On Monday, 16th June 2025, the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Imperial College hosted, organised by the IEEE PES UK&I Chapter, the first IEEE DLP talk by Dr Rambabu Adapa from EPRI. In his lecture, he presented the state-of-the-art in HVDC and FACTS, as well as new applications, challenges, and research opportunities on these topics. From household integration of AC-DC systems to Data Centre connection design, HVDC networks for offshore wind and new materials for power electronic converters, Dr Adapa provided a very insightful and thought-provoking analysis of the key challenges in the power delivery with a high penetration of renewable energy, as well as current and future research directions for the new generation and early career researchers and engineers.
About the speaker
Dr. Ram Adapa is a technical executive in EPRI’s power delivery and utilisation sector. His research activities focus on HVDC transmission, flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS), custom power and fault current limiters. He is a technical authority in these areas. Dr. Ram Adapa is an IEEE Fellow and has been honoured several times by IEEE for his outstanding contributions to the profession. He received the 2016 IEEE PES Nari Hingorani Custom Power Award and 2023 IEEE PES Uno Lamm High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Award.
On 14 Feb 2025, the IEEE Power and Energy Society (PES) Student Branch Chapter at Imperial College London together wih the UK and Ireland Power and Energy Society Chapter, UK and Ireland Power Electronics Society Chapter delivered an inspiring seminar: EmpowerHER – Navigating Leadership in Power and Energy. Hosted in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, the event welcomed students and academics eager to explore how technical excellence and inclusive leadership intersect in the rapidly evolving power-sector landscape.
The session blended two keynote-style career talks with an interactive Q&A. Both speakers charted their journeys from early academic passions to senior leadership, highlighting the pivotal technical challenges that shaped their outlook.
The panel was moderated by Fatemeh Rajaei Najafabadi, our IEEE PES SBC Secretary and second-year PhD student in the EEE Department.
Dr Julia Matevosyan is the Associate Director, in addition to her current title of Chief Engineer at the Energy Systems Integration Group (ESIG) .
Matevosyan specialises in the integration of wind, solar, and battery storage into power systems and transmission system planning and has spent her impressive career working with world-leading institutions and organizations. She has 25 years of experience, including at ERCOT as a Lead Planning Engineer and at several global consulting firms.
She holds both a PhD and a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Riga Technical University. She is a senior member of IEEE and an active member of CIGRE, the International Energy Agency Wind Task 25. She leads a number of impactful industry working groups, such as the NERC Inverter-Based Resource Performance Subcommittee and the ERCOT Inverter-Based Resource Working Group. She is a member of the leadership team of the IEEE P2800.2 Working Group, among others.
Dr Vivien Foster is a Principal Research Fellow in the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London, where she lectures on the Environmental Technology MSc. She is an infrastructure economist working on the economic, financial, environmental and social dimensions of energy and transport systems in low- and middle-income countries, and the associated implications for the climate transition. Vivien serves as International Partnerships Lead for the Climate Compatible Growth Initiative, a major FCDO research program harnessing the know-how of major UK universities to support decarbonization of energy and transport systems in the developing world. She is also affiliated with ODI, where she is a Senior Research Associate.
Previously, Vivien spent over 20 years at the World Bank where she played a variety of research-oriented leadership roles, including: Chief Economist for the Infrastructure Vice-Presidency of the World Bank (2018-2023); Global Lead for Energy Economics, Markets and Institutions (2016-18); Practice Manager of the Global Energy Anchor (2012-16); and Lead Economist for Infrastructure in the Africa Region (2006-11). Throughout, she has engaged on a wide variety of analytical, advisory and operational engagements with client governments in some 40 countries across Africa, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Vivien has spearheaded several major policy research initiatives including: World Development Report 2021 – Data for Better Lives, outlining how improved data governance can leverage the development potential of data while managing risks; Rethinking Power Sector Reform (2019), evaluating developing country experience with adoption of Washington Consensus policies; Africa’s Infrastructure (2009), providing a path-breaking analysis of the continent’s infrastructure challenges; Building Bridges (2009), detailing China’s growing role as infrastructure financier for Africa; Water, Electricity and the Poor (2005), examining the distributional impact of utility subsidies. She has also created several high-impact data products, including: The Energy Progress Report (2012 onwards) and Regulatory Indicators for Sustainable Energy (RISE) (2016 onwards); global dashboards for respectively tracking progress towards SDG7 outcomes and adoption of supportive policies.
On 12 November 2024, the IEEE Power and Energy Society (PES) Student Branch Chapter at Imperial College London partnered with the UK & Ireland PES Chapter and the UK & Ireland Power Electronics Society Chapter to host an in-depth technical seminar entitled Hydrogen Pathways: Decarbonising the UK and Latin America. Held in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, the event welcomed students, researchers, and industry practitioners keen to understand how hydrogen can accelerate net-zero goals on both sides of the Atlantic.
