Grid Modernization: Challenges and Lessons Learned
The talk discusses the urgent transformation of the electric power grid to meet rising energy demands—especially from data centers—while enabling large-scale renewable integration and enhanced resilience. It emphasizes the need for advanced technologies, strategic planning tools, and coordinated technical, regulatory, and financial frameworks to ensure a sustainable energy transition. The speaker, Pavanchandra Mandava, a Principal Engineer at NextEra Energy, brings over a decade of global experience in power systems, renewable integration, and grid modernization.
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- 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL, 33431
- Boca Raton, Florida
- United States 33431-0992
- Building: Engineering East
- Room Number: 209
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- Co-sponsored by IEEE Palm Beach PES Chapter
Speakers
Pavan of NextEra Energy
Grid Modernization: Challenges and Lessons Learned
The electric power grid is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the exponential growth in energy demand—particularly from data centers—alongside evolving policy mandates and the global imperative to decarbonize. The legacy grid, built for a different era, is increasingly ill-equipped to support the scale and complexity of modern energy systems. To enable large-scale load integration, seamless renewable energy interconnections, and the deployment of new transmission infrastructure, the grid must evolve into a more agile, resilient, and intelligent system. This transition calls for not only advanced technological solutions and generation resources but also sophisticated planning tools capable of managing the dynamics of a highly distributed and variable-energy-landscape. Such a comprehensive transformation demands significant capital investment and robust policy frameworks. A coordinated, systems-level approach to project planning and execution—encompassing technical, regulatory, and financial dimensions—is essential to ensure a successful and sustainable energy transition, particularly in geographically isolated power systems where reliability and resilience are paramount.
Biography:
Pavanchandra Mandava is a seasoned energy and power systems professional with a global project portfolio. He brings over a decade of experience spanning power systems consulting, electric utilities, industrial and commercial facilities, and data centers. His technical expertise encompasses substation design, protection & controls, protective relaying, renewable energy integration, energy market operations, microgrids, data centers, and distributed energy resources (DERs). He has collaborated extensively with utilities, renewable energy developers, and large-scale industrial and commercial clients—including mission-critical data center operations—supporting complex grid modernization and clean energy transition initiatives. He holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University and currently serves as a Principal Engineer at NextEra Energy, USA.
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