Empowering Professionals, Powering the Energy Future

This introductory course provides a panoramic view of the evolution of power-system control and operation technologies — evolution of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems from telemetry-based remote terminal units (RTUs) to distributed networks of Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) embedded within digital substations. The course introduces the layered architecture of typical control centers, explaining how Energy Management Systems (EMS) enable real-time situational awareness, state estimation, and contingency analysis while Distribution Management Systems (DMS/ADMS) provide automation across feeders. Also, the role of communications and data management with data concentrators, gateways, and historian databases. Learners also gain insight into data management practices. Beyond technology, the module emphasizes project management and reliability outcomes, demonstrating how digitalization supports regulatory and operational performance metrics through smarter asset management, predictive maintenance, and outage management systems (OMS). Through short case studies from few utilities — highlighting lessons learned on how integrated digital SCADA systems deliver tangible reliability, safety, and efficiency improvements across the grid lifecycle. Industry trends and evolving innovations in wide area monitoring, protection and control (WAMPAC) systems, as well as centralized versus decentralized controls with integration of renewables through Inverter Based Resources (IBRs) will be presented.

Special conversation with one of the most respected voices in the electric power industry. With over 51 years of experience, John McDonald has helped shape the way industry think about grid modernization, smart grid technologies, and professional development as well.

Previously, I introduced the topic of the World Energy Trilemma as we pave the path forward in ensuring our energy systems are secure, equitable, and sustainable. To the forefront of how to do so comes the first of the three dimensions—energy security with the help of reliability and resilience of electric grid infrastructure.

Global energy demand is on the rise. But as we face the impacts of climate change, sustainability has moved to the forefront more than ever before. As a result, there’s an international consensus around the need to take prompt action towards net-zero/decarbonization—and at the top of the list of how to do so is finding an answer to equitable, sustainable, and secure path forward for future of energy.