Together, the talks compared UK system-wide hydrogen integration with the challenges of embedding large-scale hydrogen-derived fuels into Chile’s export-oriented power market.
The session was moderated by the Chair of the Student Branch Chapter, Mr. Carlos Matamala.
Hydrogen Integration in the UK by Prof Goran Strbac, Imperial College London
Achieving the UK’s long-term climate targets cost-effectively requires a coordinated approach to decarbonising both heat and electricity supply. Integrated and coordinated design of heat and electricity supply systems is likely to result in a lower low-carbon transition cost compared to a “silo” approach optimising each supply system in a decoupled fashion.
About the speaker
Goran Strbac (Member, IEEE) is currently a Professor and the Chair of electrical energy systems with Imperial College London, London, UK. His research interests include the optimisation of operation and investment of low-carbon energy systems, energy infrastructure reliability, and future energy markets.
Challenges of Hydrogen Integration in the Chilean Power System by Prof Enzo Sauma, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
Chile, with a huge renewable energy potential, attempts to be one of the leaders in exporting renewable fuels to Europe. On the other hand, the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1184, supplementing Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council was published in the Official Journal of the European Union in June 2023. This regulation establishes a methodology, among other statements, describing specific rules for considering electricity taken from the grid as fully renewable to produce renewable liquid and gaseous transport fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO).
About the speaker
Enzo Sauma (Senior Member, IEEE) received the BSc and MSc degrees in electrical engineering from the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile (PUC), Santiago, Chile, and the PhD and MSc degrees in industrial engineering and operations research from the University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. He is currently a professor with the Industrial and Systems Engineering Department, PUC.
His research focuses on market-based transmission investments in restructured electricity systems.
Hosted jointly by the IEEE PES Student Branch Chapter and Imperial’s IEEE Student Branch—in collaboration with the UK & Ireland PES Chapter— Watts Next? brought together alumni who have moved from PhDs and MScs at Imperial into fast-moving roles across the energy industry. This session motivated attendees to see the real-world challenges of decarbonising power systems, while sharing great advice on career transitions.
The panel was coordinated by Mr. Carlos Matamaa, our IEEE PES Student Branch Chair.
Nicolás Cifuentes received BSc and MSc degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Chile, Santiago, Chile, in 2017. He received the PhD in electrical and electronic engineering from Imperial College London in 2021. He is currently working as senior power system engineer in the electrical system design and grid compliance department at Orsted.
Ali Gulrez is the Chief Technology Officer for Lower 48 Energy where he is responsible for the roll out of Battery Storage projects in the UK. He joined Lower 48 Energy 5 years ago and has helped scale the business where it is now been acquired by a global energy infrastructure investor Castleton Commodities International (CCI). Ali has a background in Electrical Engineering and has a First Class Masters degree in Sustainable Energy Futures from Imperial College London. Prior to moving to London Ali worked in Larsen & Toubro in Mumbai as a senior engineer in Product Management division of electrical switchgear.
As the electrical energy landscape evolves, the integration of HVDC systems, wind farms, and power electronics-based devices into electrical networks offers unique challenges and opportunities to boost grid stability and efficiency. This webinar focuses on the crucial operability studies necessary for their effective connection.
Attendees will delve into effective control interaction study methods, alongside strategies for selecting study areas and conducting screening studies. Tailored for engineers, researchers, and industry professionals.
Short Bio:
Dr Afshin Pashaei is a distinguished HVDC SME and leader in the energy sector with a comprehensive background across HVDC manufacturing, utility (transmission network), windfarm development, and R&D organizations. Afshin is the Power Quality and Dynamic Performance Manager at National Grid UK. He excels in addressing technical, design, and strategic challenges, with significant achievements in VSC HVDC control systems and the formulation of dynamic performance standards. As a Chartered Engineer, Senior Member of IEEE, and Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, his work is crucial in advancing transitions to future networks and enhancing HVDC solutions.
The IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) Student Chapter at Imperial College London hosted Dr Afshin Pashaei from National Grid Electricity Transmission Owner on November 10th, 2023, in collaboration with the IEEE Student Branch to provide an Autumn workshop for power and energy engineering students. Dr Pashaei presented insights into power system careers from the perspective of one of the biggest players in the UK power industry. Along with an overview of trends within the industry, Dr Pashaei gave in-depth descriptions of some of the challenges facing power grid engineers today and emphasized the need for more detailed dynamic models to accurately represent the behaviour of power electronics-interfaced generators and loads within the grid. The seminar attracted 20 attendees, with both MSc and PhD students gaining a deeper understanding of the issues and opportunities at the intersection of research and industry.
Title: Join Us at the 2023 IEEE Conference on Advances in Communications, Devices, and Systems (ACDS)!
Date: September 7th, 2023
Location: Room 611, EEE Department Building
Welcome to ACDS 2023!
