Agenda

Welcome to the New Era

Microgrid Knowledge editors host a discussion about current trends shaping the industry. Elisa Wood announces the winners of the 2020 Microgrid Greater Good Awards.

Explore the Platform Break

Here is time to set your agenda, update your profile and make appointments with solutions providers and others you want to meet.

(Track 1) Why We Were First: Views on Microgrids from the Industry’s Early Leaders

Many players, big and small, have entered the booming microgrid market. But just five years ago their numbers were few. Here the early leaders explain what they saw before others, the technology’s value today, and a look at what’s ahead.

Elisa Wood, Editor-in-Chief of Microgrid Knowledge interviews:

• Annette Clayton, CEO & President, North America
  Operations, Schneider Electric
• Ruth Gratzke, President of Siemens Smart Infrastructure
• Mike Edmonds, Chief Commercial Officer, S&C Electric Company

(Track 2) Introduction to Microgrids: 101 Workshop

For those in the early stages of researching microgrids, we offer a tutorial on microgrid technology, operations, and uses.

Moderator: Elisa Wood, Editor-in-Chief, Microgrid Knowledge

Panel:

• Michael Boswell, VP, Distributed Generation Projects 24, Concord Engineering
• Michael Coskun, Director, Business Development, S&C Electric
• Tom Hawes, Eastern Director Microgrids and NWA, S&C Electric
• Scott Kessler, Head US Microgrid Strategy and Sales, Siemens

Networking with Solution Providers

Here is your opportunity to meet with 35 exhibitors. Watch tutorials, demos and have one-on-one or group Zoom calls with experienced microgrid solution providers.

Virtual Microgrid Tour: PennMed Princeton Medical Center

Have a look inside this advanced microgrid. Hear from the designer, engineers and operator. Then ask them questions after the tour.

Panel:

• Joe Sullivan, VP,  Energy Policy and Development, Concord Engineering
• Robert Tweed, Development Engineering Manager, Clearway Energy, Inc.
• Mike Webster, CTO, Icetec Energy Services

Sponsored by:

(Track 1) Wind, Waves, Wildfire: How Microgrids Serve in a Time of Climate Crisis

Where, why and how are microgrids being developed to ensure electric reliability and resilience in a world increasingly threatened by natural disasters?

Panel Moderator: Matt Roberts, Director of Strategic Growth & Government Affairs, Microgrid Knowledge

• Mark Linehan, Direct Relief, Vice Chair
• Jesse Gerstin, Director of Sustainable Business Development,  Simpliphi Power
• Roy Torbert, Rocky Mountain Institute Islands Program
• Caitlin Bonney, Schneider Electric, Microgrid Competency Center

Sponsored by:

(Track 2) Ways Your Microgrid Can Make (or Save) Money

Microgrids are far more than backup generation. In operation all the time, they are able to save and make money for their owners through intelligent control of load and by selling services to the grid. Here’s how it works.

Moderator: David Jones, Manager, ICF

Panel:

• Allan Schurr, Chief Commercial Officer, Enchanted Rock
• Bryan Knight, Director of Structured Finance, Powersecure
• Chris Davidson, Director, Distributed Energy Systems Portfolio – Region America, Siemens Solutions and Services

Sponsored by:

Networking with Solutions Providers

Or

Birds of a Feather Meetings (Hospitals and Healthcare Or Community Planners)

• Hospitals and Healthcare: Seth Baruch, National Director, Energy and Utilities, Kaiser Permanente
• Communities: Fidel Maltez, Commissioner, Department of Public Works, Chelsea City Hall, Chelsea, Mass.

Birds of a Feather meetings are peer-to-peer gatherings for professionals who work within specific industries and registered for the Microgrid 2020 conference. To find out more, email: Kevin@microgridknowledge.com

Sponsored by:

(Track 1) The Microgrid Innovation Showcase 

Three leading microgrid companies offer an inside look at innovative microgrids in this webinar-style session.

Moderator: Elisa Wood, Editor-in-Chief, Microgrid Knowledge

Panel:

• Nathan Adams, Director, Technology and Business Development, Hitachi ABB Power Grids
• John Vernacchia, Segment Manager, Renewable Energy, North America Sales, Electrical, Eaton
• Joseph Vitella, Senior Manager, Engineering, Ameresco

(Track 2) Microgrid Financing and Energy-as-a-Service

How do you pay for your microgrid? Here we look at both project and customer financing, particularly energy-as-a-service, an approach growing rapidly in popularity because it requires no capital investment by the microgrid customer.

