The Plant Management Institute Forum Tuesday, October 8 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday, October 9 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
The Plant Management Institute Reception Tuesday, October 8 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
The Plant Management Institute prides itself on being an open forum for free-flowing conversations about the challenges facing today’s plant manager/resource manager. With the power industry needing to address numerous changes to operations, some of the topics we normally cover have taken on new meanings or directions. Now more than ever, it’s time to reconnect with your peers to share stories of the challenges, and your solutions, to these challenges that have been tried and tested.
If you are tasked with running a power plant, are responsible for the resources that supply power, or are in a supervisory role, this forum is geared for you. We will open the forum with a top-of-mind, roundtable discussion, and as topics become evident, we will consider those that are most important to a plant’s successful operation. We will then look as a group at those challenges, discussing those that are critical for operation and also those that may not be critical, but also can’t be ignored.
Add on Plant Management Institute during registration to get your pass to this important forum. Plant Management Institute is only available to electricity generating companies/utilities.
The Plant Management Institute is a network of electric power industry leaders dedicated to creating a forum and peer support network for knowledge transfer among the industry’s plant management.
This session focuses on developing a robust safety culture within organizations, emphasizing proactive strategies and effective crisis management. Key topics include the implementation of Emergency Action Plans (EAP) at the station level for active incidents and the integration of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) for coordinated responses. We will explore comprehensive crisis plans for engaging with the community and public during emergencies. Additionally, the session will cover GeoTab for driving safety discussions and the Safe Start program, highlighting methods to encourage near-miss reporting and streamline the reporting process. Experts will share insights on transforming deep-rooted safety issues and fostering an environment where open communication and safety sharing are the norms. Join us to learn best practices for enhancing safety culture and ensuring the well-being of your team and community.
In this session, we will delve into the complex and ever-evolving landscape of environmental regulations and their impact on power plant operations. We will explore the nuances of the 111 Rules, highlighting the key differences and their implications for compliance and operational efficiency. Additionally, the session will cover EOP-011, with a focus on its significance for winterization efforts, referencing insights from our dedicated session on this critical topic. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of how to navigate these regulatory challenges, ensuring their plants remain both compliant and resilient in the face of changing environmental standards. Join us to stay ahead in the environmental chess game and avoid operational pitfalls.
Join us for an in-depth exploration of real-world experiences and lessons learned in the renewable energy sector. This session will cover critical aspects such as the availability of parts, focusing on inverters, microprocessors, and the evolving dynamics of keeping up with technological advancements. We will discuss strategies for replacing outdated components to ensure the longevity and efficiency of renewable energy systems. The session will also address the issue of solar fires, examining causes, prevention methods, and best practices for safety. Additionally, experts will provide insights into the permitting process, sharing tips for navigating regulatory landscapes effectively. Whether you are involved in solar, wind, or other renewable energy projects, this session will equip you with valuable knowledge to overcome challenges and enhance your project's success.
This session delves into the intersection of operational excellence, financial influence, and the pace of transition in the energy sector. Key topics include addressing supply chain issues and adapting to the realities of the Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) environment. We will discuss the impact of load growth on operations and how market dynamics influence decision-making for plant managers. Insights into purchasing power, managing high demand during low load periods, and sourcing reliable power will be explored. Additionally, the session will highlight the value of maintaining existing generation reliability amidst these challenges. Join industry experts as they share strategies to achieve operational excellence and navigate the financial and market complexities of the evolving energy landscape.
In the final hour of PMI, we will tackle additional hot topics chosen by the group. Bring your challenges and be ready to discuss them with your peers.
If you are a power plant manager, site manager, have a role in leadership at your facility's power plant, or are moving into a management role, you are invited to participate in this exclusive cocktail hour for Plant Management Institute attendees only. Fluor invites you to join them for light hors d' oeuvres, beer, wine, and a specialty cocktail to welcome you to Plant Management Institute and Experience POWER Week. Look for your personal invitation when you arrive onsite!
Executive in Residence at the McCrary Institute for Cyber & Critical Infrastructure Security
Southern Company
Join us for an engaging roundtable discussion on deciphering the NERC CIP rules and their implications for cybersecurity compliance in critical infrastructure. This interactive session brings together industry experts, cybersecurity practitioners, and compliance professionals to explore the challenges, best practices, and strategies for ensuring adherence to NERC CIP standards.
Moderated by a seasoned cybersecurity leader, this roundtable will delve into key topics including:
Interpreting NERC CIP Requirements: Participants will share their insights and experiences in interpreting the complex requirements of NERC CIP standards, discussing common misconceptions and areas of ambiguity.
Aligning Cybersecurity Practices with Regulatory Mandates: Explore approaches for aligning cybersecurity practices with NERC CIP requirements, including the implementation of security controls, risk management frameworks, and incident response procedures.
Addressing Compliance Gaps and Challenges: Engage in discussions on identifying and addressing compliance gaps, overcoming challenges in implementing NERC CIP controls, and optimizing compliance efforts within resource constraints.
Integration of NERC CIP with Other Regulatory Frameworks: Examine strategies for integrating NERC CIP compliance with other regulatory frameworks such as NIST Cybersecurity Framework, GDPR, and industry-specific regulations, ensuring a holistic approach to cybersecurity governance.
Lessons Learned from Compliance Audits and Assessments: Share lessons learned from past compliance audits and assessments, highlighting best practices for preparing, executing, and remedying findings to maintain compliance readiness.
Collaboration and Information Sharing: Explore the importance of collaboration and information sharing among industry stakeholders, utilities, regulators, and cybersecurity vendors to enhance collective cybersecurity resilience.
Future Trends and Evolving Regulatory Landscape: Anticipate future trends and developments in NERC CIP regulations, discussing potential changes, emerging cybersecurity threats, and technological advancements shaping the regulatory landscape.
Participants will have the opportunity to contribute their perspectives, ask questions, and engage in meaningful dialogue with peers facing similar challenges in the realm of NERC CIP compliance.
Whether you're a cybersecurity professional, compliance officer, utility executive, or industry regulator, this roundtable provides a platform for collaborative learning, knowledge exchange, and networking to strengthen cybersecurity posture and safeguard critical infrastructure assets. Join us for an insightful discussion that promises to deepen your understanding of NERC CIP rules and enhance your approach to cybersecurity compliance.
Embark on an electrifying journey through innovation and efficiency at Cane Island Power Plant, hailed as a beacon of excellence and named a Top Plant in 2022. Step into the heart of cutting-edge technology where GE Vernova gas turbines reign supreme.
Feel the pulse of energy as you explore Unit 1, powered by the renowned LM6000 simple cycle turbine, demonstrating streamlined performance and reliability. Venture further into the realm of power generation with Units 2, 3, and 4, where combined-cycle prowess takes center stage. Unit 2 boasts the formidable 7EA gas turbine, while Units 3 and 4 showcase the robust 7FA models, each a testament to engineering ingenuity.
Join us for an immersive tour and witness firsthand the synergy of technology and sustainability that powers our communities. Reserve your spot now and ignite your curiosity at Cane Island Power Plant - where excellence meets energy!
Join us for an engaging and insightful keynote session at our upcoming event, where esteemed industry leaders will delve into the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in the power generation sector. This keynote will provide valuable perspectives on the future of energy, highlighting key developments and strategic initiatives shaping the industry. Stay tuned for the announcement of our distinguished speaker, and be prepared to gain actionable insights and inspiration to drive your business forward.
POWER's editors regularly meet with high-level power industry leaders and subject matter experts, probing for knowledge and insight that only insiders have. Much of that information is shared in articles featured in POWER magazine or on POWER's website, but there's often not enough space to divulge all the juicy details in print or even online. Join us for an insightful session that delves into the dynamic landscape of power generation, exploring critical topics that shape our energy future. Learn what our editors are hearing as they keep their fingers on the pulse of the industry.
• Extreme Weather: From wildfires to polar vortexes, extreme events strain grid reliability. We'll discuss strategies to enhance resilience and security.
• AI, Data Centers, and EV Loads: Growing implementation of AI-based tools, booming data center development, and widespread electric vehicle adoption all add complexity to the power landscape. Robust analytics and modeling are essential for managing demand patterns.
• Raw Material Shortages: Clean energy's surge impacts supply chains. How can we ensure sustainability and resilience?
