Beibei (Helen) Ren, a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas Tech University, has received the IEEE Standards Association Working Group Award

Beibei (Helen) Ren, a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas Tech University, has received the IEEE Standards Association Working Group Award in recognition of her dedication and service as Secretary of the IEEE 2988 Virtual Synchronous Machines Working Group from 2021 to 2024.

Under the group’s leadership, the team successfully developed and published IEEE Std 2988-2024: IEEE Recommended Practice for Use and Functions of Virtual Synchronous Machines, recently approved by the IEEE.

The new standard defines the fundamental principles, essential functions, and optional functions of virtual synchronous machines (VSMs), a technology that allows power electronic converters to emulate the behavior of traditional synchronous machines. By establishing standardized practices for various applications including single-unit, multi-unit, islanded/off-grid, and grid-tied operations — IEEE Std 2988-2024 enables large-scale integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) into modern power systems.

The standard is a significant step toward a smoother transition from conventional machine-based electrical grids to power electronics-based grids that incorporate millions of diverse, non-synchronous energy players, ultimately promoting broader energy access and energy independence.

As Secretary, Ren played a key organizational and technical role, supporting the Working Group Chair, coordinating activities, maintaining records and meeting minutes, and facilitating collaboration among experts from leading companies and institutions such as GE, Hitachi Energy, Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric, and Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, as well as universities and regulatory bodies.

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