Moderator: Matt Roberts, Director of Strategic Growth & Government Affairs, Microgrid Knowledge

Panel:

• Matthew Walters, Head, Distributed Energy Systems (Americas), Siemens
• Kristel Watson, Chief Commercial Officer, Scale Microgrid
• Rob Hong, Founder, Sapling Financial

Networking with Solutions
Providers

(Track 1) Global Drivers for Microgrids

Microgrids are now a worldwide phenomenon. Here we give you a tour of global efforts in the words of those leading the way.

Moderator:

Matt Roberts, Director of Strategic Growth and Policy, Microgrid Knowledge

Panel:

• Patrick Lee, CEO, Pxise
• Manoj Sinha, CEO, Husk Power Systems
• Karim Wazni, Managing Director, Microgrids and Storage Solutions,
  Aggreko
• James Bennett, President, Scylla

(Track 2) Microgrid Project Life Cycle: From Inquiry through Operation (Microgrid 101) 

Where do you begin if you want a microgrid for your facility? What are the steps from development through operation? What parties are involved? Who operates and maintains the microgrid after it’s installed?

Moderator: Elisa Wood, Editor-in-Chief, Microgrid Knowledge

Panel:

• Mike Byrnes, Senior Vice President, Veolia North America, Veolia
• Carl Lockhart, Chief Assistant Officer, DCO Energy
• David Matuseski, Engineering Director, New Technology, Cummins

Sponsored by:

Facing the Climate Challenge and Creating a New Grid: Editorial Round Table

Microgrid Knowledge editors host a discussion about how microgrids, distributed energy and electrification help shape a new, more climate-friendly grid.

Explore the Platform Break

Here is time to set your agenda, update your profile and make appointments with solutions providers and others you want to meet.

(Track 1) How Far and How Fast Can Microgrids Grow over the Next Decade?

What’s driving microgrid growth? What technologies, business models and customer groups offer the most potential over the next decade? Industry leaders and analysts provide their views.

Moderator: Matt Roberts, Director of Strategic Growth and Government Affairs, Microgrid Knowledge

Panel:

• Peter Asmus, Research Director, Guidehouse
• Tim Hade, Co-Founder and COO, Scale Microgrids
• Asim Hussain, Vice President, Commercial Strategy & Customer Experience, Bloom Energy

Sponsored by:

(Track 2) Bringing it Home Part I: Residential Microgrids of the Future

Viewed not so long ago as futuristic, home microgrids and nanogrids are now beginning to emerge as homeowners grow increasingly concerned about energy reliability, cost and their environmental footprint. Here we look at projects and technologies for residential microgrids in a session designed to inform forward-looking home builders and their customers. 

Moderator: AJ Perkins, President, InstantOn

Panel:

• Gary Oppedahl, Vice President, Emerging Technologies, Emera Technologies
• Vic Burconak, CEO and President, Koben
• Cisco DeVries, President & CTO, OhmConnect

Networking with Solution Providers

Here is your opportunity to meet with 35 exhibitors. Watch tutorials, demos and have one-on-one or group Zoom calls with experienced microgrid solution providers.

Microgrid Workshop: Solutions to Integrating Energy Storage and Renewables into a Microgrid

Integrating renewable energy into a microgrid can be tricky. Attend this workshop to learn the proper way to add sustainable assets to your microgrid.

Moderator: Matt Baker, Director Microgrids and Critical Power, Typhoon HIL

Panel:

• Lance Haines, Chief Technology Officer, Microgrids, Schneider Electric
• Jorge Elizondo, Chief Technology Officer, Heila Technologies
• Bill Becker, Renewable Energy Sales Manager, ComAp
• David Dunnett, Head of Software Development, Rolls-Royce
• Tilo Buehler, Global Product Manager, Grid Edge Solutions, Hitachi ABB

Sponsored by:

(Track 1) The Future of Grids, Micro and Macro?

