eRoots Attends Two Major Summits
Over the past weeks, eRoots Analytics participated in two major international events that are shaping the future of power systems: the IEEE PowerTech 2025 Conference in Kiel, Germany, and the FERC Software Conference in Washington, D.C. Both events highlighted the importance of innovation, openness, and collaboration in building more resilient, efficient, and sustainable grids.
IEEE PowerTech 2025: Grid-Forming Loads: Can Loads Form the Grid?
From 29 June to 3 July, the IEEE PowerTech 2025 conference gathered leading researchers, engineers, and policymakers under the theme “ Powering the Energy System Transformation”. At the centre of this transformation is the question of how demand-side flexibility and innovative technologies can strengthen the grid.
We contributed to the panel session “ Grid-Forming Loads: Can the Loads Be in Charge of Forming the Grid in Modern Power Systems?”. This discussion is part of the ongoing GridForLoads European project, in which eRoots leads key system studies. The panel explored how loads such as EV chargers, industrial motors, and railway systems can take on grid-forming roles traditionally reserved for generators. Insights shared included:
- The potential of grid-forming loads to enhance voltage and frequency stability, even during disturbances and black start scenarios.
- How railway and AC/DC grids can benefit from active load participation.
- The importance of open-source tools to foster transparency, innovation, and real-world implementation.
This session confirmed the growing understanding that demand-side technologies are not just consumers but essential contributors to a stable, renewable-powered grid.
FERC Software Conference: Open-Source for Modern Grids
On 8–10 July, eRoots presented at the FERC Software Conference, an event focused on increasing the efficiency of real-time and day-ahead market operations through improved modelling and computation. In our talk “ GridCal: Open Source for Modern Power Systems”, we showcased how our open-source simulation tool, GridCal, addresses the challenges of modern grids by combining:
- Best-in-class power grid analysis algorithms (power flow, OPF, short-circuits, contingencies)
- A feature-rich, intuitive interface
- Interoperability with formats like PSSe, PowerFactory, CIM/CGMES, and other key open-source power system packages
- Scalability from real-time microcontrollers to supercomputing environments
We emphasised that legacy software no longer suffices given today’s grid complexity, and open-source solutions such as GridCal can bridge the gap between research and industry while encouraging transparency and innovation. You can download our presentation here.
Looking Ahead
Both events highlighted the need to move beyond traditional approaches and embrace innovation. Empowering loads to support the grid and adopting open-source, high-performance tools for planning and operations are key steps in this direction.
eRoots remains committed to advancing modern power systems through collaborative projects and open technology. We look forward to continuing our work on the GridForLoads project and delivering on GridCal’s ambitious roadmap, including new capabilities such as autonomous AI agents for grid operation and EMT simulations.
