-Generation Power System,” pointed out that global power systems are undergoing systemic transformation, and IEC standards provide four foundational supports for smart digital power grids—interoperability, unified data communication, scalability, and safety and reliability—with unified frameworks, IEC 61850, and power grid cybersecurity as the technical core. CIGRE and IEC have formed a complementary synergy from technical experience to standard systems. China’s deployment and large-scale practices in smart grids and digital grids hold significant academic and application value, and deep participation in international standard formulation helps transform cutting-edge research and engineering experience into globally applicable technical frameworks.
Jo Cops delivering a presentation
Bilel Jamoussi, Deputy Director of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau and Chief of the Study Groups & Policy Department (SPD), delivered a presentation titled “Standards Supporting Sustainable Digital Transformation.” From the perspective of ITU international standards, he elaborated on how the standards system serves as a core enabler for smart digital power grids and sustainable digital transformation.
He noted that energy security, sustainable development, and digital transformation are deeply synergistic, with power systems and digital technology being interdependent. AI is both a driver for electricity demand and a core means for improving energy efficiency, optimizing power grids, and forecasting new energy. Cross-domain collaboration in formulating globally applicable standards is the core pathway for building the next-generation power system that is intelligent, resilient, safe, and sustainable.
Bilel Jamoussi delivering a presentation
Anjan Bose, Member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Regents Professor at Washington State University, in his presentation “Resource Adequacy with High Penetration of Renewable Energy,” introduced the U.S. power grid architecture, regulatory system, and the distribution of wind and solar resources in China and the United States, pointing out that under high-penetration renewable energy scenarios, power systems face core challenges including capacity and energy imbalance, failure of traditional loss of load expectation (LOLE) indicators, disconnection between generation and grid planning, and declining applicability of the N-1 criterion. He emphasized the need for refined methods such as time-series analysis, full-scenario assessment, and stress testing, and proposed recommendations including improving multi-indicator evaluation systems, coordinating generation and grid planning, strengthening time-series and Monte Carlo simulations, optimizing load forecasting, and enhancing the granularity of long-term assessments, to ensure the reliability, resilience, and security of sustainable power grids.
Anjan Bose delivering a presentation
Lan Xiongjing, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Huairou District Committee, Deputy District Mayor of Huairou District People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, and Vice Chairman of the Administrative Committee of Beijing Huairou Science City, in his presentation “Outlook on the International Energy Ecology Harbor of BEIJING HUAIROU National Comprehensive Science Center,” introduced the development foundation, positioning, layout, and relevant supporting policies of BEIJING HUAIROU National Comprehensive Science Center.
The “International Energy Ecology Harbor” covers a planned area of 2 square kilometers, located in the core area of BEIJING HUAIROU National Comprehensive Science Center, targeting global energy innovation highland, industrial demonstration highland, and cooperation and exchange highland, and building a “One Core, Three Zones, and Multiple Nodes” robust layout. The launch of the International Energy Eco-Port marks that Huairou is accelerating its development into a world-class demonstration area for integrated development with a focus on strategic science and technology, serving national energy strategies and promoting global green transformation, and will contribute Huairou’s strength to the “dual-carbon” goals in the future.
Lan Xiongjing delivering a presentation
The keynote session was chaired by Guo Jianbo, Chairman of the CIGRE Chinese National Committee, Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Vice President of the Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering (CSEE), and First-Level Advisor to the State Grid Corporation of China.
Guo Jianbo moderating the keynote session
During the event, a CEO Forum was also held. Yu Jun, Chairman and Party Secretary of China Electric Power Equipment and Technology Co., Ltd.; Joanne Hu, Chairwoman of CIGRE Study Committee B4 and Co-founder of RBJ Engineering; Xu Shukai, Party Secretary of Guangzhou Power Supply Bureau of Guangdong Power Grid Company and Special Technical Expert of China Southern Power Grid; Nicola Gariboldi, Chairman of CIGRE Study Committee A3, Technical Application Expert at Qualitrol, and European Field Service Director; and Liu Zhichao, President of Beijing SIFANG Automation Co., Ltd. and Director of SIFANG Electric (Group) Co., Ltd.—five leaders from domestic and international power enterprises and industry organizations—conducted on-site exchanges and dialogues on topics such as grid development, technology application, and industrial cooperation. The CEO Forum was chaired by Rao Hong, Vice Chairman of the Technical Committee of the CIGRE Chinese National Committee, Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Chief Scientist of China Southern Power Grid Company, and Director of the State Key Laboratory of HVDC Technology.
CEO Forum
Rao Hong moderating the CEO Forum
The event featured six seminars, focusing on key areas such as 2026 CIGRE-IEC UHV/extra-high-voltage joint technology, DC transmission and power electronics technology facilitating energy transition and new-type power system construction, cutting-edge exploration and practical innovation of flexible intelligent distribution systems, protection, control, and automation of modern power systems, power system operation and control, and frontiers and challenges of power information, communication, and cybersecurity technology, conducting in-depth discussions and sharing experience, achievements, and practical cases.
Meanwhile, the CIGRE Youth Forum themed “Intelligence of Power Grids and Their Equipment” was convened, and an academic salon of the Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering (CSEE) Youth Science and Technology Talent Cultivation Program was held.
During the event, the IEC DC Short-Circuit Current Working Group Meeting, the CIGRE System Inertia Assessment Working Group Meeting, the CIGRE Chinese National Committee A2, A3, and C2 Study Committee Working Meetings, and the CIGRE C1.60, D2.53, D2.59, and D2.67 Working Group Meetings were held concurrently. Technical tours arranged during the conference visited the Clean Energy Materials Testing, Diagnosis and R&D Platform of Huairou Science City and the Jiangzhuanghu Smart Ultra-Fast Charging Port, organizing delegates to gain in-depth understanding of China’s leading achievements in cutting-edge energy technology R&D and new-type infrastructure construction.
The International Forum on Large Electric System was initiated by the CIGRE Chinese National Committee, held for the first time this year, co-hosted by the Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering (CSEE), Huairou Laboratory, and China Southern Power Grid Co., Ltd., with technical guidance from the International Council on Large Electric Systems (CIGRE).
The successful convening of the forum has established a new high-level, open international exchange and cooperation platform in the global large power grid field, injecting strong momentum into promoting large power grid technological innovation, industrial upgrading, and international coordination. In the future, the forum will continue to play its role as a bridge and bond, deepen exchanges and cooperation in the global energy and power industry, facilitate the building of a safe, clean, and efficient modernized energy system, and contribute more wisdom and strength to global energy transition and sustainable development.
Also attending the main forum were Liu Jizhen, Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of the State Key Laboratory of New Energy Power System; Zheng Yuping, Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of the State Key Laboratory of Power Grid Operation Risk Defense Technology and Equipment; Ioannis Kampouris, Vice Chairman of the CIGRE Greek National Committee; Zhang Qiang, Secretary of the CPC Huairou District Committee and Secretary of the HSC Work Committee Directly under CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, among other leaders and guests, as well as more than 300 experts, scholars, and representatives from domestic and international universities, research institutes, and enterprises.