Microgrids and the macrogrid are evolving because of their interplay and the growing use of renewables, analytics and intelligent software. What will this mean to energy delivery in the future? What kind of new services can we expect? In this panel discussion, innovators debate how the grid will transform over the next decade.

Moderator: Jacqueline Derosa, Vice President, Ameresco

Panel:

• Kay Aikin, CEO, Dynamic Grid
• Julieta Giraldez, Senior Engineer, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• Rob Gramlich, President, Grid Strategies

Sponsored by:

(Track 2) Bringing it Home Part II: Community Microgrids of the Future 

From smart neighborhood blocks to social-minded tribal communities, here’s a look at how to develop and operate community microgrids, and use them as tools to promote community ideals, education and quality of life.

Moderator: Elisa Wood, Editor-in-chief, Microgrid Knowledge

Panel:

• Kate Ringness, Co-Founder and Managing Director, SmartBlock
• Michelle Moore, CEO, Groundswell
• Todd Rath, Reynolds Landing, Director of Marketing Services, Alabama Power, Southern Co.
• Marshall Worth, Senior Product Engineer, PowerSecure, Southern Co.

Networking with Solutions Providers

Or

Birds of a Feather Meetings (Universities and schools or utilities)

Discussion Leaders:

• Universities & Schools: Maria Cimilluca, Vice President Facilities Management, Northeastern University
• Utilities: Olga Chistyakova, Senior Manager, Clean Energy, Edison Electric Institute

Birds of a Feather meetings are peer-to-peer gatherings for professionals who work within specific industries and registered for the Microgrid 2020 conference. To find out more, email: Kevin@microgridknowledge.com

(Track 1) Load Flexibility: The New Grid Zeitgeist

Use of flexible DERs and flexible load is growing in sophistication with the rise of microgrids, virtual power plants and energy storage. What new break-thoughs have we seen and what’s ahead?

Moderator: James Rilett, S&P Global Platts, Global Innovation Director

Panel:

• Bill Blevins, Director of Grid Coordination, ERCOT
• Ryan Hledik, Principal, Brattle Group
• Ahmad Faruqui, Principal, Brattle Group
• Corey Amthor, President, Enchanted Rock

(Track 2) Ask Me Anything: A Live Q&A with Microgrid Customers 

Here’s an opportunity to get an inside view from businesses and institutions that are microgrid customers. What did it take to develop, finance and install? What were the challenges? Did the technology live up to its promise? Bring your questions to this live session. They’ll supply the answers.

Moderator: Matt Roberts, Director of Strategic Growth & Government Affairs

Panel:

• Seth Baruch, National Director, Energy & Utilities, Kaiser Permanente
• Maria Cimilluca, Vice President Facilities Management, Northeastern University
• Rudy Terry, Director, Smart Grid & Sustainability, PIDC

Networking with Solutions Providers

Here is your opportunity to meet with 35 exhibitors. Watch tutorials, demos and have one-on-one or group Zoom calls with experienced microgrid solution providers.

The Future of Microgrid Markets

What are the untapped markets for microgrids and what regulatory and rule changes are needed to open them up?

Moderator: Matt Roberts, Director of Strategic Growth & Government Affairs, Microgrid Knowledge

Panel:

• Norman Bay, former FERC Commissioner, Law Firm
• Marissa Gillett, Chairman, Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority
• Lon Huber, VP, Rate Design, Duke Energy
• Eric Coffman, Director of Energy Programs, Maryland Energy Administration

Shaping the Future of the Energy Industry Together: Editorial Round Table

Microgrid Knowledge editors host a discussion about policy and market changes needed to drive microgrids forward.

Explore the Platform Break

Here is time to set your agenda, update your profile and make appointments with solutions providers and others you want to meet.

(Track 1) Policy/Markets Workshop (Interactive Polling)

How must energy policy change to drive the microgrid market forward? Here we invite attendees to participate in an interactive poll to make their priorities known. We’ll review and discuss answers and vote on priorities.

Moderator: Matt Roberts, Director of Strategic Growth and Policy, Microgrid Knowledge

Panel:

• Andrea Camp, Pollster, CSI
• Ben Parvey, CEO, Blue Sky
• Mona Sheth, Policy, Schneider Electric

(Track 2) Solutions to Microgrid Engineering & Technical Challenges

Leaders in microgrid engineering describe challenges they’ve faced in designing, installing and operating microgrids and how they solved them.

