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Research with the Power System in Mind: Linking Industry Needs to Academic Research to Enhance Best Practices

Alex Shattuck
Director of Grid Transformation
Energy Systems Integration Group
Master Practitioner Seminar
LOW 3116
Thu, April 16, 2026 at 4:00 PM
The transforming power system, primarily the increased penetration of renewable resources and data centers, has significantly changed the paradigm of power system reliability. Historically, reliability-minded engineering firms constructed and operated generating resources and within this paradigm the mandatory and enforceable reliability standard requirements worked as a minimum floor that was often exceeded. In today’s power system this historical paradigm has changed with the introduction of numerous non-technical stakeholders constructing and operating large percentages of generating resources, primarily renewable resources. Further, the introduction of high penetrations of renewable resources has dramatically and quickly increased the knowledge required to model and study the power system and generating resources.
 
In this talk, I will focus on the current and emerging needs of the power system in order to maintain bulk power system reliability and which research topics are necessary to inform enhancements to voluntary and mandatory reliability requirements and industry best practices. 
Alex Shattuck

Alex Shattuck, ESIG’s Director of Grid Transformation, has worked across the power industry for more than 10 years, specializing in maintaining bulk power system reliability as inverter-based resource (IBR) penetration increases. Prior to joining ESIG, Shattuck performed long-term and interconnection planning studies at the New York System Operator (NYISO), Inverter-based resource modeling, control design, and compliance studies at an industry leading consultant, acted as Vestas Wind Systems’ modeling subject matter expert for North America, and used this experience and expertise to drive regulatory enhancements while working as a Senior Engineer at the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). While at ESIG, Shattuck continues to work towards enhancing bulk power system reliability in North America and internationally by assessing and promoting industry best practice as well as through a leadership role in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Standards Association 2800.x series and as co-convener of International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Joint Working Group 5 which are currently working towards a joint IEEE/IEC International Grid Forming Inverter standard.