CIGRE

CIGRE
Name	CIGRE
Formation	1921
Type	International professional association
Headquarters	Paris
Region served	Global

CIGRE

CIGRE is an international professional association focused on high-voltage electricity systems and power engineering. It brings together engineers, researchers, utilities, manufacturers, and regulators from across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania to address technical challenges in transmission systems, grid planning, asset management, and system operation. The association operates through study committees, working groups, national committees, and global events that connect experts from institutions such as Électricité de France, General Electric, Siemens, ABB, and Hitachi Energy.

History

CIGRE was founded in 1921 in Paris by engineers involved with projects related to reconstruction after World War I and the development of interconnections inspired by initiatives like the Réseau de la Compagnie Nationale and early high-voltage proposals linked with companies such as Brown, Boveri & Cie, Alstom, and Societé Alsacienne de Constructions Mécaniques. Early interactions involved figures connected to the Edison General Electric Company and the evolving international networks exemplified by projects in Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Italy. Over decades the association engaged with landmark projects and institutions including Hoover Dam, Three Gorges Dam, Tennessee Valley Authority, Bonneville Power Administration, National Grid (UK), Réseau de Transport d'Électricité, ENEL, Iberdrola, E.ON, and RWE to influence transmission practices. During the Cold War era, dialogue crossed political divides with participants from United States Department of Energy, Rosenergoatom, UK Atomic Energy Authority, and others, while later expansions included collaborations with the International Energy Agency, World Bank, European Commission, Asian Development Bank, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.

Organization and Structure

CIGRE’s governance includes a council and study committee presidents drawn from national committees and corporate members such as Siemens Energy, Schneider Electric, General Electric, Mitsubishi Electric, ABB Group, and Toshiba. National committees operate in countries like France, United States, China, India, Japan, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, Canada, and Germany with liaison officers from utilities such as EDF, State Grid Corporation of China, NTPC, Tokyo Electric Power Company, Iberdrola, and SSE plc. Administrative functions have connections to organizations including ISO, IEC, IEEE, CEN, and CENELEC. Strategic committees interact with funding and policy bodies such as the European Commission, International Renewable Energy Agency, US Department of Energy, and national regulators like Ofgem, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire.

Technical Work and Study Committees

Technical activity is organized into study committees and working groups addressing topics such as transmission system planning, overhead lines, underground cables, transformers, switchgear, insulation, power system protection, and grid integration of renewables. Study areas reference technologies and projects from HVDC Itaipu, Pacific DC Intertie, NordLink, BritNed, NorNed, Balticconnector, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant, and research from institutions like Imperial College London, ETH Zurich, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tsinghua University, IIT Bombay, Duke University, CEA, and R&D centers at Siemens. Working groups have produced studies involving test laboratories such as KEMA Laboratories, CESI, TÜV SÜD, Cigre UK Research Centre, Electric Power Research Institute, and national transmission operators including TransÉnergie, Red Eléctrica de España, Terna (Italy), National Grid ESO, Ausgrid, and Hydro-Québec.

Publications and Standards

CIGRE publishes technical brochures, white papers, technical brochures, and conference proceedings used alongside standards from International Electrotechnical Commission, IEEE Standards Association, British Standards Institution, German Institute for Standardization, AFNOR, UNI, and industry codes such as NERC Reliability Standards, IEC 60076, IEC 61850, IEEE C37, and ISO 55000 for asset management. Publications draw on contributions referencing research at Argonne National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Fraunhofer Society, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and universities like Stanford University, University of Cambridge, Cornell University, University of Tokyo, Seoul National University, and University College London. CIGRE outputs inform regulators and utilities including Ofgem, FERC, ENA, ENEA, CEA, ANRE, and multinational projects financed by World Bank and European Investment Bank.

Conferences and Events

The biennial global assembly hosts delegations from national committees, corporations, and research centers such as EDF R&D, GE Renewable Energy, ABB Power Grids, Hitachi Energy, Mitsubishi Power, Siemens Gamesa, Iberdrola Ingeniería, Centrica, and NextEra Energy. Regional events mirror activities in venues across Paris, Beijing, Mumbai, Tokyo, Johannesburg, São Paulo, Moscow, New York City, London, Frankfurt am Main, Zurich, Brussels, Singapore, Sydney, and Toronto. Special sessions have tackled topics connected to projects like Smart Grid Demonstration Projects, Energy Storage Systems, Electric Vehicle Integration, Distributed Energy Resources, Microgrids, Grid-Forming Inverters, and collaborations with forums such as COP, CEM, World Economic Forum, IEEE PES General Meeting, and European Utility Week.

Membership and National Committees

Membership includes individual experts, corporate members, academic institutions, and national committees in countries such as France, China, India, United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Kenya, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Israel, Ireland, Czech Republic, Romania, and Hungary. Corporate partners and sponsoring organizations include General Electric, Siemens, ABB, Schneider Electric, Mitsubishi Electric, Toshiba, Hitachi, Alstom, Vestas, ENGIE, EDF, Iberdrola, Enel, E.ON, RWE, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, KEMA, and Duke Energy.

Category:Electrical engineering organizations