Moderator: Phil Gonski, Project Manager, The Burns Group

Panel:

• Scott Manson, Technology Director, SEL
• Alexandra L. Schwertner, Advanced Energy Business Development Manager, Rockwell Automation
• Jason Philhower, Senior Electrical Engineer, Power Engineers

Networking with Solution Providers

Here is your opportunity to meet with 35 exhibitors. Watch tutorials, demos and have one-on-one or group Zoom calls with experienced microgrid solution providers.

(Track 1) Applying Risk Assessment to Microgrid Reliability

It’s important to do regular testing and measurement of your microgrid installation. In this workshop you’ll learn testing methods to ensure your microgrid is ready when you really need it.

Moderator: Kevin Normandeau, Publisher, Microgrid Knowledge

Panel:

• George Baker, Director of Engineering, Wellspan York Hospital
• Stephen Fairfax, President, MTechnology
• Mark Martyak, Chief Asset Officer, PowerSecure

Sponsored by:

(Track 2) Technology Innovation Showcase

Software and technology companies demonstrate some of the latest innovations in microgrids and distributed energy.

Moderator: Elisa Wood, Editor-in-Chief, Microgrid Knowledge

Panel:

• The Evolution of Microgrid Control,
  Amanda Kabak, CTO, CleanSpark
• Open Source Software and Microgrids,
  Ken Dulaney, Director of Industry and Innovation, FREEDM Systems Center
• Understanding Microgrid Controls from Development through Application,
  Hassan Obeid, Global Technical Advisor – Systems and Controls, Cummins
• Carbonate Fuel Cell Technology, Michael Palmer, Director – Business Development, FuelCell Energy
• EMT Simulation for Microgrids,
  Kati Sidwall, Simulation Specialist, RTDS

Networking with Solutions Providers

Or

Birds of a Feather Meeting (Microgrid codes and standards)

Discussion Leader:

• Matt Willis, CEO, Megawatt Energy

Birds of a Feather are peer-to-peer meetings. This gathering is for professionals who are working in the area of microgrid codes and standards and registered for the Microgrid 2020 conference. To find our more, email: Kevin@microgridknowledge.com

(Track 1) Energy Resilience for All: Access, Equity and Social Justice

In this webinar, we’ll learn about some of the most innovative efforts underway to ensure that all populations worldwide — from immigrants on the Mexican border to villagers high in the Himalayas — reap the benefits of microgrids.

Moderator: Elisa Wood, Editor-in-Chief, Microgrid Knowledge

Panel:

• Fidel Maltez, Commissioner of Public Works, City of Chelsea, Mass.
• Jen Stevenson-Zepeda, Associate Director, Climable
• Will Heegaard, Founder/Director, Footprint Project
• Paras Loomba, Founder, Global Himalayan Expedition

(Track 2) Emerging Technology Applications

The microgrid concept is expanding to embrace new fuels, technologies, and configurations. Here we look at how these innovations are being applied to microgrids.

Moderator: Matt Roberts, Director of Audience Development and Policy, Microgrid Knowledge

Panel:

• Brian Curtis, CEO, Concentric Power
• Jessica Matthews, Founder, Uncharted Power
• Laura Nelson, Director, Green Hydrogen Coalition
• Jie Zhang, Assistant Professor, UT Dallas

Networking with Solution Providers

Here is your opportunity to meet with 35 exhibitors. Watch tutorials, demos and have one-on-one or group Zoom calls with experienced microgrid solution providers.

Leaders Call to Action

In a live session, the Microgrid Knowledge Advisory Board discusses what needs to happen next for society to realize the full value of microgrids — and issues a call to action.

Moderator: Matt Roberts, Director of Audience Development and Policy, Microgrid Knowledge

Panel:

• Mike Bakas, Executive Vice President, Ameresco
• Eric Dupont, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, PowerSecure
• Mark Feasel, President, Smart Grid, Schneider
• Erik Svanholm, Vice President of Non-Wires Alternatives, S&C Electric
• Jim Taylor, VP Business Solutions, Digital Grid, Siemens Industry
• Michael Boswell, Vice President – Distributed Generation Projects, Concord Engineering