The 4th Microgrid Global Innovation Forum in Washington, D.C. will examine latest advances and lessons learned in North America deployments May 16-17, 2017
The microgrid market opportunity in the U.S. is projected to double from $836 million in 2016 to $1.66 billion in 2020, according to GTM Research.* The drivers behind this include the need for greater grid reliability and resiliency, the integration and control of distributed energy resources into the grid, as well as the desire by commercial and industrial end users to control energy costs and adopt more on-site renewable energy generation.
The 4th Microgrid Global Innovation Forum, May 16-17, 2017 in Washington, D.C. brings together key thought leaders, utilities, energy providers, and other stakeholders to examine the latest technology developments and lessons learned in the design, implementation and operation of hybrid renewable energy microgrids.
“This will be a tremendous opportunity to interact directly with companies at the cutting-edge of microgrid deployment,” says Daniel Coran, editor of the Smart Grid Observer and program manager of the forum. “Top utilities will be speaking who are pushing the envelope in terms of leveraging microgrids for grid resiliency, service flexibility, and DER integration.”
This 4th edition of the forum will zero in on refining the value proposition and business case for microgrids in North America, integration with the larger grid, and case studies of grid-tied and off-grid projects and pilots to date.
Confirmed speakers for the Washington, D.C. forum include:
– Thomas Leyden, senior director, distributed electricity & storage, EDF Renewable Energy
– Todd Horsman, senior director, strategy & product development, CPS Energy
– Aleksandar Vukojevic, manager-emerging technologies office, Duke Energy
– Robert S. Stewart, manager-smart grid & technology, Pepco Holdings
– Shiv Mani, senior policy analyst, FERC**
– Michael T. Burr, director, Microgrid Institute
– Jim T. Gallagher, executive director, New York State Smart Grid Consortium
– Brian Yung, market design specialist – Distributed Resource Integration, New York Independent System Operator
– Peter H. Asmus, principal research analyst, Navigant
– Tom Willie, CEO, Blue Pillar
– Kenneth Munson, co-founder and CEO, Sunverge Energy
– Adel Nasiri, Ph.D., director, Center for Sustainable Electrical Energy Systems,
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
– Thomas McAndrew, founding partner, president and CEO, Enchanted Rock
– Bud Vos, president and CEO, Enbala Power Networks
– Oliver Waissbein, energy finance specialist, UN Development Program
– Andy Haun, microgrids CTO, North America Operations, Schneider Electric
– Ryan Edge, SETS program manager, Smart Electric Power Alliance
The forum will be held May 16-17, 2017 in the Marvin Center at the George Washington University. Previous versions of the forum have been held in Irvine, California; Barcelona, Spain; and Lisbon, Portugal.
Topics to be addressed during the two-day conference include:
– Opportunities, Challenges and Market Forecasts
– Assessing Microgrid Potential and Performance to Date
– Adaptive Microgrids: Technology Advances and Utility Business Models
– Energy Storage Developments and Applications for Microgrids
– Lessons from the Implementation of Utility-Owned Islandable Microgrids
– Microgrids, Virtual Power Plants, and the Emerging Energy Cloud
– System Operations, Power Control, and Grid Integration / Interoperability
– Public-Private Partnerships and Utility Cooperation in Microgrids
– Utility’s Strategy and Vision for Handling Distributed Energy Resources
– Microgrids-as-a-Service: Delivering Resiliency, Efficiency, Sustainability
– International Microgrids: Opportunities in the Developing World
“North America is a key market for microgrid growth,” Coran notes. “This forum is unique in that attendees will hear directly from utilities who have real world lessons to share and who will be discussing success strategies in this market going forward.”
Presentations at the forum will examine the current environment in the U.S. for microgrids, especially under the current Trump administration with its preference for “traditional” sources of generation. “Despite what might seem to be a collision course between shifting U.S. energy priorities and technology trends, there is a market where DERs and other Trump priorities align: military microgrids,” says Peter Asmus, principal research analyst at Navigant and overall conference chair. “Interestingly enough, the nation’s new Secretary of Defense James Mattis has revealed that he is a big fan of microgrids, particularly those that integrate solar PV.”
In addition to military applications, the event will examine developments and opportunities in other growth sectors in North America, including community resilience and utility distribution microgrids. “These have received far more attention,” Asmus notes. “Prime reasons being new state programs offering funding, such as Connecticut’s, and a growing list of utilities investigating the microgrid opportunity.” Asmus will be delivering the opening address at the forum, as well as moderating several sessions over the two-day event.
Microgrid Knowledge is an Official Media Partner for this event. Attendees who enter the special discount code “MGK15” when registering for the Washington Forum will receive 15 percent off the standard rates.
For full information and to register, visit www.microgridinnovation.com
*U.S. Microgrids 2016: Market Drivers, Analysis and Forecast, GTM Research
** Participating independently; views do not represent official FERC policy
