On 24 February 2026, OVE, the Austrian Electrotechnical Association, and the Technology Platform Smart Grids Austria co-organized OVE DC Day 2026, a one-day conference held in Vienna that brought together 120 experts from across the energy sector to discuss the transformative potential of DC technologies.
The Implementation Working Group (IWG) on DC technologies – supported by the DCforEU project, of which IEEE is a consortium partner – contributed two keynote speakers to the opening session, covering perspectives spanning academia, industry and policy. Their presentations addressed two critical areas: the potential and need for offshore energy hubs in the future European grid, and the IWG’s efforts to engage the scientific and industrial communities, policymakers, and consumers to raise awareness and prioritization of DC Technologies as key enablers for reaching the EU’s 2050 climate targets.
The remainder of the agenda brought the latest perspectives on DC technology in research, innovation, and application. Presentations highlighted movements underway in countries such as Austria, the Netherlands, and Germany, alongside insights from key industry players, and discussions ranged from DC micro-grids to medium-voltage distribution networks. The day concluded with a session on DC charging research and applications, followed by a panel discussion on charging standards (Link to presentations).
During the event, Professor Rik De Doncker from RWTH Aachen highlighted the critical role of Medium Voltage DC technology, a voltage range that is currently not directly represented in the IWG’s working groups. We asked him to elaborate on the role and significance of medium voltage and its role in the power system.
We also talked to IWG members Dirk van Hertem, Professor at KU Leuven, and chair of the IWG, Harry Stokman, co-chair representing the LVDC subgroup, and Angelo L’Abbate, country representative for Italy, to elaborate on the key messages and takeaways from the OVE DC Day.
The following day, 25 February, IEEE Europe hosted a meeting of the IWG at its offices at the Austrian Standards. Fifty-eight participants – joining both in-person and online from the LVDC and HVDC subgroups, including country representatives from academia and industry, and a representative from the European Commission’s DG Energy – engaged in a full-day workshop. The goal was to shape the R&I roadmap for DC technologies, bringing together key stakeholders to align on next steps and implementation priorities.