The traditional electrical engineering symposium took place from 5 to 8 May 2013, where Prof. Dr. Maks Babuder presented a topic entitled “Searching for a new paradigm in processing the technical regulations indispensable to govern the design, construction, operation and maintenance of electric power system installations and plants.”
This lecture, which is also issued in the journal of all presented papers, Mr Babuder emphasised some selected issues regarding the drafting of technical regulations and standards in smaller countries of the European Union. The situation in the Republic of Slovenia is especially mentioned and commented. The presentation was intended for searching the new paradigm in systemic solutions with the goal to rapidly introduce new technical and technological solutions in the field of production, transmission and distribution of electric power.

At the High Department for High Voltage and Power Plants (OVNEL), the personnel introduced a new method for testing and locating damage on various insulations, which also refer to other fields of work besides electrical engineering, namely mechanical and building engineering. The method was successfully introduced at the beginning of this year and was intended for testing the insulation "from the external side" (in given case: steel wire insulation, otherwise testing the insulation of cisterns, pipelines, gas pipelines etc., where the internal – conducting side is grounded as opposed to the cases in electrical engineering).
The test is based on high voltage (0 to 50 kV) and high frequency (100 kHz), meaning that the insulation is not damaged, however, possible damage or abnormalities in insulation can be located.

In October 2012 EIMV Physical – Chemical Transformer Diagnostics Department received the initial inspection visit for surveillance of the accreditation by Slovenian Accreditation (SA). The audit ended with the positive result.
On 13of March 2013 Slovenian Accreditation granted Accreditation Certificate LP-102.
Scope can be found on the SA web site: .pdf document

Physical–Chemical Transformer Diagnostics Department on EIMV had been accredited by Dutch Accreditation RvA since 2001 to 2012.
According to EC 765/2008 Dutch Accreditation RvA transferred our accreditation L339 to Slovenian Accreditation (SA), which is a signatory of the Multilateral Agreements of the European Co-operation for Accreditation (EA) and International Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation (ILAC) for calibration and testing.

In the period from 5 to 8 March 2013, the Director, Dr Boris Žitnik, and Mr Gregor Omahen together with a 33-member delegation including the representatives of the Slovenian economy, especially in the field of advanced technologies, led by the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, visited Japan. Within the scope of our visit, we presented software solutions for smart grids. We also viewed the achievements of Japanese companies in the fields of smart houses and electric cars. We also used this visit to make contacts with local and Japanese companies, since we would like to combine Slovenian and Japanese competences in the field of smart grids and cooperate in a joint project.

EIMV, Ljubljana, March 2013

At the Milan Vidmar Electric Power Research Institute the CIGRE A2.39 International Working Group meeting – Transformer Thermal Modelling was held from 25 to 27 February 2013. The meeting was organised by the Physical-chemical Transformer Diagnostics Department. The Group includes 22 experts from 18 countries; it was also attended by Mr Tim Gradnik from our Institute. The Group studies state-of-the-art methods for establishing the highest temperatures in high voltage energy transformers on the basis of the most contemporary calculation and measuring methods including the instalment of optical temperature sensors. The A2.38 Group is drafting a technical brochure in the field of thermal transformer modelling. After the conclusion of their work guests also visited the EIMV's high voltagelaboratory.

This year, we also attended one of the largest conferences in the field of electric power distribution in the USA, namely thy DistribuTECH 2013, which was organised in San Diego, California. Around 10,000 people attended the conference and 400 exhibitors cooperated at the fair. We also visited the San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) Company which supplies 1.4 million people with electricity and gas and also maintains the distribution and transmission grid in the area of San Diego. We visited their innovation centre and participated at a debate, where we exchanged our experience in the field of smart grids.

A team of students of the University of Ljubljana once again achieved exceptional success at the international competition in synthetic biology iGEM. At the conference, where 190 teams from all over the world cooperated, the Slovenian team took over the first three places in the field of Health and Medicine: for the best computer model and for the best website, and the second place in the final ranking.
The competition was organised by the renowned research organisation MIT from the USA.
The Slovenian team also included Boštjan PIRŠ, the son of one of our associates.
We are proud to be able to sponsor such successfully students and renowned project.

More about the project:

The 5th Consult on IT in the energy sector in Slovenia – PIES and also the second Business PIES were organised in Portorož. EIMV has cooperated for several years at the preparation of this consult, since it is also a sponsor and co-operator. This year, Gašper Lakota Jeriček presented his paper titled "IT Communications Technologies of the SUMO System", which was prepared together with Vladimir Djurica, Matija Naglič, dr. Janko Kosmač from EIMV and Jan Kostevec from ELES. At Business PIES, Andrej Souvent presented his paper titled "Integration of Systems and Standardised Data Exchange", and he also led a round table that was organised in connection with the mentioned subject.

When Prof. Dr. Milan Vidmar founded the Electricity Supply Economy Institute in 1948, he especially emphasised the importance of the High-Voltage Laboratory (HVL). He explained that the basic tool in developing high-voltage devices is calculation tool, but each solution has to be tested and this has remained true to the present day. Strongly IT supported calculation methods, however, substitute tests, but quite some time will pass before they will completely substitute it.