• Digitalization Impact: Shifting management approaches and labor shortages require adaptive supply chain strategies.
• Ambitious Goals: Shareholders and federal targets demand action. Investments offer a golden opportunity.
• Strategic Integration: How can utilities adopt new technologies and processes to achieve decarbonization?
• Distributed Energy Resources: Decentralization enhances responsiveness. Coordination is key for a seamless energy ecosystem.
• Virtual Power Supplies: From microgrids to local renewables, efficiency lies in distributed solutions.
• Renewable Integration: Moving clean energy into load centers requires grid expansion.
• Reducing Congestion: Modernization reduces charges and ensures reliable transmission.
• Digital Journey: If you haven't started, you're falling behind. Explore the impact of digitalization on operations, efficiency, and innovation.
Don't miss this Industry Insight session. It provides a compass to help you identify what direction the power industry is headed.
Join your peers for the Power Awards Reception, a celebration of the outstanding accomplishments of top power plants. This event honors excellence and innovation in the industry, providing an opportunity to network, share successes, and recognize the achievements of exceptional facilities. Don't miss this chance to celebrate with industry leaders and peers.
Discover the transformative potential of community solar as a distributed power generation strategy in our upcoming session. We'll explore how community solar initiatives are revolutionizing the way we approach renewable energy, from advancing green building practices with seamless solar energy integration to harnessing local expertise to fuel the growth of community solar projects. Learn from industry leaders and experts as they share insights, best practices, and success stories, highlighting the synergy between sustainability, community engagement, and economic growth. Whether you're a developer, policymaker, or advocate, this session offers invaluable knowledge and actionable strategies to drive positive change in your community through solar energy.
Join us for an enlightening session featuring cutting-edge advancements in energy storage technologies. This session will delve into a pioneering hydrogen project developed highlighting key aspects of combustion and the integration of vanadium redox flow batteries, exciting progress of a liquid air energy storage project and Advanced Compressed Air Energy Storage.
This session will provide insights into the latest developments, potential applications, and future directions in long-duration energy storage (LDES). Don't miss the opportunity to engage with groundbreaking research and innovative solutions shaping the future of sustainable energy.
This session explores the latest digital technologies poised to revolutionize power plant operations. Attendees will gain insights into AI applications for predictive maintenance and performance optimization, learn from real-world implementation of a virtual power plant model, and discover how big data analytics can streamline alarm management. Join industry experts as they share practical experiences and innovative strategies to enhance reliability, efficiency, and decision-making in modern power facilities.
Join us for an insightful session delving into the complex world of hydrogen policies. As the world seeks cleaner energy solutions, hydrogen emerges as a frontrunner. However, understanding the intricate web of policies governing its production, distribution, and utilization is crucial. In this session, we'll explore the evolving hydrogen policy landscape on a global scale. From government initiatives and regulatory frameworks to incentives and investment trends, we'll uncover the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of hydrogen. Whether you're a policymaker, industry expert, investor, or enthusiast, this session will provide valuable insights to navigate the hydrogen frontier effectively.
Vice President, Solutions/Interim Director of EPCE
CAEL - Council for Adult and Experiential Learning
Panelist
Rosa Schmidt
Center For Energy Workforce Development
This insightful session is designed to share lessons learned and tools of the trade to effectively recruit members of the military to the power generation industry. By understanding the unique skills and experiences that veterans bring, employers can tap into a highly skilled and disciplined workforce. The session will cover strategies for recruitment, best practices for onboarding, and tailored training programs to ensure a smooth transition for veterans into the power generation sector.
Energy Infrastructure Investment and Development Strategy
Southwest Power Pool
In today's rapidly evolving energy landscape, modernizing power infrastructure is essential to meet increasing demand, integrate renewable energy sources, and enhance grid reliability. This session will delve into the latest strategies for upgrading and expanding power infrastructure. Industry experts will discuss cutting-edge technologies, policy frameworks, and best practices for transitioning to a smarter, more resilient grid. Attendees will gain insights into the financial and logistical challenges of infrastructure projects, the role of digitalization, and innovative solutions to ensure sustainable energy delivery. Join us to explore how modernization can drive efficiency, sustainability, and future-proof our power systems.
The electrification of transportation is a key part of decarbonization, as emissions from the transport sector account for about one-fifth of global emissions of carbon dioxide. The transition to electrified transit, though, comes with challenges, as the transportation sector looks at overhauling its supply chains, finding cost efficiencies, refining new technologies, and improving EV charging infrastructure. Electric utilities have their own challenge--producing enough electricity to satisfy the demand created by the need to charge all those batteries. This session will look at the issues around electrifying transportation, and solutions to industry challenges.
In the face of increasing energy demands and the transition to renewable energy sources, the power grid must evolve to ensure reliability, efficiency, and sustainability. This session will explore cutting-edge advancements transforming the landscape of electrical transmission and grid management.
Manager of Innovation and Advanced Nuclear Engineering
Enercon
Embark on a journey into the future of power generation with a focus on cutting-edge technologies. This session illuminates the potential of nuclear, fusion, and geothermal energy options in shaping the energy landscape of tomorrow. Delve into the latest advancements, from next-generation nuclear reactors to revolutionary fusion reactors, and uncover the untapped potential of geothermal resources. Join us as we explore the promise, challenges, and transformative impact of these innovative approaches in sustainably meeting the world's growing energy demands.
Vice President, Solutions/Interim Director of EPCE
CAEL - Council for Adult and Experiential Learning
Panelist
Jamie Choate
Director, Workforce Strategy & Development Labor Relations, Safety, & Workforce Development
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
Panelist
Kristie Kelley
Workforce Development Director
Center For Energy Workforce Development
Panelist
Arlen Herrell
Sr. Deputy Director
Department of Employment Services (DOES)
In this session, we will explore cutting-edge educational strategies aimed at rebuilding and fortifying the talent pipeline for the challenges of tomorrow. As industries rapidly evolve and new skillsets become essential, it's crucial to adopt innovative approaches to education. Whether it's reimagining traditional curriculum frameworks, integrating emerging technologies into learning environments, or fostering a culture of lifelong learning, this session will showcase diverse perspectives and best practices. Join us to discover how educational institutions, businesses, and policymakers are collaboratively shaping the future workforce landscape through forward-thinking educational strategies.
Senior Director Strategic Marketing NA, Clean Energy
W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Moderator
Mary P. Bailey
Assistant Editor
Chemical Engineering Magazine
Speaker
Brendan Jones
Mechanical Engineer
Sargent & Lundy
Speaker
Chad Mason
CEO
Advanced Ionics
Embark on a journey through the latest advancements in hydrogen production technology in our session on Electrolysis Technology for Clean H2 Production. With a focus on the diverse technical approaches, we'll delve into the intricacies of electrolysis, a key method for generating clean hydrogen. Our expert speakers will shed light on cutting-edge innovations, from membrane-based systems to solid oxide electrolyzers, highlighting their respective strengths and applications. Whether you're a researcher, engineer, policymaker, or industry professional, this session promises to broaden your understanding of hydrogen production technologies and inspire collaboration towards a sustainable energy future. Join us to explore the frontier of clean hydrogen production and propel innovation in the field.
The demand for power is fomenting a paradigm shift in the way electricity is produced and distributed. The proliferation of distributed generation, to serve as backup power, to support loads in rural areas, and as a way to supply high-demand intermittent loads such as EV charging stations and HVAC systems, has made microgrids an integral part of power systems. This session will look at a variety of microgrid designs, discussing both hardware and software elements, that will support microgrid design and development.
Program Manager, Facility Decommissioning & Demolition Services
Burns & McDonnell Engineering Co., Inc.
As the energy landscape evolves, the decommissioning, demolition, and repurposing of power plants have become critical components of the energy transition. This session will delve into the strategic approaches necessary for effectively managing the end-of-life phase of power generation facilities. Industry experts will discuss the regulatory, environmental, and economic considerations involved in shutting down and dismantling power plants, as well as innovative methods for repurposing sites for new energy projects or alternative uses. Attendees will gain insights into best practices, potential challenges, and successful case studies that highlight the importance of planning and collaboration in these complex processes. Whether you are a plant operator, energy sector professional, or involved in policy-making, this session will equip you with the knowledge to navigate the future of decommissioning and repurposing power plants.
