Our program at a glance
Title: Battery Energy Storage Plants in Power Systems – Markets, Technologies and Regulation
Day 1 (June 22nd, 2026 from 15:00 - 20:10 CEST)
| 15:00 - | 15:10 | Opening by the Conference Chairs: Mark McGranaghan is a Fellow at EPRI, located at the EPRI Europe office in Dublin. Reza Iravani is the director of the Centre for Applied Power Electronics (CAPE) at the University of Toronto, Canada. | Mark McGranaghan | Reza Iravani |
Session 1: Policies and Programs
| 15:10 - | 16:40 | This session provides an overview of how research, policy, and technology are shaping the future of energy systems. It highlights current R&D priorities, advances in battery technologies, and the growing role of energy storage in supporting reliable and flexible power grids. Perspectives from Europe, North America, and Asia illustrate different regulatory frameworks. The session also showcases coordinated efforts such as long-duration energy storage programs, emphasizing the importance of aligning technological development with effective policy. | Moderator: Mark McGranaghan  | Fellow at Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Europe, Ireland |
| 15:10 - | 15:25 | Global Development of Batteries' Applications in the Power Systems | Norela Constantinescu | Deputy Director IRENA Innovation Technology Center International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) |
| 15:25 - | 15:40 | Deployments and Technology Developments in the U.S. | Peggy Ip | Energy Storage Principal Team Lead Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) |
| 15:40 - | 15:55 | Long Duration Energy Storage Consortium | Will McNamara | Grid Energy Storage Policy Analyst Sandia National Laboratories Chair of the Long Duration Energy Storage Consortium USA |
| 15:55 | 16:10 | BESS Developments in India | Reji Kumar Pillai | President India Smart Grid Forum Chairman Global Smart Energy Federation India |
| 16:10 | 16:40 | Panel Discussion |
Session 2: System Support vs. Energy Trading
| 16:40 - | 18:00 | This session brings together perspectives from grid and plant operators to explore the balance between system support requirements and energy trading in modern power systems. It highlights operational challenges, evolving market dynamics, and the increasing role of large-scale battery energy storage. | Moderator: Philipp Strauss  | Director Power Systems Stability and Converter Technology Division Fraunhofer IEE, Germany |
| 16:40 - | 16:45 | Introduction | ||
| 16:45 - | 17:00 | Fit-for-Purpose, Future-Proofed BESS — Developing Bankable Storage Around the Harmony Triangle | Ahmed Elbaz | Head of BESS Execution, ENPAL, Germany |
| 17:00 - | 17:15 | Current Status of Energy Storage in the US | Julia Matevosyan | Associate Director and Chief Engineer Energy Systems Integration Group (ESIG) IEEE Fellow USA |
| 17:15 - | 17:30 | Microgrids as a System Resource | Jacqueline Baum | Senior Team Lead Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) USA |
| 17:30 - | 18:00 | Panel Discussion |
Coffee Break (18:00 - 18:10)
Session 3: Technical Solutions and Interoperability
| 18:10 - | 19:40 | This session focuses on how emerging technologies and new system participants can enhance grid reliability in a digital and decentralized energy landscape. It explores the role of data centers and distributed storage as active providers of grid services, supported by advanced validation methods such as Hardware-in-the-Loop testing. The session also addresses the need to adapt protection schemes and improve coordination between transmission and distribution operators, highlighting interoperability as a key enabler of secure and flexible system operation. | Moderator: Reza Iravani  | Professor at University of Toronto, Canada |
| 18:10 - | 18:15 | Introduction | Reza Iravani | |
| 18:15 - | 18:30 | HIL Testing for de-risking Operation of Data Centers | Arman Ghasaei | Chief Technology Officer EdgeTune Power (ETP) Canada |
| 18:30 - | 18:45 | Impact of inverter-based Resources with Protection Schemes | Venkat Mynam | Senior Director, R&D Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc. USA |
| 18:45 - | 19:00 | A Strategic Approach to Battery Innovation: A look into the Canadian Battery Ecosystem | Rahul Malik | Senior Science and Technology Advisor, Office of Energy Research & Development, Natural Resources Canada |
| 19:00 - | 19:30 | Panel Discussion | ||
| 19:30 - | 19:40 | Summary of Day 1 |
Day 2 (June 23rd, 2026 from 08:30 - 13:40 CEST)
Session 4: Island Grids and Emergency Power Supply (Resilience)
| 8:30 - | 10:05 | This session presents international perspectives on improving the reliability of isolated and vulnerable power systems. Case studies illustrate how microgrids and grid-forming batteries support resilience and reduce dependence on conventional generation. Examples from different regions highlight both technical solutions and emerging service models, demonstrating how innovation in technology and operations can strengthen system reliability and recovery. | Moderator: Graeme Burt  | Professor and Director, Institute for Energy & Environment University of Strathclyde, Scotland |
| 8:30 | 8:35 | Introduction | Graeme Burt | |
| 8:35 - | 8:50 | Australia - Dedieselation of Remote Islanded Grids | Thomas Wearne  | Networks and DER Team Leader Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Australia |
| 8:50 - | 9:05 | Hybrid Solar and BESS Power Plants using Grid-forming Inverters on the Kauai Island Electric Grid | Brad Rockwell | Chief of Operations Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) Hawaii |
| 9:05 - | 9:20 | Resilience as a Service | Tharangan Rajavel | Innovation Project Engineer Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSE) UK |
Maciej Fila  | Technical Authority in the Future Networks team of SSE | |||
| 9:20 - | 9:35 | Grid-Forming BESS Enabling Stable Transition in Renewable-Based Industrial Power Systems | Hongyi Wang | Grid Solution Engineer Sungrow Germany |
