Sessions

The Initiate Hub (booth #3755) will host an invite-only mixer on Monday, May 23rd, from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm. This exclusive mixer will bring together startup companies and utility innovation managers for an informal hour of networking and connecting.

Around the world, power producers are under pressure to deliver reliable, affordable, decarbonized electricity 24/365. On-demand power based on aero-derivative technology helps producers meet these competing goals. Rapidly expanding renewable energy sources provide zero-carbon generation, but wind and sun vary output. Renewable technologies are also more susceptible to damage from severe weather events such as hurricanes and snow/ice storms that can disrupt existing infrastructure. The changing generation mix from larger central plants to more distributed and intermittent power sources is making the grid less resilient. Due to the rapid growth in demand for electricity, power providers often can’t build out their energy infrastructure assets (generation, distribution, transmission, fuels) quickly enough to serve expanding populations and industry. This demand growth is further accelerated by the electrification of transportation and industrial sectors. Falling capacity margins plus increasing levels of power from intermittent sources, and cybersecurity threats, make it increasingly difficult to maintain grid reliability and power quality. As these issues become more pressing, the need is increasing for on-demand energy systems. We will detail several areas where aero-derivative on-demand power technology is addressing today’s speed imperative: -Ensuring reliable power supply in systems with increasing levels of intermittent renewable energy: Deployment of renewable power and the discovery of significant natural gas reserves in Israel have resulted in a change to the energy mix. A 400 MW natural gas power plant powered by aero-derivatives, capable of fast-start and quick ramp up/down, will provide dependable power that is critical to supporting renewables. -Helping accelerate electrification and economic growth in developing regions: Prior to installing 54 mobile aero-derivative units, regions of Algeria suffered an inadequate power supply and aging infrastructure that caused regular blackouts. Of the 1.3 GW, 350 MW of the additional capacity has been relocated quickly and affordably to address Algeria’s ever-changing needs. -Ideal solution for fast-track and mobile power generation needs: In 2019, PREPA installed three 30 MW mobile aero-derivative units to improve the resiliency of the grid following Hurricane Maria. This technology will help to achieve grid firming when natural disasters hit and will support Puerto Rico’s renewable energy objectives.

Join your colleagues for a drink on the exhibit floor! Thanks to our sponsors there will be bars available throughout the exhibit hall located at each sponsor's booth.

Networking Bar Locations:

Company	Booth Number
UBC Millwrights	5117
WEG Electric Motors	5025
S T Cotter Turbine Services Inc.	4139
Industronic Inc	4333
Tuff Tube Transition	4765

To register for the roundtables, click here!

These roundtable discussions provide excellent opportunities to network with peers while engaging with industry experts. Roundtables focused on specific industry topics are moderated by leading professionals in each field. The roundtables sell out quickly—don’t delay reserving your seat!

This session will explore the different financing mechanisms and capital structures that will be critical to enabling a more sustainable energy future and what actors will be key to making this a success. Alternative financing for medium sized players: Reconciliation, direct-pay tax credits What's next for Project Finance? CPPAs, VPPAs, and what about other options?

Hawaiian Electric Company’s (HECO) recently completed a 50 MW reciprocating engine power plant and a new 46kV switchyard on Schofield Army Barracks in Wahiawa, HI. This presentation will discuss the deal between HECO/Army/State, and how the plant was spec’d and designed to meet the needs of those stakeholders. Every design and construction decision was based on how well the result would satisfy the needs of the stakeholders. The presentation will also look at the following: • The benefits of the plant for HECO, the DOD and the local community • How the plant allows more integration of variable renewables • The trifuel design to integrate potential future LNG or a biogas as well as the local biofuel supply, and how it creates local jobs and supports local economy • Black start capability and challenges • The experience in operation after a couple of years and any lessons learned

As we see widespread power outages caused by more frequent weather and natural disasters, it's evident something needs to change. Relying only on a century-old grid design, characterized by energy produced at a distance from consumption, is no longer viable. Energy systems by 2030 have to look very different from today to keep up with the population and the electricity demand and be more resilient. Distributed generation through solar and storage must increase to firm access to electricity across all infrastructures. This is a real opportunity if distributed energy assets (DER) are connected through sophisticated communication and control systems that track the energy being generated and demand based on local economics, a communications and control system known as Dynamic Energy Management. In this session, Jacqueline DeSouza, President of Apparent, will dive into how Dynamic Energy Management uses sophisticated communications and controls data aggregation systems to match the mix of available energy (grid, solar, fuel cell, storage) in all waveforms to meet demand. DeSouza will demonstrate why this technology is at the heart of what's to come in clean energy and how it will adapt the energy generated to meet demand at every point of infrastructure, from residential and commercial microgrids to EV charging hubs and the broader energy market. Finally, DeSouza will describe how emerging technologies will improve and integrate distributed generation with the grid to achieve both and support the adoption of clean energy and EVs without a costly overhaul of grid infrastructure, providing a secure energy future for everyone.

The future of energy in Texas and the US is one of carbon-free promise, but numerous challenges face us in designing and operating an electricity system that does not emit greenhouse gasses. What is the best way to meet growing consumer demand for power while ensuring resiliency and reliability? How can we address potential disruptions to natural gas supply, given limited storage and transportation capacity? And how do we manage these challenges within a changing regulatory environment? Mario Azar, President of Power Business at Black & Veatch will kick off the Leadership Summit with a short introduction. Join us for a conversation with former US Secretary of Energy and former Governor of Texas, Rick Perry, and Brad Jones, Acting CEO of ERCOT. They have tackled energy challenges throughout the country and will weigh in on the unique issues that lie ahead as we march toward the Net-Zero Future.

Dominion Energy Innovation Center's DEIC Accelerate program introduced 15 startups to dozens of business units across Dominion Energy in its first two years. In this session, Adam Sledd of DEIC and Michael Beiro of Linebird will discuss how the program creates value for both the utility and the startups.  They will cover how a startup can maximize its opportunity to quickly build customer relationships, and how the utility benefits from creating a formal framework to engage startup companies.