This session explores essential strategies for navigating permits in carbon capture projects and innovative approaches to decarbonizing hydrogen production. Participants will learn how to identify permit requirements, address challenges with new technologies, and streamline regulatory processes. Additionally, experts will discuss diverse feedstock processing, carbon capture integration, and financial incentives for carbon reduction technologies. Join us to discover pathways towards a carbon-neutral future.
Vice President, Solutions/Interim Director of EPCE
CAEL - Council for Adult and Experiential Learning
Panelist
DeAnna C. Myers
Senior Manager, Learning & Development
Sargent & Lundy
Panelist
Jody Porter
STS CONSULTING SERVICES LLC
Panelist
Jamie Choate
Director, Workforce Strategy & Development Labor Relations, Safety, & Workforce Development
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
Looking for strong leaders in the energy industry can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. But what if the talent you need is already within your existing workforce? How can you incentivize high-performing workers to pursue promotions and take on leadership roles?
This panel discussion will equip you with practical strategies to identify and develop future leaders.
Panelists will share best practices for talent identification and recruitment strategies aimed at finding future energy leaders. They will discuss how to assess soft skills, foster leadership development within an organization and build solid mentoring programs.
The panel will conclude with an audience Q&A session, allowing attendees to engage with the speakers and delve deeper into specific topics of interest.
This panel session offers a comprehensive exploration of the hydrogen energy ecosystem, spanning innovative financing, commercialization strategies, and practical implementation challenges. We will delve into the expansion of hydrogen, infrastructure, economic barriers facing small-scale projects, and technical complexities of hydrogen purity and its regulatory impacts.
Facilities management staff at colleges and universities are creating distributed power generation systems to address a variety of issues. These include industrial-scale load shifting, demand response in a fleet of buildings, moving from thermal energy to renewable resources, and more--including serving EV charging demand, both from student and faculty and from the campus' own fleet electrified vehicles. We'll look at case studies of successful campus energy projects, and discuss the challenges facility managers face in providing reliable power across their buildings.
Join us for an insightful session focused on hardening your plant against disruption. Our expert presenters will delve into essential topics including Winter Preparation/EOP-012 compliance, exploring the viability of fuel oil as an alternative during peak winter demands, and understanding the impact of HP and LP bypass systems on the efficiency of your steam system. Gain valuable insights and practical strategies to ensure your plant operates at its peak performance. Whether you're a plant manager, engineer, or technician, this session offers crucial knowledge to enhance the reliability and efficiency of your operations.
In the ever-evolving landscape of energy production, operational excellence in fossil fuel power generation plants remains crucial for ensuring efficiency, reliability, and sustainability. This session will delve into advanced strategies and best practices for optimizing the performance of coal, natural gas, and oil-fired power plants. Attendees will explore the latest innovations in process optimization, predictive maintenance, and emissions control.
General Counsel, Sponsor of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative
Sargent & Lundy
Join us for an inspiring session celebrating the achievements and contributions of women in power generation. The Women in Power panel is dedicated to highlighting the initiatives spearheaded by these trailblazers to advance their facilities and organizations. This session provides a platform for panelists to discuss the unique challenges their companies face as the power industry continues to evolve. As the energy transition gains speed, the value of diversity becomes increasingly evident. Diverse perspectives and inclusive practices are crucial for driving innovation and creating more resilient and adaptable organizations. Panelists will share their experiences and strategies for recruiting more women into the energy sector, aiming to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce. Panelists will also place a significant focus on leadership advancement and exploring the ways women can break barriers and achieve their career aspirations. The discussion will delve into effective career pathing, offering insights into navigating and overcoming obstacles in the workplace. Whether you are an industry veteran or new to the field, this session promises valuable takeaways to empower your professional journey. Don't miss this chance to learn from and be inspired by women who are shaping the future of power generation.
Business enterprises know the importance of reliable power, as well as the need for a resilient energy supply. That's why more commercial and industrial companies are installing systems to generate their own electricity, using a variety of technologies. This session will look at the design of distributed energy systems, using both thermal and renewable generation, that are supporting businesses.
Delve into the pressing issues surrounding grid expansion and the integration of renewable energy sources. Hear industry experts discuss strategies for addressing the backlog of power projects in the interconnection queue and streamlining the permitting process amidst NIMBY arguments. Explore innovative solutions for incorporating intermittent renewables like solar and wind into the grid, ensuring reliability and stability. Join us as we explore the complexities of financing new power lines, upgrading existing infrastructure, and fostering collaboration across stakeholders to build a more sustainable energy future.
Hydrogen is seen as a form of energy that is both transportable and flexible, and can replace traditional fuels. However, its flammability is well known. Learn how refining and improving hydrogen process design can improve safety. Also learn about hydrogen jet fire modeling techniques.
The goal of decarbonizing the power generation sector will require the use of more distributed energy resources (DERs). Virtual power plants can support DER deployment at scale and help make affordable, resilient, and clean energy more accessible. A VPP is a connected aggregation of DER technologies--solar power and energy storage, grid-interactive efficient appliances, smart buildings, electric vehicle charging systems, and more. VPP operators can work with aggregators, utilities, or grid operators, to remotely and automatically adjust DERs to provide clean energy, reliability, and grid services while maintaining customer comfort and productivity. This session will look at the technology, including software and hardware, that supports VPPs and opens the power grid to a new utility-scale, behind-the-meter supply of electricity.
In this session, we unpack the implications of the latest EPA rule for the power generation industry. Dive into the regulatory landscape shaping the future of energy production, and gain clarity on compliance requirements, emission standards, and operational adjustments mandated by the new rule. Hear insights from industry experts on navigating the transition towards cleaner, more sustainable energy practices while maintaining operational efficiency and profitability. Whether you're a policymaker, industry stakeholder, or energy professional, this session offers valuable perspectives on adapting to regulatory changes and driving positive environmental outcomes in the power generation sector.
Unlock the potential of hydrogen as a versatile energy storage medium in our engaging session on Hydrogen Storage. As the world transitions towards renewable energy sources, the need for efficient energy storage solutions becomes increasingly critical. Hydrogen emerges as a promising candidate, offering high energy density and scalability for various applications. Join us as we delve into the latest advancements in hydrogen storage technologies, from compressed gas and liquid hydrogen to solid-state and chemical storage methods. Discover how these innovative approaches enable hydrogen to serve as a dynamic energy buffer, facilitating the integration of intermittent renewables and powering diverse sectors such as transportation, industry, and grid stabilization. Whether you're a researcher, entrepreneur, policymaker, or energy enthusiast, this session promises valuable insights into the evolving landscape of hydrogen storage and its pivotal role in shaping the future of sustainable energy. Don't miss this opportunity to be at the forefront of the hydrogen revolution!
Many things are challenging the utility industries current Supply Chain. COVID seemed to kick things off, but other factors like green energy build out, aging infrastructure, raw material supply, supplier base and product quality, to name a few, are also having a big impact. How are utilities handling these issues and working to keep the pipeline of parts and services available so utilities can achieve their mission? This session will discuss the issues and share strategies, efforts and successes in this quest.
Business Development Manager, Advanced Energy Systems Research and Development
Southern Company
Co-Chair
Emmanuel Darko, P.E.
Principal Nuclear Engineer
PSEG Energy Holdings
Panelist
Jhansi Kandasamy
Director, Net-Zero Program
Idaho National Laboratory
Join us for an in-depth exploration of the latest developments in nuclear power technology. From advanced reactor designs to innovative fuel cycles and safety enhancements, this session will showcase the forefront of nuclear energy innovation. Discover how next-generation reactors are revolutionizing the industry, addressing concerns about safety, waste management, and proliferation. Gain insights into the role of nuclear power in the global energy transition and its potential to provide clean, reliable electricity for the future. Whether you're a seasoned nuclear expert or new to the field, this session offers a comprehensive overview of what's new and exciting in nuclear power.
A data center is a facility that businesses and other groups use to host their critical applications and data. A data center's design is based on a network of computing and storage resources that enable the delivery of shared applications and that data, and the design also must include ways to acquire and manage these buildings' massive electricity demand. This session will look at how today's data centers are being designed to house large amounts of data, and how these centers are acquiring and managing their electricity loads.
This session offers a comprehensive exploration of the hydrogen energy ecosystem, spanning innovative financing, commercialization strategies, and practical implementation challenges. We will delve into the expansion of hydrogen, infrastructure, economic barriers facing small-scale projects, and technical complexities of hydrogen purity and its regulatory impacts.