We are thrilled to invite you to the 2023 IEEE Conference on Advances in Communications, Devices, and Systems (ACDS), set to take place on September 7th, 2023. Organized by the IEEE ICL Student Branch in collaboration with the EEE Department PhD Representatives, this event promises a vibrant showcase of cutting-edge research by both undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Event Highlights:
Undergraduate and Postgraduate Presentations: ACDS will feature engaging presentations from both undergraduate and postgraduate students. It’s a unique opportunity to witness the academic excellence of our young talents.
Student Paper Contest: Undergraduate students will go head-to-head in a thrilling Student Paper Contest, where their research prowess will be put to the test.
ACDS Prizes: We are excited to offer a range of prizes for outstanding presentations, including:
Best PhD Presentation Prizes: First place receives £200, second place £100, and third place £50.
Top 3 MEng/MSc Presentation Prizes: Each winner will receive £50.
Early Submission Rewards: The first 10 submitted and accepted abstracts will receive £20 gift cards.
Exposure and Recognition: Selected topics and papers will be featured on the IEEE UK and Ireland webpage and the Imperial EEE webpage and social media platforms, providing valuable exposure to your research.
Evaluation Process: The selection of topics and best presentations will be based on a combination of expert evaluation and popular vote.
Event Schedule:
10:00-10:30: Welcome drinks with coffee and biscuits
10:30-12:30: Undergraduate presentations and Student Paper Contest
12:30-14:00: Break and lunch
14:00-16:00: Postgraduate presentations
16:00-16:30: Prize ceremony and drinks
Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the latest advancements in communications, devices, and systems and support the next generation of innovators.
We look forward to welcoming you to ACDS 2023 at Room 611, EEE Department Building.
For inquiries and registration details, please contact us!
Dr. Zhongda Chu presented his award-winning research on “Stability-Constrained Optimal Operation of Power Systems with High IBR Penetration” in a seminar hosted by IEEE PES ICL Student Chapter. The event attracted 20 in-person attendees and 30 online participants. Dr. Chu discussed strategies to ensure grid security and maximize economic benefits in the face of IBR integration challenges. The seminar featured interactive Q&A, fostering engaging discussions. The presentation showcased Dr. Chu’s expertise in power systems with high power electronics penetration.
The Imperial College IEEE Student Branch is teaming up with the EEE PhD Student Representatives to bring you the 2023 IEEE Conference on Advances in Communications, Devices and Systems (ACDS), to be held on 7th September 2023.
This year’s conference will host the Imperial IEEE Student Paper Contest. This is an opportunity for undergraduate or MSc students to present their work and get a chance to win an all-expense paid trip to MELECON 2024 in Porto, Portugal! Further details below.
The conference is a great way to showcase your work to the Imperial community and to train your presentation skills. Events throughout the day will include poster presentations, keynote speeches, and networking events, so don’t miss out!
To register your interest, please submit an abstract (~200 words) before the 17th of July 2023via this link. Submitted topics can cover any topic in engineering that the IEEE is concerned with and could be part of your research or related to other interests. Upon notification of acceptance, students will be asked to present their work in the form of a poster or a traditional oral presentation on the day of the conference.
Imperial IEEE Student Paper Contest [BEng, MEng, MSc only]
Three winning papers will be selected and submitted to the Region 8 IEEE Student Paper Contest to get a chance to win a cash prize of $800/$500/$200 for first, second, and third place, respectively, plus publication of the winning papers in the proceedings of IEEE R8 MELECON 2024 (25-27 June) and funded travel to the conference.
The student contest is open to undergraduate students (BEng, MEng, MSc) only.
ACDS Prizes [BEng, MEng, MSc, PhD]
We are delighted to be able to offer the following awards:
Best PhD presentation prizes worth £200 for first place, £100 for second place, and £50 for third place.
Top 3 MEng/MSc presentation prizes worth £50
First 10 submitted (and accepted) abstracts will receive £20 gift cards.
Topic/paper exposed on the IEEE UK and Ireland web page and on the Imperial EEE webpage and social media.
The selection of topics and best presentations will be made based on expert evaluation and popular vote.
Deadlines
Abstract submission deadline: 17/07/2023
Notification of acceptance: 21/07/2023
Full IEEE student paper contest submission deadline: 24/08/2023
We are looking forward to receiving your submissions and hosting you on the 7th of September! The full conference programme, including social and networking activities will follow soon.
On May 26, 2023, Prof. Julio Romero Agüero delivered a talk on ‘Grid Modernisation and Power Distribution Systems’ at Imperial College London. The event, organized by IEEE PES UK and Ireland Chapter & Switzerland Chapter and hosted by the IEEE PES Student Branch Chapter at ICL, attracted over 40 in-person attendees and 55 online participants. Prof. Romero discussed grid modernisation objectives, trends, technologies, and leading industry practices to facilitate the adoption of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) and electric transportation. He emphasized the importance of engineering in addressing basic human needs, promoting sustainable development, and bridging the knowledge divide for positive transformation.
