Taulant Kërçi, a power system specialist at EirGrid, has received two major international honours recognising his contribution to the global energy transition.

He has been named a 2026 ESIG Excellence Award winner and also secured IEEE's 2025 Best Paper Award, underscoring his impact on the integration of renewable energy into power systems. EirGrid operates and develops Ireland’s electricity grid.

The Energy Systems Integration Group’s Excellence Awards are presented annually to energy professionals worldwide for achievements that advance the planning, operation and evolution of energy systems in economic and sustainable ways. Kërçi was recognised for driving reliable large load integration across ESIG, IEEE, CIGRE and other international forums, through open knowledge sharing and technical rigour.

His work has informed best-practice approaches for system operators globally, deepening collective understanding of how to accommodate complex new demands on modern grids. This includes methodologies that support secure and efficient operation as electricity systems absorb greater volumes of renewable and other emerging technologies.

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Speaking after receiving the award, Kërçi said: "EirGrid plays a central role in Ireland's drive to reduce emissions and meet national climate ambitions. Our involvement with organisations such as ESIG ensures we continue to draw on world leading research and global best practice. This collaboration strengthens our ongoing work to deliver a more reliable, secure and resilient electricity grid for Ireland."

He added: "This award is a valued recognition of the commitment and expertise across EirGrid, as we work to ensure that 80% of Ireland’s electricity comes from renewable sources in line with Government targets. It highlights Ireland's position at the forefront of global power system development and our dedication to building a cleaner, more secure energy future."

Earlier this year, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) — the world’s largest technical professional organisation dedicated to advancing technology for humanity — awarded Kërçi its 2025 Best Paper Award in the IEEE Journal of Power and Energy. The paper is titled 'Asymmetry of Frequency Distribution in Power Systems: Sources, Estimation, Impact and Control'.

The study investigates a newly observed, real‑world phenomenon in systems with high penetrations of inverter‑based renewable generation: asymmetric frequency distributions. It shows how this asymmetry can degrade frequency control performance and reduce overall system effectiveness, with implications for operational strategies and control design.