Join us for an insightful session on the crucial guidelines and best practices for explosion venting in energy storage systems. As the landscape of power generation evolves with the integration of advanced technology batteries, it's imperative to understand the nuances of ensuring safety and efficiency. We'll delve into the latest advancements and innovations driving this change, exploring how diversified energy storage technologies are shaping the energy transition. Gain valuable insights and practical strategies for navigating this dynamic industry while prioritizing safety and sustainability. Don't miss this opportunity to stay ahead in the ever-changing power landscape.
Kate has spent the last 20 plus years working for Tennessee Valley Authority honing her skills and knowledge in the policy procedures and power production and core business of the industry. She currently serves as site management in rotational development capacity for several power plants in the TVA network.
Michael Burroughs
Plant Manager - Plant Scherer
Georgia Power
Rizwan James
Power Generation System Operations Director
Dominion Energy, Inc.
Rizwan James, Director-Power Generation System Operation Joined Dominion Energy in 2004 as a combustion turbine technician at the Fairless Energy Power Plant. Through series of career advancements his new role is Director Power Generation System Operations. Rizwan James is responsible for providing fleetwide operational support to Power Generation assets which include regulated fleet asset management and budgetary oversight, regulatory reporting, and oversight of the PG Operational Excellence team. He is also responsible for leading Power Generation operations teams, leading Power Generation's hydrogen strategy for combustion turbines, and providing support for Project Construction
Brian Heinbaugh
Plant Manager - Wildcat Point Generation Facility
Old Dominion Electric Cooperative
Brian Heinbaugh has a B.S. Engineering Technology and two Master's degrees, M.S. Management and Master of Business Administration. He has been in the Power Generation industry for over 25 years in a variety of O&M roles dealing with many different technologies. He has served as a Director of Operations with both GDF Suez and NAES over simple cycle, combined cycle, and coal plants. Currently he is a Plant Manager with ODEC at their new 1000 MW Combined Cycle Wildcat Point Generation Facility.
Siraj Taj
Principal / Owner
ST Power Services Consultants, LLC
Technical. Commercial. Operational. Strategic.
Siraj Taj is the rare power industry consultant who understands every side of the business -- because he's been there.
In his 32-year career, Siraj has become an expert in all facets of the thermal power generation industry. Since 2016 Siraj and his firm, ST Power Services, have enabled thermal power plants to remain viable and profitable by devising solutions that are innovative, collaborative, and pragmatic.
Siraj and his team guide owners through critical business decisions and processes, to improve total asset performance, develop cost-effective O&M strategy to expertly integrate Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and Conventional Power Systems (CPS). This approach empowers owners to achieve life-cycle cost savings of 35%+. Most recently, Rebuild GT26 following a catastrophic failure with pragmatic and innovative solutions delivering significant time and cost savings. Also upgraded several turbine control systems to increase operational efficiency, reliability and profitability of plant with GT7EA, W501D5A, LM6000, and others.
ST Power Services has become the industry's knowledge hub for all things related to Alstom, GE, Siemens and other gas turbines, as well as overall plant operations and maintenance strategy in a rapidly shifting energy landscape. Siraj is frequently asked to speak at leading industry events, such as Experience POWER and the AOG annual conference, and has contributed to POWER magazine.
Operational & Maintenance Best Practices for Thriving in the Thermal Power Generation Sector
As the thermal power generation industry navigates the complex transition to a cleaner energy future, plant operators face numerous challenges in maintaining operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This presentation will address critical issues and provide actionable insights into Operation & Maintenance (O&M) best practices that ensure gas-fired plants remain viable and profitable.
Top Mistakes in O&M: Identifying common pitfalls such as delaying vital repairs and their impact on plant performance and safety.
Cost-Saving Strategies: Five practical ways to reduce O&M expenses while enhancing total asset performance.
Crafting a Long-Term O&M Strategy: Developing a robust strategy to manage operations amid the uncertainties and evolving regulations in the global thermal power generation industry.
The Role of Gas-Fired Plants in the Energy Transition: Analyzing the current debate surrounding the future of fossil fuels, with insights into the controversial statement by the Aramco CEO on the "fantasy" of phasing out fossil fuels.
Joe VonDerHaar
Plant Manager, Spurlock
East Kentucky Power Cooperative Inc. [EKPC]
Joe VonDerHaar has over 35 years of experience in the utility and manufacturing industries. On the utility side he has held positions in System Operations, Transmission & Distribution and Power Generation. On the manufacturing front he was a Plant Manager for a Power Transmission OEM. A common thread in both industries is the tremendous change in process and mission because of competition, new technology and evolving regulations. Being able to adapt and even welcome change is critical to success.
Joe is currently the Plant Director at the Spurlock Power Station, a 4-unit, coal fired, 1500MW facility in Maysville Kentucky. He holds an engineering degree from the University of Dayton.
James Goosby
Executive in Residence at the McCrary Institute for Cyber & Critical Infrastructure Security
Southern Company
James currently serves as the Southern Company Executive in Residence at Auburn University's McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security. In this role he works closely with industry, academia, and federal partners, including national laboratories on electric grid cyber security strategies. James also served as a senior fellow at the McCrary Institute, a prestigious group of nationally renowned cyber and critical-infrastructure security experts.
With more than 28 years of service at Southern Company, James co-led an initiative to implement an enhanced Operations cyber and NERC-CIP program support model and has held various operational and engineering support leadership positions. Prior to joining Southern Company, James served in the U.S. Marines. He holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from Auburn University.
Aaron Larson
Executive Editor
POWER magazine
Aaron Larson joined the POWER team in September 2013 as an associate editor and was named executive editor in 2017. Aaron has a bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering technology and a master's degree, specializing in finance. He spent 13 years in the U.S. Navy nuclear power program, advancing to Chief Petty Officer. He has worked at commercial nuclear, biomass, and coal-fired power plants, functioning in operations, maintenance, safety, financial, and management capacities. Aaron holds a Chief A Engineer boiler operator license in the state of Minnesota.
Sonal Patel
Senior Associate Editor
POWER magazine
A national award-winning multimedia journalist, Sonal Patel has covered a wide range of technology, business, and policy issues affecting the power industry worldwide for POWER and its sister publications since 2008. Along with keeping her eye on national and international matters for POWER magazine's monthly department Global Monitor, she contributes in-depth analysis and spot news pieces for POWER and POWERnews. She also surveys, crunches, and visualizes power generation data and trends from around the world for POWER's web and print infographics and other multimedia. She is a graduate of the University of Houston.
Darrell Proctor
Senior Associate Editor
POWER magazine
Darrell Proctor joined POWER in 2017. He has years of experience in the energy and publishing industries, including as a writer, editor and energy data analyst for Ponderosa Advisors and Bentek Energy (S&P Global/Platts). He has written numerous reports and white papers on power demand, particularly from industrial facilities, as well as natural gas and crude oil exploration and trading. He also has written about transportation of commodities, particularly coal, crude oil and natural gas, and the operation of crude oil refineries. He was an assistant business editor and assistant news editor as well as Technology Editor for the Rocky Mountain News in Colorado, and also was a senior editor at the St. Petersburg Times in Florida. He is a graduate of Franklin College of Indiana.
Jeff Cramer
President & CEO
Coalition for Community Solar Access
Thomas Steitz
Director of Energy Storage
Kiewit
At Kiewit, Tom is monitoring all aspects of the long-duration energy storage market and spearheading Kiewit's initiatives to ensure the success of our power engineering services in the Northeast U.S. With decades of leadership experience in the global energy industry, Tom has led multiple, large global business units. He also launched a new energy storage venture, instrumental in the company's shift from fossil fuels to sustainable energy sources.
Diane Fischer
Director, Generation Services
Kiewit
Delivering asset development, operational improvements and performance enhancement services, Diane Fischer, the Director of Generation Services at Kiewit, leverages her 30+ years of experience in the power industry to provide detailed engineering and design solutions. Throughout the project lifecycle, she partners with clients to address environmental issues, engineer components and systems and conduct facility evaluations and feasibility analyses.
A recognized subject matter expert in the power market, Diane has shared her insights on combustion turbine issues, fuel flexibility, hydrogen combustion and energy storage at 12 conferences over the last three years. Holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State University, she is also a licensed Professional Engineer in Missouri.
