OREANDA-NEWS. April 28, 2016.GE (NYSE: GE) today announced that five members of its Energy Consulting group, Nick Miller, Bahman Daryanian, Derek Stenclik, Jason MacDowell and Baozhuang Shi have been recognized by the Utility Variable-Generation Integration Group (UVIG) for their leadership and contributions to multiple renewables integration and grid reliability projects in the past year. The group was recognized at the UVIG 2016 Spring Technical Workshop and Annual Meeting, which took place yesterday, April 26, in Sacramento, California.

“At UVIG, we realize how significant the integration and reliable operation of variable generation on electric power systems can be to ensuring future grids can accommodate ever-increasing energy demands,” said Charlie Smith, executive director, UVIG. “This is why we are recognizing those in the industry that are leading the way as we work to create more sustainable and reliable power grids. Through the collaborative efforts of stakeholders such as federal agencies, trade associations and research organizations, our industry can identify and implement the best solutions and processes available to develop forward-thinking practices for integrating renewables into grid systems.”

Miller, as part of the leadership of the Essential Reliability Services Task Force (ERSTF) — which includes the chairs, subgroup leaders and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) staff — received an award for his leadership and contributions to the ERSTF and for helping to educate industry leaders on the need for ancillary services and their provision from all resources.

Daryanian and Stenclik were recognized for their contributions to the Pan-Canadian wind integration study with CanWEA. The study outlined the opportunities and requirements for Canada to reach its renewable integration targets at a national level, along with views into the options in specific provinces.

Shi was recognized for his work with key government stakeholders in China as they undertook pioneering studies related to wind and solar integration that are helping China better plan for priority dispatching, wind forecasting and curtailment reduction. The findings from these studies have helped guide China’s recent power sector reform initiatives.

MacDowell was recognized for his ongoing contributions to the development of industry standards in the global renewables industry. MacDowell has spent the past several years contributing his expertise to numerous industry stakeholders including NERC, IEEE and IEC, among many others, to help ensure the proper grid codes and renewables equipment standards are in place to enable greater adoption of renewable energy into grid systems around the world.

“Energy industry leaders worldwide are working to find ways to establish more reliable and sustainable power generation and transmission opportunities. Integrating renewable generation assets such as utility-scale solar and wind installations can help prepare the utility and generation industries to meet growing demands for renewable energy and the associated challenges that accompany their integration,” said Beth LaRose, general manager, GE’s Energy Consulting group. “By studying what effect these renewable generation sources will have on today’s electrical grids and working with key stakeholders around the world to develop the appropriate standards and grid codes, we can help countries meet their renewable energy targets while helping bulk power systems operate reliably, efficiently and affordably.”

UVIG, first established in 1989 as the Utility Wind Integration Group, provides a forum for the critical analysis of wind and solar technology for utility applications. It also serves as a source of credible information on the status of wind and solar technology and deployment. The group’s mission is to accelerate the development and application of good engineering and operational practices supporting the appropriate integration and reliable operation of variable generation on the electric power system.

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About Energy Connections

GE Energy Connections designs and deploys industry-leading technologies that turn the world on. We transport, convert, automate and optimize energy to ensure we provide safe, efficient and reliable electrical power. Uniting all the resources and scale of the world’s first digital industrial company, we connect brilliant machines, grids, and systems to power utility, oil & gas, marine, mining and renewables customers, that keep our world running. www.GEEnergyConnections.com

About GE’s Energy Consulting Group

For nearly a century, GE’s Energy Consulting experts have focused on solving the electric power industry’s most pressing challenges—driving the evolution of electric power systems with greater affordability, reliability, and efficiency. Today, GE’s Energy Consulting team continues this tradition by providing innovative solutions across the entire spectrum of power generation, delivery and utilization. With our cross-company resources, GE’s Energy Consulting business is able to serve a diverse global client base with a strong local presence.