ICEM 2025 – Plenary Speaker
Date: Wednesday 04 June 2025
Time: 9:00 – 10:40
Place: Sala dei Giganti
Speaker Profile
Bruno Meyer has an extensive background in the energy industry. He joined EDF (Electricité de France) in 1985, starting at the R&D division, and later held several senior executive positions. In 2009, he joined RTE, France’s Transmission Operator, as Senior Executive. From 2011 to 2016, Bruno was CEO of the telecom company ARTERIA, before returning to RTE. Since 2021, he has been the Secretary General of GO15, the association of very large power grid operators.
Bruno has published over 80 papers or conference papers and is a Fellow of IEEE. He served as IEEE Vice President for Technical Activities in 2022 and was a member of the Board of Directors of IEEE in 2018, 2019, and 2022. At IEEE, he launched a program on Climate Change.
Bruno holds a B.Sc. from Unicamp (Brazil), an M.Sc. from USP (Brazil), and a Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh. He is currently the president of the consulting firm ConsultBKM.
Topic: Net Zero and Energy Transition: The Role and Importance of Power Systems
Net zero is a global strategic concern that can be achieved through different routes. Energy efficiency is one approach, while another focuses on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This can be addressed on the consumption side by increasing electrification, such as replacing internal combustion engines with Electric Vehicles (EVs). However, the main driver of the Energy Transition is increasing the share of Variable Renewable Energy (VRE), such as wind and photovoltaics (PV), in the electricity mix.
Since the turn of the century, the development of VRE has been remarkable, driven by new regulations, customer expectations, and dramatic cost reductions in technologies like PV. This shift has presented significant challenges for power system operators, whose primary mission is to ensure reliable electricity with stable frequency and voltage – essentially, to “keep the lights on.”
To achieve the energy transition, massive investment in non-fossil fuel generation (VRE, hydro, and nuclear) is necessary and widely understood. What is less commonly recognised is that investment in transmission grids is equally crucial. As the saying goes, “No Transmission, No Transition.”
During the session, Bruno will explain how the energy transition is transforming the landscape for power system operators. He will discuss the main challenges they have faced, the progress made, ongoing work, and what lies ahead. He will emphasise how a potential gridlock could hinder the energy transition, while also highlighting how grid investment not only facilitates the connection of new generation sources but also enhances system reliability.