Update on the Hydrostor's A-CAES Technology, Willow Rock Energy Storage Center
Co-Authors
Andrew McGillis, Senior VP of Engineering, Hydrostor
The energy market continues its transition to a zero-carbon future. However, for that future to be fully realized, long duration energy storage (LDES) solutions are a critical component.
Hydrostor, a leading long-duration energy storage solution provider, has recently submitted the CEC permit application for the 500 MW Willow Rock Energy Storage Center, which is an Advanced Compressed Air Energy Storage ("A-CAES") system. The Willow Rock facility, once complete, will store enough energy to power up to 400,000 homes for over 8 hours. Additionally, it enables the closure of emitting fossil fuel generating stations and maximizes transmission system utilization. Additionally, Hydrostor has recently received a Network Service Agreement and a Long-TermL Energy Service Agreement from the New South Wales government for its 200-megawatt Silver City facility near Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia.
A-CAES uses commercially proven equipment and processes to provide affordable, large-scale and emission-free long-duration energy storage. This presentation provides an overview on the technology and its benefits, along with an update on the status of the projects and plans moving forward.
Timothy Held
VP of Engineering
Echogen Power Systems Inc.
Timothy Held joined Echogen Power Systems in October 2008 as Vice President of Engineering, where he is responsible for technology maturation and transition to product. Dr. Held (Ph.D., Princeton University) was most recently the Manager of Commercial Engine Combustor Aero Design for GE Aviation, where he led the design effort for the GEnx TAPS low emissions combustor technology and product introduction. He previously managed the Industrial Aeroderivatives Combustor Aero Design group at GE, where he led the design of both conventional and Dry Low Emissions (DLE) combustors for the LMS100, which at 100+ MW, is the largest aeroderivative gas turbine in the world. He was also responsible for the design of dual-fuel DLE combustor development for the LM2500 and LM 6000 engines, and for the design of a 15ppm NOX combustion system for the LM6000, which was originally rated at 25ppm. He also served as the technical leader for alternate fuels research and evaluation at GE Aviation. In that function, he led the engine evaluation team for the first flight demonstration of a biofuel blend in a Virgin Atlantic 747. He presently holds 12 issued patents, with 12 additional patents in process.
Echogen's Pumped Thermal Energy Storage System design for the Alaska Railbelt
Denis Garman
Chief Business and Marketing Strategist
Lockheed Martin
Innovations in Redox Flow Battery Technology for Long Duration Energy Storage
Cedric Fritch
Communication Manager
Kraftblock
Kraftblock's Thermal Energy Storage System, Applications in Power and Industrial Heat
More than half of the world's energy is consumed in the form of heat, and as much as two-thirds in industry. The fossil fuels used to generate this heat account for 40% of global emissions, one of the biggest levers in the fight against climate change. Kraftblock is an engineering and manufacturing company that addresses this issue and decarbonizes heat in industry, district heating and power generation. At the heart of its technology is a unique proprietary thermal energy storage system using a newly invented sustainable material that can withstand temperatures of 1,300°C. This storage makes electrification more flexible and affordable and allows industrial waste heat or CSP to be shifted to times of demand. Kraftblock systems are solutions for thousands of heat processes, from food production to the chemical industry to steel and non-ferrous metals. Currently under construction is a 150 MWh electrification storage project for PepsiCo in the Netherlands and a waste heat project for a steel mill in India. Details of the application of this technology on these projects will be presented, in addition to execution status.
Jeffrey Fassett
President
IEM Energy Consultants
Jeff Fassett, President & Co-Owner, IEM Energy Consultants, LLC
Mr. Fassett is Co-owner and founder of IEM Energy Consultants LLC has more than 36 years of broad based experience in the power and related industries. He founded IEM in 1998 as a boutique consulting practice which provides consulting services in all aspects of power plant operations, maintenance, and management to clients worldwide. Mr. Fassett has provided services in outage planning, management and oversite, long range O&M budgeting, reliability assessments, and plant staffing analysis. In addition, he has also been involved in the negotiations of long-term service agreements representing over 30 GW of gas and steam turbine generating capacity worldwide and has testified as an expert witness regarding proper operations and maintenance practices and procedures. Under his guidance, IEM has experienced significant growth, and now employs almost 15 consultants.
Prior to forming IEM, Mr. Fassett held roles of increasing responsibility with various utilities, both regulated and IPP's, as well as petrochemical process facilities. These roles included Plant Engineer, Maintenance Engineer, Start Up Manager, Maintenance Manager and Plant Superintendent. His experience includes coal, simple and combined cycle CT's and coal gasification. Mr. Fassett sits on the Board of Directors of the Plant Managers Institute, the Advisory Board of the Electric Power Conference, is a member of the ASME Power Committee, and International Gas Turbine Institute, Education Subcommittee. He has taught college classes in Energy & the Environment, Ethics in the Energy Industry, Electronics and Power Plant Operations. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from North Dakota State University with an emphasis in Power Plant System Design
Stewart Nicholson
President
Primex
Stewart Nicholson is President and founder of Primex Process Specialists, Inc. a professional services firm specializing in generation asset monitoring and optimization services. Building on thirty years' experience in process optimization, Stewart's mission is to further develop and deploy Primex's suite of advanced forecasting, anomaly detection and diagnostic services. Stewart is a seasoned executive, patent holder, Professional Engineer, ASME published author and contributing author of Machine Learning and Data Science in the Power Generation Industry (ISBN 9780128197424).
AI Adding Value and Improving Power Plant Performance
In many industries, machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) have become catchphrases in a growing chorus of unproven claims. The power-generation industry is no exception; marketing references to ML and AI are trending upward with few proven, real-world results to help asset managers and front-line operators improve plant performance. Geared for key decision-makers in CCGT asset management, operation and maintenance roles, this presentation provides real-world results showing how large scale data processing combined with machine learning technology transforms management decisions, reliability and asset value .
Robert Wolfe
Product Line Manager - Digital
Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc.
Implementing a Virtual Power Plant (VVP) Model to Improve Reliability and Performance: Lessons Learned
Co-Authors
Jim Finnerfrock, Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc.
Galen George
VP
Siemens Energy
Mr. George has worked in the North American Power industry for more than 35 years in the areas of Automation, Electrification and the Application of Digital Solutions for more than 35 years. In his career he has served as Design Engineering, Construction Engineer, Commissioning and Startup Management, Project Engineering, Project Management, Marketing, Sales, and Sales Management.
Improving Alarm Management in the New Digital World
By coupling the use of Big Data Management with advanced alarm and plant process analytics, the concept of appropriately reducing plant alarms can be facilitated for more effective plant operations, and reduced workload on operations staff.
Siemens Energy is employing multiple layers of advanced alarming strategies coupled with automated analytics to make the process of plant alarm optimization a virtually automated process.
Mary P. Bailey
Assistant Editor
Chemical Engineering Magazine
Brandon Delis
Engineering
EPRI Electric Power Research Institute
Lacy McManus
Executive Director of Future Energy
Greater New Orleans, Inc.
Lacy McManus is the Executive Director of Future Energy at Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.) where she advances a diverse coalition of higher education, community college, non-profit and industry partners spearheading the renewable energy evolution across South Louisiana. Lacy has re-joined the GNO, Inc. team after nearly three years with Amazon Web Services' (AWS). Prior to joining AWS, Lacy served as the Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at GNO, Inc. where she oversaw a portfolio of workforce, education and environmental programs that enhanced the economic competitiveness of the GNO region. Her work in Louisiana was launched at the Center for Planning Excellence (CPEX) where she was Strategic Initiatives Manager. Lacy holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Georgia, a MA in Global Communications from the American University of Paris, and a MBA from Tulane University. She and her husband Bryan are proud New Orleans residents, raising their three daughters and rescue dog Uptown.
Janice Lin
Founder & President
Green Hydrogen Council
Janice Lin is the Founder and President of the Green Hydrogen Coalition and the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Strategen. She brings more than two decades of experience in clean energy strategy, market development, and corporate strategy to Strategen. During this time, she has advised a diverse range of clients including renewable energy equipment manufacturers and service providers, large corporations diversifying into clean energy, and real estate developers building sustainable communities.
Kristen Himmerick M. Ed.
