CIGRE SC A3 Advisory Group Meeting in Bratislava 2026

Bratislava - Slovakia
4-5 May 2026

The event was organised by our former CIGRE Next Generation Network (NGN) representative, Branislav Pilát, and Slovenská elektrizačná prenosová sústava, a.s. (SEPS), the transmission system operator for electricity in the Slovak Republic.

Charting the next steps

The advisory group opened with a welcome speech from SC Chair Nicola Gariboldi, who emphasised the importance of collaboration and highlighted the value of discussing transmission and distribution equipment under one roof, or rather, One Grid.

The meeting continued with discussions on several key agenda items, including the implementation of AI tools within CIGRE and the concept of 'Blue Books', which would serve as more concise versions of CIGRE’s renowned 'Green Books'. These 'Blue Books' would be tailored for specific audiences, such as students, recent graduates, and young professionals. The Advisory Group also emphasised the importance of adopting a thoughtful approach to WG membership and expert participation. The key, of course, lies in focusing on the expertise and commitment of its members. Collaboration within National Committees is therefore crucial since many Working Group convenors may not know all experts personally.

Another key discussion focused on the well-known CIGRE Green Book titled 'Switching Equipment', with work already underway on its second edition. SC A3 is considering opening a call for contributors to complement this highly successful book and update the individual assets with the latest information.

Looking ahead to Paris 2026 and beyond

The discussion then moved to preparations for the highly anticipated CIGRE 2026 Paris Session, where SC A3 will play a key role. SC A3 activities will begin right away on Monday, 24th August. Our Chair, Nicola, will be one of the moderators for Panel 3, 'Applications and technologies related to artificial intelligence', while our future NGN representative, Andrés Laso, will participate in an interactive NGN Panel (Panel 4) titled 'Artificial intelligence and CIGRE'.

On the same day, SC A3 will host a poster session. This will be followed by workshops and a tutorial on Tuesday, 25th August and a Group Discussion Meeting on Wednesday 26th August. As is usual during the Paris Session, working group meetings will take place throughout the week, and this time will be no exception! SC A3 is hosting eleven meetings of different working groups to really bolster their progress.

CIGRE 2026 Paris Session SC A3 Poster Session Requirements

Due to the record-breaking number of papers received for this year's SC A3 session, the same approach adopted during the 2024 Paris Session will be followed. This means that SC A3 will impose a one-page limit per poster and split the poster session into two two-hour slots. The SC A3 poster organisers, Branislav Pilát, Andrés Laso, and Matthew Iles, will work closely with all authors to ensure another successful poster session this year.

Events of 2027

After concluding the agenda item on the Paris Session, the focus shifted to mapping the most relevant CIGRE events for the SC and its experts in 2027, including the CIGRE Symposium in Heidelberg in April 2027 and the Colloquium in Tokyo, which will take place in October 2027.

This discussion marked the end of the official agenda for the first day. The group then enjoyed a tour of Bratislava and a lovely dinner at sunset as part of the evening’s networking activities.

Expanding the Grid and Working Groups

On the second day of our Strategic Advisory Group meeting, we began with a technical discussion on the fifth edition of our well-known reliability survey, which we hope to launch soon. This raised the important question of how to simplify the data gathering process by making use of all the tools at our disposal.

The discussion then moved to an in-depth review of the new WG proposals for SC A3. As we received 14 proposals, much of the second day was dedicated to this topic. Some of the areas covered included testing requirements for GIS with rated voltages of 245 kV or less, a guide for conducting factory capability assessments for switchgear, enabling the self-healing grid, and much more.

Naturally, the purpose is not simply to establish new groups, so each proposal was carefully considered.

Technical Site visit to a 400 kV Air-Insulated Substation

The final hours of the Advisory Group meeting were dedicated to a technical visit to one of SEPS’s 400 kV AIS substations near the capital city. Accompanied by SEPS experts, the Advisory Group toured the substation and discussed SEPS’s approach to grid equipment. The discussions covered a range of topics, including online monitoring systems for power transformers and circuit breakers; the potential impact of ambient temperature on the lifespan of assets containing power electronics; the increasing demand for reactive power compensation devices; and the trade-offs involved in using porcelain and composite insulators for substation assets.

Given the ongoing expansion of our grids and the significant increase in demand for electricity, it is clear that coordination efforts such as this Advisory Group meeting will be crucial for future CIGRE SC A3 activities. While the next Advisory Group meeting will take place a year from now during the Heidelberg Symposium, the next Study Committee meeting will happen in just a few months during the Paris Session.

In closing, I would like to say, “See you in Paris!”