IEEE PES Distinguished Lecture [Pierluigi Mancarella, University of Melbourne]
Organised by the IEEE PES SBC at The University of Manchester
On the 16th December 2025, the UoM IEEE PES SBC welcomed Professor Pierluigi Mancarella, professor from the University of Melbourne, to campus for his distinguished lecture titled “Running a Net-Zero Grid in 2025: Experiences from the Australian ‘Real-World Lab’.” The event attracted PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and department academics. Presenting to over 25 attendees both online and in person, Professor Mancarella presented the complex challenges of renewable sources and DER integration.
The lecture discussed the increasing integration of renewable energy sources and distributed energy resources, particularly in Australia, where optimal environmental conditions lead to high adoption rates. Professor Mancarella discussed the real-world challenges associated with these technologies, including recent examples of power system operational issues exacerbated by the integration of renewable energy systems. The talk culminated in the discussion of large-scale storage solutions like batteries and hydrogen.
Professor Mancarella fielded questions from both students and researchers on the practicalities of international implementation and the challenges specific to Australia’s grid system. The event provided an excellent opportunity for students to engage with researchers and hear from a world-leading expert in power systems.
The IEEE PES SBC sincerely thanks Professor Mancarella for his fascinating talk and looks forward to welcoming him back to the university in future.
Elizabeth Michalenko
Chair, IEEE PES SBC at The University of Manchester