Vice President, Solutions/Interim Director of EPCE
CAEL - Council for Adult and Experiential Learning
Kristen Himmerick is a higher education and nonprofit administrator with extensive experience working with higher education institutions and systems to launch large-scale academic technology projects.
She joined CAEL in June 2012 as Director of Academic Technology and Student Engagement for the CAEL's national portfolio assessment program, LearningCounts. As Director, Kristen led the internal operations and platform design of LearningCounts.
In 2022, Kristen became the Vice President of the Solutions Team, which focuses on developing technology to support regional, workforce, and higher education initiatives. In addition to tech development, Kristen leads the group that manages both EPCE and NACTEL signature programs and has a special interest in linking learning and work for a region or industry.
Before joining CAEL, Himmerick was part of the Innovation Lab at Southern New Hampshire University, where she helped author the proposal for a self-paced, competency-based associate degree awarded the $1MM Next Generation Learning Challenge Grant for College Completion (SNHU's College for America Program). Before SNHU, Kristen was the District Director of Academic Technology at the City Colleges of Chicago, managing the first system-wide LMS and student email system launches.
She earned an M. Ed., concentration in eLearning from the University of Illinois, and holds a B.S. in Communication Studies and a Musical Theater certificate from Northwestern University. Kristen is a Prosci Certified Change Management Practitioner. Also, an actress and singer, Kristen, has performed in theaters across Chicago. Past regional theater appearances include roles at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Second City, and Drury Lane Oak Brook.
Rosa Schmidt
Center For Energy Workforce Development
Afshin Salehian
Energy Infrastructure Investment and Development Strategy
Southwest Power Pool
Sercan Teleke
Principal Engineer
Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc.
Dr. Sercan Teleke is an expert in energy storage, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, microgrids, renewable energy integration, power electronic applications to power systems, and power system design and analysis. He is a Professional Engineer (P.E.) licensed in California and Maine. His professional career includes consulting experience and helping various electric utility companies and renewable energy developers across North America prepare for the renewable energy revolution, as well as manufacturing experience. Dr. Teleke is a patent holder and has published more than twenty articles and technical papers in refereed journals and conference proceedings. He is a senior member of IEEE and IEEE Power and Energy Society.
Addressing the Impact of DERs on Transmission System - Ground Fault Overvoltages
The proliferation of distributed energy resources (DER) has created a new potential concern for temporary overvoltages (TOV). Two ways that DERs can cause TOVs include: load rejection overvoltages (LRO) and ground fault overvoltages (GFO). A GFO occurs when a single-phase fault occurs in a non-effectively grounded system resulting in a neutral shift where full line-to-line voltage is applied line-to-neutral. These events have a potential to stress equipment insulation and surge arresters. Load rejection overvoltages (LRO) occur when a distribution feeder containing a significant amount of DER and some equal or smaller amount of load becomes disconnected from the grid, resulting in a high generation to load ratio.
As DER penetration continues to increase in Xcel Energy's distribution system, there is a concern that substation equipment may be subject to LRO and GFO during certain transmission/sub-transmission system events. Specifically, when an unbalanced ground fault occurs, and the transmission system is not effectively grounded as a result of or after fault clearing.
This presentation will focus on the impact of DERs connected along multiple distribution feeders on Xcel Energy's transmission equipment. The presentation will describe the Electromagnetic Transients (EMT) model development, results of the ground fault overvoltage parametric analysis considering different DER penetration levels, different load types, and different DER operation requirements, analysis conclusions, and potential mitigation options.
Robert Hollinsworth
Plant Manager Montrose & Sibley Stations
Kansas City Power & Light
Nik Kutz
Training Supervisor
Omaha Public Power District (OPPD)
Mr. Kutz has over 17 years of operations and training experience obtained from working at an Ethanol plant, Oil Refinery, Gasification plant and Power Plant. Nik was hired at the Omaha Public Power District as a Plant Helper and worked his way up to a Unit Operator. Nik jumped at the opportunity to work in the Production Operations Training Department as a Training Coordinator for the Nebraska City Station and has since moved to the Production Operations Department Training Supervisor position. Some of his many responsibilities are providing Fire Brigade training to Operations Personnel as well as creating and delivering computer based training via OPPD's Learners Management System. He currently resides in Nebraska with his wife and two children.
Luke Krooswyk
Project Manager, Nuclear
Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company, Inc.
Luke started his power generation career supporting the operating nuclear fleet with the evaluation, design, modification, and repair of systems and components, and progressed to serving as a Project Engineering Manager for nuclear plant modifications. His project experience diversified with new combined cycle plant design, solar project siting development, and power plant decommissioning and demolition.
Most recently, Luke has been serving as a project manager for the design development and pre-construction planning activities for micro and small modular reactor projects, including the development of capital cost estimates and project schedules.
The Future of the Nuclear Energy Landscape
Nuclear technology can deliver carbon-free baseload power to support a world experiencing significant load growth. However, the modern nuclear market often invokes more questions than answers because potential owners/operators face an unclear path forward on technology selection, fuel availability, regulatory strategy, and project completion tricks. This presentation will address the latest news in the modern nuclear industry, differences in technologies, and timelines for new nuclear projects. Even if you consider nuclear projects as relegated to the distant future, there are some near-term activities that will effectively position your organization for long-term success, including siting studies and preparation for an early site
permit, which do not require significant commitments or capital spend. The time is now to get ahead!
Travis Russell
Manager of Innovation and Advanced Nuclear Engineering
Enercon
Dr. Travis Russell, PhD, is ENERCON's Innovation and Advanced Nuclear Engineering Manager. He earned his master's and doctoral degrees in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the University of Tennessee and has over 13 years of nuclear industry experience across multiple roles including research and development, engineering design and analysis, project management, safety and risk management, engineering management, innovation, and business development. His experience includes work across the U.S. commercial nuclear sector in areas such as spent fuel reprocessing systems; auxiliary support systems; post-accident safety systems; radwaste systems; ultimate heat sink systems; licensing and environmental compliance; and nuclear fuel designs. He has supported ENERCON's Advanced Nuclear Division since its inception in design, analysis, and engineering management. Personally, he has been married to his wife Kirby since 2011, and they have five sons, including two sets of twins.
Status of Advanced Nuclear (Design, Licensing & Siting Considerations)
With the increased focus on decarbonization of the economy, there is growing consideration for the use of nuclear power in the electric utility, heavy commercial, and industrial sectors. Several smaller, modular type advanced nuclear reactors (including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and microreactors) are being designed which are expected to reduce installation schedules as well as capital and operating costs when compared to conventional gigawatt size power reactors. These advanced reactors are also designed with passive safety systems that require neither active components nor operator actions to respond in the event of an accident or malfunction at the facility. This presentation will first discuss the latest status of advanced nuclear power plant designs, including regulatory and licensing updates. Secondly, this session will examine the opportunity for utility and industrial facilities to deploy advanced nuclear reactors in support of required electrical and/or heating/steam demands; this will include discussion of initial feasibility and siting factors that potential users should evaluate when considering advanced nuclear deployment.
Jamie Choate
Director, Workforce Strategy & Development Labor Relations, Safety, & Workforce Development
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
Jamie Choate is the Director of Workforce Strategy and Development (WS&D) at Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
In this role, she leads a newly created team focused on ensuring TVA's workforce remains adaptable and equipped with the skills, capabilities, and technology needed to safely power TVA's energy future.
Jamie is passionate about developing an agile and diverse workforce through strong community partnerships. Towards that mission, Jamie leads her team in pursuing several key objectives: making strategic workforce development investments, fostering cross-functional enterprise alignment, enhancing partnerships, alliances, processes, and tools, and developing diverse workforce pathways and pipelines. In her current role, she is also focused on equipping our current and future workforce with robust skills and capabilities.
As a results-driven leader, Jamie excels in strategic planning, organizational leadership, financial management, training programs and change management. She is committed to bolstering innovation across TVA and continuously evaluating progress with an eye on the future of work.
Her extensive background in the energy sector has provided her with deep technical knowledge and a strong leadership presence. With over two decades of experience at TVA, Jamie has held several leadership positions, including Director of Learning and Development, Director of Technical Training, Senior Manager of Regulatory & Corporate Training, and Manager of Power Production Operations Training.
Jamie holds an MBA from Ashford University Forbes School of Business and Technology, a Bachelor's degree in Business Management and Engineering from the University of Tennessee at Martin, and an Associate's degree in General Studies from Columbia State Community College.
