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Rajiv K. Varma named 2026 Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada

Rajiv K. Varma, professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Western University, has been named a 2026 Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada. (Dan Haves/Western Engineering)

Rajiv K. Varma, professor in the department of electrical and computer engineering at Western University, has been named a 2026 Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC)—one of the highest distinctions in the Canadian engineering profession.

Varma was recognized for his excellence in engineering and exceptional service to the profession and society, joining a distinguished group of 24 engineers across Canada selected for Fellowship in 2026. The honour will be formally conferred at the EIC Gala Banquet on April 25, 2026, in Gatineau–Ottawa.

Founded in 1887, the Engineering Institute of Canada is the umbrella organization of the country’s major engineering and applied science societies and one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious engineering institutions.

“Being inducted as a Fellow of EIC is one of the highest professional honours in Canadian engineering,” said Varma. “To be selected for this incredible national honour is a truly humbling experience for me.”

Transforming power systems worldwide

An internationally recognized researcher, inventor and educator, Varma is widely known for his pioneering work in Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) and the grid integration of solar photovoltaic (PV), wind power and battery energy storage systems.

Among his most influential contributions is the invention of PV-STATCOM, a groundbreaking technology that enables solar photovoltaic (PV) farms to provide critical grid-stabilizing functions both during the NIGHT and day. By allowing solar installations to operate as a dynamic reactive power compensator STATCOM, when not generating power, the technology improves power system stability while significantly reducing costs and carbon emissions.

A typical STATCOM costs approximately $50 million. In contrast, Varma's PV-STATCOM technology, when implemented on a solar farm, provides all the functions of a new STATCOM installation at ten times lower cost.

Varma led the world’s first field demonstration of PV-STATCOM in 2016 at Bluewater Power in Sarnia, Ontario. Since then, the technology has been adopted globally. He holds 22 granted and four pending patents on PV-STATCOM technology in the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, China and India.

Today, leading global solar inverter manufacturers are marketing PV-STATCOM-based features worldwide. Several features of his patented work have been mandated in IEEE Standard 2800-2022, which applies to all transmission-connected solar farms in North America.

“This recognition from accomplished peers at EIC has given me tremendous satisfaction that my research and professional contributions have been of some value to the profession that I serve and to the society,” Varma said.

Continuing innovation with energy storage

Building on his work in solar integration, Varma has also developed BESS-STATCOM, a patented technology that enables battery energy storage systems to function as STATCOM devices. In November 2024, he led the world’s first field demonstration of BESS-STATCOM at Elexicon Energy in Ajax, Ontario.

This work earned the 2024 Innovation Excellence Award from the Electricity Distributors Association of Ontario, recognizing the collaboration between Western University and Elexicon Energy as a “game-changer for power stability in critical industries.”

Leadership, service, and global influence

In addition to his research achievements, Varma has demonstrated sustained leadership and service to the engineering profession. He has held senior roles within the IEEE Power & Energy Society, including serving as chair of the “HVDC and FACTS Subcommittee” and has made significant contributions to international standards development.

He is the author of two pioneering and highly cited books, “FACTS” and “Smart Solar PV Inverters,” published by Wiley/IEEE Press, which are used by engineers and researchers worldwide. His book on FACTS has also been published in Chinese and Southeast Asian editions.

Varma credits his journey to a global network of collaborators and mentors. “I have learned from everyone with whom I have collaborated,” he said. “Every collaborator had a unique style of thinking and executing ideas, which greatly influenced me.” He added that mentorship from pioneering leaders in his field remains among the most inspiring experiences of his career.

Excellence in teaching and mentorship

At Western, Varma is equally respected for his commitment to education. He has received 13 Teaching Excellence Awards, reflecting his long-standing dedication to student learning and mentorship.

“I often share anecdotes from my professional life with my students,” he said. “These real-world experiences of successes and failures have a much deeper impact than theory alone. Years later, students tell me how those lessons helped them navigate challenges in their careers. That gives me immense satisfaction and happiness.”

Reflecting on the honour, Varma expressed profound gratitude to the institutions and people who shaped his career. He acknowledged the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, where he received his entire electrical engineering education (undergrad and PhD) and began his academic career. He also expressed his gratitude to Western University for providing exceptional research facilities, academic freedom and unwavering support throughout.

“It is easy to say ‘I’ and ‘my’ in describing a lifetime’s work,” he said, “but behind these words are the unflinching support and sacrifices of my family. Without them, none of this would have been possible. I owe this recognition to them—and above all to the grace of God.”

With his induction as a 2026 EIC Fellow, Varma joins an elite group of engineers whose work continues to shape the future of energy systems in Canada and around the world.