IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2016 - 4

from the editor

Mel Olken

time to fix or replace
HVdc and FACTS updates

THE ADVENT AND UTILIZATION
of high-voltage (HV) dc and flexible
ac transmission systems (FACTS) have
played a crucial role in the control of
today's electric systems worldwide.
The key to the utilization of these technologies has been power electronics,
which is ever advancing. These advances, properly applied, facilitate the
integration of renewable resources and
enable grid operations under multiple
operating scenarios.
Great interest in the subject is apparent as witnessed by the large attendance and enthusiasm at the Power &
Energy Society (PES) General Meeting conference technical sessions. With
this as background, the IEEE Power &
Energy Magazine Editorial Board accepted a proposal to offer an in-depth
look at the many aspects associated
with the subject, and we are indebted
to Michael Henderson for offering to
oversee an issue devoted to the subject.
And indeed he has done that with competence and aplomb.

In This Issue
We offer six feature articles from
representatives of different perspectives, covering issues and experiences
emanating from various contributors
through the world. Further details about
the subject and introductions to the
feature articles may be found in Mike
Henderson's "Guest Editorial" column.
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MPE.2015.2505378
Date of publication: 18 February 2016

IEEE power & energy magazine

Where PES
Is Going

into other inventions, many
which are still operable today. Many thanks to John
Sprague and Associate
Editor Carl Sulzberger
for this enlightening
piece of history.

The issue's "Leader's
Corner" by PES President-Elect Saifur
Rahman is highly
recommended reading as he reviews
Our Closing
where we are coming
Piece
from and offers his viWhen this publication
sions for where PES and
was
in its conception stage
IEEE are going. His mantra,
IMAGE LICENSED BY GRAPHIC STOCK
in
2002,
we decided to include
"make PES even more relevant
a
concluding
opinion
piece and chose "In
to the global working professional," is
My
View"
as
the
column
title. The piece
directed to encompass all aspects of
was
meant
to
be
informative
and provocaour membership, and he appeals for
tive
at
the
same
time
if
possible.
I did not
an open and continuing contact with
have
to
think
long
and
hard
about
an apPES members.
propriate author for our premier issue 14
years ago because Lionel Barthold came
Class of 2016 Fellows
The "Awards" column features the 21 almost immediately to mind as the perPES members who have been elected sonification of our requirements. I had
to the 2016 class of IEEE Fellows. known and respected Lionel for many
Congratulations to all for this most years and was excited and gratified when
he immediately accepted the invitation.
significant accomplishment!
That column, "Wither EHV?: Distributed
Generation Reverses the Trend," hit the
Another Sprague
mark and I believe set the standard for
Invention
I believe that the history buffs among the success of the column. I am delighted
us (and I proudly include myself in that to welcome Lionel back and see that the
category) were most intrigued by the ex- passing years have not diminished his talposure to Frank Julian Sprague and the ents at all. The column, "DC Is Where It
story of multiple unit control for railway Started: Is It Also Where We're Going?"
cars in the "History" column in the No- by Lionel, Dennis Woodford, and Maryvember/December 2015 issue. In this am Salimi, presents an in-depth look at the
issue, his grandson John Sprague offers history of dc transmission, where it is toyet another look at what a remarkably day, and some erudite thoughts on its poinnovative engineer Frank Sprague was, tentials and possible future. Don't miss it!
p&e
as we are provided a penetrating insight

march/april 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2016