Jamie currently resides in Ooltewah, TN with her husband and three children. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering with community events and spending time with family traveling to her kids' sporting events.
Kristie Kelley
Workforce Development Director
Center For Energy Workforce Development
A native of Pensacola with over twenty years of leadership experience in a combination of education, targeted industry workforce development and talent acquisition, Kelley serves as the Workforce Development Director for The Center for Energy Workforce Development. Kelley is responsible for revitalizing the Energy Industry Fundamentals program; managing efforts to assess re-skilling, upskilling, and training needs for energy jobs of the future; strengthening connections with students and educators; and primarily supporting CEWD's members in the west and mid-west regions, among other things.
Her previous roles have included creation and management of external talent development partnerships to grow the future workforce of targeted industries and enhance the southeast's growing economy. The connections spanned the entire talent supply pipeline. She was also responsible for the full-life cycle recruitment process used to acquire and retain talent for a local utility company and secure their future workforce.
Kelley holds a Master of Education in administration and a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of West Florida. She currently lives in Pensacola, Florida and enjoys spending time with her family, including her husband, Joe, and two sons: Kaleb and Kristopher. They like boating, camping, and traveling to unique locations.
Arlen Herrell
Sr. Deputy Director
Department of Employment Services (DOES)
Claire Brown
Senior Director Strategic Marketing NA, Clean Energy
W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Brendan Jones
Mechanical Engineer
Sargent & Lundy
Brendan Jones is a Mechanical Engineer for Sargent & Lundy, whose primary role is focused on the Hydrogen and Clean Fuels. He has spent 3+ years working in power generation and hydrogen industries. At Sargent & Lundy, Brendan has worked closely with electrolyzer manufacturers in projects spanning from large-scale hydrogen production studies to hydrogen production and consumption demonstrations.
Choosing an Electrolysis Technology for Clean Hydrogen Production
While clean hydrogen can be generated via several processes, electrolysis has become a focus for the production of hydrogen from various sources of electricity, including solar, hydro, wind, and nuclear power. The primary electrolysis technologies are Alkaline Water Electrolysis (AWE), Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM), Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM), and Solid-Oxide Electrolysis Cells (SOEC). The primary differences among these technologies are the electrolyte material, specific consumption, efficiencies, acceptable water quality, operation temperature, ramp rates, and properties of the hydrogen product. They also differ in maturity of technology, packaging of product, footprint, and costs. Depending on the specific application of a project, any of the electrolyzer technologies may be the best fit for a project.
This presentation will discuss the major differences and design considerations of the widely available electrolysis technologies and the opportunities for new hydrogen production plants to be integrated with existing electrical power supplies and systems. It will include a case study that evaluates the major electrolysis technologies to determine the most technically feasible and cost-effective one to utilize at two separate existing power generation sites. The available electrical power, land availability, and opportunities for integration within these two power generation sites are some of the critical categories evaluated in this case study.
Chad Mason
CEO
Advanced Ionics
From a young age, Chad worked with materials that contained hydrogen on his family's farm and recognized the impact decarbonizing hydrogen could have on transforming rural sustainability. Professionally, Chad worked on durability testing for hydrogen fuel cells at General Motors and conducted research on a global scale developing new electrochemical technologies in Arizona, Finland, Singapore and Michigan. Green hydrogen will be a critical steppingstone for decarbonizing industry and agriculture, especially to Chad's home state of North Dakota where agriculture is the main economic driver, bringing in $7.3 billion in annual revenue.
The Promise of New Water Vapor Electrolyzers in Lowering the Cost of Production
Electrolyzers in the market today fall into two categories - hot and cold. Cold electrolyzers, like AEM and PEM, use electricity to split liquid water into hydrogen and oxygen. They are made from common materials, but require large amounts of electricity to coax a liquid into electrolysis. Conversely, hot electrolyzers like solid oxide electrolyzers work with eight-hundred degree superheated steam. By working with steam the electricity requirements are significantly lower. But, making superheated steam requires extra energy to 'step-up' industrial steam to the required temperature for electrolysis. And what's more, hot electrolyzers use delicate and expensive ceramics, driving up capital costs.
Industry needs a solution that marries the best of both worlds. Water vapor electrolyzers (like Advanced Ionic's Symbiotic Electrolyzer) work across a wide temperature range, above liquid water but below superheated steam. Operating today at 300C, our electrolyzers require very little electricity and can tap into steam already available in industrial settings. And what's more, our technology uses common and widely available components to keep capital costs low.
This presentation will focus on discussions of the current electrolyzer landscape, the needs of industrial hydrogen producers and consumers, and a technical overview of the capabilities and current development of water vapor electrolyzers.
Mitchell Samuelian
CEO
NuConsult Services, LLC
Mitchell M. Samuelian is a highly experienced professional in the renewable energy sector, currently serving as the CEO and Founder of NuConsult Services, LLC. He has over 40 years of expertise in the electric utility industry, with a strong background in corporate asset management, engineering, compliance, plant management, and strategic planning.
Current Role:
CEO/Founder of NuConsult Services, LLC, a consulting company that develops innovative solutions for owners and operators of renewable power plants.
Previous Roles:
CEO of Tonian Renewables
Vice President of Operations for Clearway Energy Group / NRG Energy, overseeing the safe and reliable operations of over 6 GW of wind and solar projects.
General Manager of Ivanpah, a 392 MW concentrated solar thermal plant.
Director of Plant Operations for First Solar, involved in the development, construction, and operations of over 5 GW of utility solar power plants.
Head of Tennessee Valley Authority's Hydro and Renewable Operations and Maintenance program, managing over 5 GW of capacity across various renewable energy sources.
Educational Background:
MBA with a minor in Human Resources from the University of Phoenix.
BS in Nuclear Engineering from Thomas Edison State College.
Holds a Reactor and Senior Reactor Operator License from the NRC.
Mitchell Samuelian's extensive experience and leadership in the renewable energy industry make him a significant figure in the field, contributing to the advancement and operational excellence of renewable energy projects.
Tim McCarthy
Marketing Director
Trystar
Tim is a seasoned professional in the field of marketing and business development. Currently serving as the Director of Marketing at Trystar, he brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the company's strategic initiatives, including those of sustainability and resiliency.
Prior to joining Trystar, Tim dedicated 43 years of his career to Honeywell, where he held various key roles across sales, customer service, consumer affairs, and quality management. His multifaceted journey at Honeywell saw him excel as a Product Director, Channel Director, and Strategic Director, demonstrating his versatility and ability to adapt to diverse business challenges.
Throughout his career, Tim has been instrumental in fostering meaningful relationships with clients, stakeholders, and industry partners, driving collaborative efforts that yield mutually beneficial outcomes. His relentless pursuit of excellence and commitment to delivering value have earned him a reputation as a trusted leader and strategic advisor at Trystar.
Trystar is an industrial manufacturer of power products and solutions located in Faribault, MN. With a new expansion to their manufacturing facility, the senior leadership team realized an opportunity to improve efficiency and sustainability plus reduce the overall impact on the environment, with a renewable microgrid. Defined as a self-contained power system, it incorporates solar panels, wind turbines, and advanced battery energy storage technology. Situated in the expansive Faribault manufacturing site, the microgrid optimally utilizes the unobstructed terrain, strategically placing solar panels on rooftops to maximize sun exposure and leveraging the flat landscape for wind energy generation.
Beyond its primary function of reducing Trystar's carbon footprint, the microgrid serves as a dynamic learning laboratory. Collaborative efforts between Trystar, system integrators, and utilities have driven the selection and integration of energy sources tailored to enhance sustainability and resilience. This iterative process ensures continuous improvement, with plans to expand and scale the microgrid, ultimately reducing reliance on conventional utility power and potentially enabling energy sales back to the grid.
Central to the microgrid's efficiency is its smart energy management system, which constantly monitors production and consumption, adjusting energy flow accordingly. Excess energy is intelligently stored in batteries during low-demand periods, while high-demand areas receive prioritized energy delivery, ensuring optimal resource utilization.
