The University of Birmingham’s IEEE Student Branch hosted a distinguished lecture on October 25, 2024, in Birmingham. Mr. Nicolas Manea was invited by Dr. Weiqi Hua to deliver a presentation titled “Keeping the Lights On and the Electricity Clean.” This presentation focused on energy system transformation, the National Electricity System Operator (NESO)’s power supply assurance, and the challenges related to grid flexibility. More than 25 people attended the lecture, including participants from the University of Birmingham and University College Dublin.

Before the lecture began, Mr. Zixaun Jia, provided an introduction to the UoB IEEE Student Branch, and Dr. Weiqi Hua introduced the speaker, Mr. Nicolas Manea. Mr. Manea holds both a bachelor’s and a doctoral degree from Cardiff University and is currently the distributed flexibility strategy lead at NESO, where he develops strategies for adopting flexibility services and leads initiatives on digitisation and coordination. He also serves as an energy consultant at Det Norske Veritas (DNV), advising clients on energy digitisation, flexibility markets, and transactions.

Mr. Manea began his presentation by outlining the structure of the electricity grid and the roles of various stakeholders in its governance. He then explored how NESO ensures a continuous power supply, emphasising the increasing importance of stability and flexibility. Additionally, he discussed the challenges in establishing effective flexibility within the energy system to ensure its long-term success. Following the lecture, the audience participated in a Q&A session and engaged in discussions based on the content presented.

In conclusion, we extend our gratitude to Mr. Nicolas Manea for his excellent presentation. Special thanks are also given to Dr. Weiqi Hua, IEEE UK and Ireland, and the UoB IEEE Student Branch for their support in organizing and coordinating this event.

By Shangyuan Liu,

Treasurer, UoB IEEE Student Branch