#99: An Innovator’s Journey in Protection Engineering

In this episode of Energy Talks, Dr. Alex Apostolov talks about his innovative and influential career in both protection engineering and the digital transformation of power grids.

Alex explains the significance of the IEC 61850 standard in modern power systems and highlights the challenges in the digital transformation of substations, such as adopting new technologies, the interoperability in multi-vendor environments, and the integration of renewable energy sources. He also describes the concept of self-learning grids and how it improves grid awareness and response; how IEC 61850 goose messaging enhances grid stability by enabling efficient communication; and the importance of cybersecurity in digital power systems. Lastly, Alex offers practical tips for aspiring engineers.

About Dr. Alex Apostolov Alex has been recently elected as a member of the United States National Academy of Engineering, joining the ranks of innovators like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates.

He received his Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, a Master of Science degree in Applied Mathematics, and a Ph.D. from the Technical University in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Alex is currently a Principal Engineer for OMICRON electronics and the Editor-in-Chief of PAC World Magazine. He holds five patents, he has authored and presented more than 600 technical papers and is the recipient of many international awards. Alex is also the author of a book that was published in 2022 titled, IEC 61850: Digitizing the Electric Power Grid.

Discover PAC World Magazine – pacw.org

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