The building on Jamova 20 street was built in 1962, and the Institute's high-voltage laboratory began to emerge there. In the first phase of its operations, it offered support to local electrical supply economy and the industry of high-voltage equipment, equipment tests were often implemented in order to prove their conformity with specific standards. Subsequently, the laboratory focused on diagnostic testing of equipment for the needs of maintenance, and finally also on the needs of establishing the equipment's working period.

The High-Voltage Laboratory disposes of sources for direct, alternating current and impulse voltage as well as impulse current source. The capacity of sources is appropriate for the implementation of standard dielectric tests of the majority of high-voltage elements of the electrical distribution system in Slovenia. They are also appropriate for testing sustainability, as well as for tests in special conditions. In some cases a limitation is set by the high-voltage part of the source, or sometimes also charging, which is restricted with regards to the capacity of network charging.

In all 50 years of its existence, the laboratory has cooperated at important international professional conferences and at the work of working groups of international professional organisations. The laboratory has been used for more than 40 years by the students of the Electrical Engineering Faculty of the University of Ljubljana, at the subject High-Voltage Technology.
After a thorough renovation of the laboratory in 2005, the Institute continues to guarantee quality applied research and schooling of future researchers at the EIMV and in the Slovenian electric power industry.
 

On 9 October, exactly 50 years ago, Slovenian scientist, publicist and chess player, academic Prof. Dr. Milan Vidmar, the founder of our institute, passed away. If you have not yet read his memoirs about his meeting with Nikola Tesla, you can read this exceptional abstract on the following site: http://www.dlib.si/details/URN:NBN:SI:DOC-XWH6QFIK.
 

The Milan Vidmar Electric Power Research Institute presented its work at the Consult on electric power distribution networks, organised by the CIRED national committee in Serbia. The consult took place from 24 to 28 September in Vrnjačka banja. The conference discussed the current topics in the field of electric power distribution, numerous companies and organisation also presented their work at exhibition stands. Our Institute focused on the presentation of the SCALAR system which also covers the Serbian area.
 

In cooperation with the Slovenia IEEE section (SP-CAS committee), a lecture by Dr. Franc Policardi was organised on 6 September 2012. The lecture was titled: "Long Lasting Relation between Sound Physics and Music Emotion", and was followed by an excellent relaxed debate, formed by the interdisciplinary dimension of the public, since the lecture was attended by musicians, musicologists, physics, architects and electrical technicians.
 

The EIMV in cooperation with the IEEE Slovenian section (SP-CAS Board) invites you to a lecture that will be held on Thursday, 6 September, at 15:00 in the conference room (1st floor) of the Milan Vidmar Electric Power Research Institute, Hajdrihova 2, Ljubljana. The lecture titled "The long lasting relation between sound physics and music emotions" will be presented in English language by Dr. Franc Policardi. Due to the limited space in the conference room, a preliminary application for attendance sent by mail to is required.
 

The IEEE - IEEE PES GM 2012 annual meeting was held from 22 to 26 July 2012 in San Diego, California. This meeting presents one of the most significant world conferences in the field of electrical energy. The conference was also attended by Mr Dejan Matvoz, MSc, and Dr Miloš Maksić. They presented their paper titled "Comparison of Reactive Power Regulation Concepts of Distributed Generators in the Low Voltage Network".
 

The 9th European Conference on Noise Management EURONOISE 2012 took place from 10 to 13 June 2012 in Prague. The Milan Vidmar Electric Power Research Institute actively participated with a paper by Igor Rozman, MSc, titled "Influence of National Legislation on Noise Descriptors".
 

On 21 June 2012 we organized the Vidmar's Day 2012 symposium titled Present Views on the Sustainable Development of the Energy Supply Infrastructure. Besides EIMV, this year's symposium was also organised by the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts. We were very pleased with the large number of participants since 120 experts in the electric power industry responded to our invitation. Therefore, we would like to use this opportunity to express our gratitude to all spokespersons and participants.
 

CIRED workshop "Integration of Renewables into the Distribution Grid" was organised from 29 to 30 May 2012 in Lisbon (Portugal), which was attended by Mr Gregor Omahen and Mr Tomaž Mohar, MSc. They presented their papers titled "Impact of the SmartGrids Concept on Future Distribution System Investments in Slovenia" (G. Omahen, J. Kosmač, A. Souvent (EIMV), B. Blažič, I. Papič (FE)) and "Technical and Economic Evaluations for Dispersed Generation Connection Point Determination" (T. Mohar, L. Valenčič (EIMV)). Conference papers and materials are available at EIMV's library.
 

From 4 to 5 June 2012 the VIII IEEE Symposium on information communication technologies INTSIKT 2012 "Communications for Smart Systems" was held in Tuzla. Andrej Souvent and Matija Naglič presented their paper on the "Integration of the concepts of SmartHome and SmartGrids"
 

The international CIGRE Colloquium titled “Transformer Research and Asset Management” took place in Dubrovnik from 13 to 16 May 2012. It was successfully organised for the second time by the Croatian study committee CIGRE A2 in cooperation with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering from Zagreb. 46 papers were presented at the colloquium discussing new materials and technologies, numerical modelling of transformers as well as strategic management and constant supervision of energy transformers. The colloquium was also attended by Mrs Čuček and Mr Gradnik of the Milan Vidmar Electric Power Research Institute.
 