| 9:35 - | 10:05 | Panel Discussion |
Session 5: System Requirements and Ancillary Services
| 10:05 - | 11:25 | This session examines how power systems can maintain stability and resilience as inverter-based resources become more dominant. It highlights the role of synthetic inertia and fast frequency response in compensating for reduced system inertia, as well as the need to redesign restoration and black-start strategies. The session emphasizes that future systems will require new technical capabilities, updated operational approaches, and enhanced ancillary services. | Moderator: Diana Strauss-Mincu  | Group Manager of Grid Control and Grid Dynamics Fraunhofer IEE, Germany |
| 10:05 - | 10:10 | Introduction | Diana Strauß-Mincu | |
| 10:10 - | 10:25 | Synthetic Inertia and fast Frequency Response | Moritz Mittelstaedt | Team Lead Stability Analyses and Connection Codes Amprion GmbH Germany |
| 10:25 - | 10:40 | GFM Requirements and Connection of BESS | Thorsten Bülo | System Development Engineer SMA Solar Technology AG, Germany |
| 10:40 - | 10:55 | Ancillary Services and Long Duration Energy Storage | Maria Madders  | Head of Future Operations EirGrid Group Ireland |
| 10:55 - | 11:25 | Panel Discussion |
Coffee Break (11:25 - 11:35)
Session 6: Research and Development Projects
| 11:35 - | 13:20 | This session presents recent research and development activities addressing key challenges in modern power systems. Topics include energy storage, state of charge estimation, dynamic operating envelopes, and advanced modelling approaches. It also highlights developments in battery technologies and data-driven analysis, supporting more flexible, efficient, and resilient energy systems. | Moderator: John Ward  | Research Director Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Energy Centre Australia |
| 11:35 - | 11:40 | Introduction | John Ward | |
| 11:40 - | 11:55 | Flavours of Energy Storage | Daniel V. Pombo | DER Integration Engineer Electric Power Research Institute EPRI Europe Ireland |
| 11:55 - | 12:10 | Reimagining Network Utilisation in the Era of Solar and Energy Storage | Ed Langham | Research Director Institute for Sustainable Futures University of Sydney Australia |
| 12:10 - | 12:40 | Testing and Piloting of Grid-Forming BESS Units | Andrés Tarraso-Martinez, European Distributed Energy Resources Laboratories (DERlab e. V.)  | Scientist Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT), Austria DERlab Member |
| 12:40 - | 13:10 | Panel Discussion | ||
| 13:10 - | 13:20 | Closing Remarks |
Closing Remarks by Reza Ivarani & Mark McGranaghan
Workshop on Grid Integration of Grid-Forming BESS into Modern Power Systems (16:00 - 19:00 CEST)
This workshop serves as an international platform for technical exchange regarding the integration of Grid-forming Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) into modern power systems, within the broader context of integrating renewable and distributed energy resources. The primary objective is to bridge the gap between research and real-world application. Moreover, this workshop will bring together representatives from national or international pilot and demonstration projects, including project coordinators, technical experts, and system operators, to share practical insights and lessons learned from real-world applications. The workshop will include the following topics:
- Operational Insights: Lessons learned from national and international pilot/demonstration projects.
- Multidimensional Challenges: Technical performance, system needs, regulatory frameworks, and market integration.
- Standardization and Testing: Emerging needs for validation and scaling grid-forming solutions.
- Stakeholder Dialogue: Fostering communication between system operators, industry developers, and research institutions.
The workshop program is detailed below:
Part I: Research Frameworks and Practical Implementations |
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| Introduction | Philipp Strauß | Director Power Systems Stability and Converter Technology Division Fraunhofer IEE & Member of the Board DERlab e. V. Germany |
Deepak Ramasubramanian | Principal Technical Leader at Electric Power Research Institute, EPRI, USA | |
| GFI-Pilot: Pilot Tests of Grid-Forming Inverters in Distribution Grids | Thomas Degner | Department Head Fraunhofer IEE Germany |
| Towards Stable Converter-Dominated Grids: The EURAMET GridForm Project Framework | Mohammad Kharezy | Senior Researcher, High voltage Test & Measurement Technologies Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE) Sweden |
| Microgrid Pilot Projects: Validation, Deployment, and Key Operational and Regulatory Lessons | Maria Valliou | Researcher at National Technical University Athens (NTUA), Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS) Greece |
| Discussion Session | ||
Part II: Testing, Lab Validation, and System Integration |
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| HIL Testing of Grid-Forming Assets | Jurgen Timpert | Senior Researcher Power Grids and Energy Storage Technology DNV The Netherlands |
| SUREVIVE: Field-Testing GFM Functionalities within the Distribution Grid | Rebekka Denninger | PhD Student Fraunhofer ISE Germany |
| Enhanced Microgrid Interconnection Using Rapid Inverter Control Prototyping Systems | Tobias Erckrath | Inverter Applications and Rapid Prototyping, Senior Business Developer Fraunhofer IEE Germany |
| Discussion Session | ||
This workshop is funded by the research project GFI-Pilot financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.
The workshop is co-organised by:
Acknowledgement: We acknowledge the support of our work by the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy within the project GFI-Pilot: Pilot tests of grid-forming inverters in the distribution grid (FKZ 03EI4091E). The authors are responsible for the content of this publication. This paper does not necessarily reflect the consolidated opinion of the project consortia.