- GO15 comprises 19 of the largest Grid Operators around the world.
- Cigré is the International Council on Large Electric Systems is a global organisation in the field of high voltage electricity.
- The two have signed an MOU paving the way to balance conflicting priorities in order to fulfil their mandate of providing green, reliable and secure energy for economic and social growth and development.
- Both Presidents hail from South Africa’s Eskom Holdings Ltd.
GO15 and Cigré signed a historic MOU between the two global power energy players, at GO15’s Annual Steering Board meeting in Milan, ahead of the World Energy Council. President GO15, Mr Thava Govender and Mr Rob Stephen, President Cigré, met in Milan at GO15’s fifteenth Annual Steering Board meeting hosted by Terna, Italy’s Transmission System Operator. With both Presidents hailing from South Africa’s Eskom Holdings Ltd., made this signing a further significant and unique affair.
“We are proud to sign this historic MOU with Cigré as a leading energy industry player. Collaboration remains critical as the energy industry transitions and new technologies such as battery storage are introduced,” said GO15’s President Thava Govender.
“It is crucial that our industry is ready and capable of balancing conflicting priorities as we continue to fulfil our mandate of providing green, reliable and secure energy for economic and social growth and development,” concluded Govender. “The MOU between Cigré and GO15 will strengthen collaboration in solving issues facing the electrical power industry.
Cigré currently has over 200 working groups involving 3000 experts from around the world working on common technical issues. This enables GO15 to find solutions or understand best practices from Cigré. Cigré can benefit from the strategic direction and business model work undertaken by GO15. As such it is a win-win arrangement,” said President of Cigré, Rob Stephen.
As new shifts unfold, GO15 commissioned three new strategic areas of research in the past year. These are “sustainable grid and interconnection development”, “integration of renewable generation within transmission network” and “electricity infrastructure resiliency” also to respond to sustainable development goals.
Driven by the volunteer network of experts from each member company, the various research areas have provided invaluable insight and, once completed, will lead the way for the global industry. The GO15 grid operators will continue to deliver reliable electricity to customers demanding improved power quality, while integrating renewable generation consistent with ambitious clean energy policies.
GO15 today also voted in the new 2018/19 President elect of the Steering Board Mr Fedor Opadchiy from Russia’s ONS. Mr Thava Govender from South Africa’s electricity utility Eskom, will remain on as Vice President as per GO15’s governance and constitution.
GO15 comprises 19 of the largest Grid Operators around the world. This includes Grid operators from Asia, Mexico, Russia, Brazil, Africa, USA, Middle East, Australia and from Europe. The nineteen GO15 Power Grid Operators, deliver electricity to over half the world’s population, accounting for more than two-thirds of the global electricity consumption.
GBA News Desk
