The second edition of the SynGRID Summer School took place from 20 to 24 April 2026 at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), hosted by the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS). Following the inaugural edition held in Slovenia, this year’s school brought together more than 20 participants from across Europe and beyond for an intensive five-day programme dedicated to the theme of Intelligent and Secure Power Systems – Microgrids, Control, Stability and Real-Time Validation.

A Rich Academic Programme

The five-day programme was opened by Prof. Nikos Hatziargyriou (NTUA), followed by expert lectures covering microgrids and their control, Power Plant Controller implementation for grid compliance, battery energy storage systems (BESS) as the backbone of future power systems, photovoltaic systems and prosumer grid integration, smart grids as cyber-physical systems, and cybersecurity in smart grid environments.

Speakers included Prof. Aris Dimeas, Dr. Vasilis Kleftakis, Athanasios Vasilakis, and Alkistis Kontou (NTUA); Prof. Damir Šljivac (FERIT, University of Osijek); Dr. Edin Lakic (University of Ljubljana); and Foivos Palaiogiannis (Grant Thornton Greece). The closing lecture was delivered by Dr. Tomi Medved (University of Ljubljana), who shared insights on key challenges and opportunities in the energy sector, emphasising the need for stronger coordination, smarter use of data, and more adaptive regulation to support the transition towards a sustainable energy system. Discussions stretched well beyond the scheduled sessions, reflecting the level of engagement among attendees.

Hands-On Laboratory Session and Industry Visit

A dedicated laboratory session at the NTUA Electric Energy Systems Laboratory (EESL) gave participants direct experience with a real test microgrid integrating photovoltaic panels, a battery storage system, and a wind turbine. Through real-time simulations on the RTDS platform, attendees observed grid-forming and grid-following modes of the battery inverter and conducted practical exercises on power flow analysis, grid fault scenarios, and droop control via Controller Hardware-in-the-Loop (CHIL) testing.

The next day, the group took a trip to HEDNO (Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator), where participants explored the operational challenges of non-interconnected island grids and saw a live demonstration of HEDNO’s SCADA-EMS monitoring and control platform. The day concluded with a guided visit to the Acropolis Museum, connecting engineering practice with local culture and history.

Closing and Looking Ahead

The final day was dedicated to reflection and exchange. The closing lecture by Dr. Tomi Medved addressed key challenges and opportunities across the energy sector, emphasising the need for stronger stakeholder coordination, smarter use of data, and more adaptive regulation on the path to a sustainable energy system. Participants then shared feedback and ideas for future editions.

The SynGRID consortium extends its sincere gratitude to ICCS–NTUA to all participants for their curiosity and enthusiasm throughout the week!

The third edition of the SynGRID Summer School is planned for 2027. Stay tuned for further announcements on the SynGRID website and social media channels.