The Sora Radio in Slovenia hosted our researcher, Mr Vlado Djurica, who was interviewed mostly in connection with lightning. He provided a professional explanation on the emergence of lightning and how frequently sudden lightning occurs. Unfortunately, such lightning was fatal for a person who was walking across the Sora fields (Sorško polje). The recordings of the radio interview can be heard by clicking on:
 

Within the CIGRE B2 study committee that deals with the issues related to overhead cables and in the scope of the hosted CIGRE B2 consulting group “Electric Parameters of Overhead Cables”, one-day seminar was organised on 28 May in Bled, which dealt with the issues related to overhead cables. The seminar was attended by Slovenian and foreign experts who had the opportunity to exchange experience and upgrade their knowledge. Prof. Dr. Maks Babuder presented research work, implemented by the Electric Power Research Institute in this area.
 

This spring, the annual CIM Users Group conference took place in Windsor. The conference was titled "CIM Implementation and Application to Support the European Smart Grid". The CIM Users Group association is involved in semantic modelling of the electric energy system and promotes the so called Common Information Model, data profiles, IT services and architecture that is standardised within the IEC technical committee TC57. Andrej Souvent, Gašper Lakota and Vlado Djurica attended the conference. The Milan Vidmar Electric Power Research Institute will organise the next meeting in June 2013 in Ljubljana.
 

From 13 to 16 May 2012, the international CIGRE Colloquium “Power Quality and Lightning” was organised in Sarajevo (BiH), where the Milan Vidmar Electric Power Research Institute actively cooperated with scientific papers. Prof. Maks Babuder who was also the member of the organisational board, held a lecture “The Application of the SCALAR Lightning Detection and Localization System Services in the Electric Power System Operation and Planning”. He also presided one of the theme discussions. Dr. Janko Kosmač, Vlado Djurica, Gašper Lakota, Goran Milev and Miha Bečan presented their scientific papers, where they mostly discussed the SCALAR system and the protection of overhead cables protection against lightning. At this occasion, we setup the second sensor in Rogatica, which will enable the expansion of the SCALAR system in the area of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
 

On Monday, 7 May 2012, Prof Dr Maks Babuder, EIMV’s assistant director, participated at the 23rd International Electrical Engineering Symposium titled “Josip Lončar Days”, which is annually organised by the Zagreb Association for Electrical Technology. The organiser kindly invited Mr Babuder to hold a lecture titled Advanced Diagnosis of Critical Components of the Electric Power System as the influential Tool in the Asset Management. In the lecture he critically assessed modern diagnostic techniques and especially the comparison between online and offline approach, and by using specific examples, he explained the significance of food engineering practice for reliable establishment of situation and expected reliability of important devices in the electric power system.
 

On Tuesday, 8 May 2012, Dr Ivan Šmon, Prof Igor Papič and Mr Gregor Omahen presented the Smart Grids Development Programme in Slovenia and their significance for electric power distribution network as well as the Slovenian industry. The programme was prepared by the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the University of Ljubljana and Milan Vidmar Electric Power Research Institute. Media publications can be viewed in attachment.
 

The Electrical Engineering Students European Association once again organised the annual JOBFAIR 2012. The fair is intended for companies, which establish contacts with future employees who are overwhelmed with ideas and enthusiasm, as well as for students who want to learn the potential of Slovenian companies.
The Milan Vidmar Electric Power Research Institute participated at the fair (7 May 2012) and presented its activities to the students. Two departments presented their work, namely the Electric Power Plants and Facilities Environmental Effects Department, which presented its application called “Strelec” (shooter) and the activities of the High Voltage Research Laboratory, and the Environmental Department with its interesting website http://www.okolje.info/. Once again, the Institute was very pleased with the response and interest shown by the students.
 

On 27 and 28 February 2012, the High Voltage Department was being validated for the ISO 17025 system, the process included the validation of the existing system and its expansion to other areas of high voltage testing. The Department expanded its area of accredited measurements from the alternating voltage testing in dry environment to alternating voltage testing without limitations in dry environment, since the Department designed its own artificial rain device. The breakdown and direct high voltage testing methods have been added to the extended accreditation list, the expansion of the accreditation scope also includes two other testing methods. The first method is the partial discharges measurement; the second method is the measurement of radio interference voltage (RIV). Figure 1 presents the required iron construction that simulates the carrying pillar of the isolation chain. In this way the distances and operational conditions, which apply as the real situation when the isolator is operating, are completely reached. The mentioned construction is used in measuring the corona and RIV.
 

Within the scope of the documentary titled “Drive cheaper by car” Prof. Maks Babuder, PhD, spoke on the significance of electrical energy today and in the future in the “Preverjeno” TV show. The show can be viewed at: Preverjeno TV Show