Beyond reducing the company's carbon footprint and enhancing energy independence and resilience, it promises significant cost savings in the long term. Anticipated to save 185,000kWh of conventionally-generated power in its first year alone, the microgrid's impact is equivalent to mitigating emissions from burning coal or oil. With an array of solar panels, wind turbines, a backup generator, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging stations, Trystar's microgrid exemplifies sustainable energy solutions in action, paving the way for a greener and more efficient future.
Takis Zourntos
VP_ R&D/Products
Volta Energy Inc.
Over 2 decades of experience in hardware design, software development, systems integration, R&D. Rigorous analytical skills in modeling and controls, electronics, robotics, and IoT applications with 50+ publications/patents, 1626 citations, h-index: 20.
A Rapid-Response SOC-based Energy Buffering System for Support of Renewables
Prompted by widespread electrification and the proliferation of high-demand distribution-side loads, there is an ever increasing need for energy storage. Buffering mechanisms allow electrical energy to be stored during periods of abundant electricity supply and later released to service periods of higher demand. Moreover, the coordination of distribution-side energy storage technologies is needed, allowing for rapid response to accommodate dynamic regional power requirements as determined by the system operator. Unfortunately, modern electrical power grids are not designed to store substantial amounts of energy and even excess electricity generated by renewable sources such as wind turbines or solar panel arrays must be often curtailed. The use of lithium-based battery technology is limited since the associated cost is prohibitive for even modest amounts of storage. Enter HELIOS(TM), an energy buffering solution comprising flexible and reversible solid oxide cell (SOC) technology, advanced controls and cost-effective storage in the form of hydrogen gas or hydrogen-carrier fuel. We provide a detailed description of each aspect of HELIOS(TM), covering the central SOC technology which incorporate metal-supported structures to deliver resilient operation, a smart-hydrogen hub (SH2) element providing rapid-response controls of the SOC as well as an interface to the system operator, and energy storage options ranging from the use of existing natural-gas infrastructure to the use of liquid carrier fuels. Simulation results of demonstrating rapid response to system operator requests are provided. In addition, a techno-economic analysis is given to assess the economic viability of HELIOS(TM) in relation to competing technologies.
Alex Krowka
Consultant
United States Energy Association (USEA)
Alex Krowka is a Seattle-based Consultant for the U.S. Energy Association. In this position, Alex helps manage the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-funded Consensus Program to build global and domestic understanding, consensus, and cooperative action on Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) and Carbon Management Technologies (CMT). Additionally, Alex has worked with USEA's Promoting International And Domestic Consensus On Oil And Natural Gas Program and USEA's U.S. - East Africa Geothermal Partnership (EAGP).
Alex has 8 years of experience in Energy and International Development having worked at Energetics and the International Tax and Investment Center. His past clients consisted of multiple programs and offices within DOE including: Appliance Standards, Emerging Technologies, Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP), International Affairs, Residential Buildings Integration, and Zero Energy Ready Homes. Alex graduated magna cum laude from American University's School of International Service with a B.A. in International Studies.
Jeffery Pope PE
Program Manager, Facility Decommissioning & Demolition Services
Burns & McDonnell Engineering Co., Inc.
Mr. Pope is the Program Manager for Facility Decommissioning and Demolition Services at Burns & McDonnell Engineering Co., Inc. He earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is a licensed professional engineer. His focus is providing utilities and power cooperatives with assistance for the decommissioning and demolition of fossil-fired power plants. He is currently managing or participating in the demolition and remediation of 15 fossil-fired power plants and has completed more than 35 additional demolition projects around the country.
Case Study: Lessons Learned Through Implementing a Decommissioning and Demolitio
Case study discussing the decommissioning and demolition of the former PowerSouth Lowman Power Plant. The presentation will discuss the planning and implementation of the retirement and demolition of the Lowman Power Plant. Upfront planning and coordination were conducted with utilities' stakeholders (operations, environmental, energy delivery, communications, security, safety, management, etc.) to develop a decommissioning plan that was executed by plant staff following plant shutdown. The presentation will also include a discussion on how a decommissioning effort can be successfully conducted by remaining plant staff and the advantages of documentation during the decommissioning process to facilitate demolition execution.
Following decommissioning of the plant, PowerSouth and Burns & McDonnell worked together to manage project expectations and minimize change orders by developing a clear technical scope of work. This presentation will also include a discussion of the collaboration efforts as the project was converted to an Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) project with Burns & McDonnell operating as the Prime Contractor. We will present the general steps involved in the demolition process and necessary planning for a safe and successful project. The presentation will also highlight lessons learned in the execution and implementation of the project.
Wayshalee Patel
Manager
Sargent & Lundy
Wayshalee (way-shaw-lee) A. Patel works for Sargent & Lundy, a comprehensive consulting, engineering and design firm providing solutions for electric power generation. She holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Illinois-Chicago and is a registered professional engineer in the state of Illinois. Ms. Patel is an environmental technology specialist and has 10 years of experience in process design of various air quality control equipment in the power generation industry including flue gas desulphurization, selective catalytic reduction, fabric filters and activated carbon injection.
Julianna Crumlish
Senior Environmental Associate
Sargent & Lundy
Julianna Crumlish is a senior environmental specialist at Sargent & Lundy. She has degrees from SUNY Buffalo in Environmental Geosciences and English. In her current role, she leads permitting for complex industrial projects, including a variety of carbon capture and reduction projects, and is a subject matter expert in NEPA compliance.
Permitting a carbon capture project involves unique and often challenging regulatory considerations which require significant time and money to address. For example, assessing air permit applicability requires an understanding of changes in emissions due to the carbon capture project and whether the proposed project will be considered a modification to an existing source or a separate standalone facility. However, due to the novel nature of some carbon capture technologies, changes to air pollutant emissions can be difficult to quantify during early project planning. Additionally, carbon capture projects often trigger the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which can take years to complete. It is tempting to rush into such a long lead item, however, starting before a project is sufficiently mature can waste the time and attention of federal regulators. This presentation will discuss recent lessons learned from permitting a variety of carbon capture technologies and will identify what considerations need to be taken into account at the start of project planning.
William Latta
New Technology, Sr. Program Manager
Babcock & Wilcox
William F. Latta is the New Technology Commercialization, Program Manager, for Babcock & Wilcox (B&W). Mr. Latta is an industry leader in commercializing new and novel sustainable energy technologies. Mr. Latta has 30 years of experience in engineering, R&D, operations, finance, venture capital and project development in both large multi-national organizations and start-ups. As an entrepreneur, Mr. Latta took a one-person start-up to $100M in revenue on multiple continents. Mr. Latta holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from Duke University.
Decarbonizing Hydrogen Production with Solid Fuels and Biofuels Chemical Looping
For the HydrogeNext Sessions
B&W's innovative low-carbon hydrogen production technology called BrightLoop chemical looping can directly process a wide range of feedstocks, including solid fuels such as biomass or coal, into hydrogen with a separated stream of CO2 for sequestration, beneficial use or further processing. BrightLoop is a chemical looping technology that uses an innovative oxygen-carrying metal oxide particle. In addition to detailing the process and progress of development, bioenergy production with carbon capture and sequestration (BECCS) technologies will also be discussed, which can provide carbon-negative CO2 and power for eFuels projects. The presentation will include a general discussion of how these technologies correlate to available financial incentives for reducing the carbon intensity of power and fuel production.
John Giles
Project Manager
Kiewit
Ensuring client satisfaction and overall project performance, John Giles, a seasoned project manager with over 21 years of experience, understands the different project phases, including the intricacies of mechanical and pipe stress engineering, and the critical role of accurate estimating. Specializing in rectifying design errors that could lead to operational issues, John serves as the primary point of contact for clients and project stakeholders, including third-party interfaces for Kiewit.
John, a licensed Professional Engineer in Kansas, Michigan, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Recognized as a subject matter expert, he has shared his insights at several conferences, including the Energy Progress & Innovation Conference (January 2024), the Power Generators Air Coalition (October 2023) and the Kiewit Engineering Technical Summit (February 2023).
Update & Implications of EPA's Electric Generating Unit's Greenhouse Gas Rule
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently drafted new greenhouse gas (GHG) standards and guidelines for electric generating units under the Clean Air Act Section 111. These rules target carbon dioxide emissions from both new and existing fossil-fired units, proposing the use of advanced technologies like carbon capture and hydrogen co-firing.
In this presentation, we dive into these rules, examining their requirements, objectives and potential impacts on the power industry. We employ a mixed-methods approach, combining regulatory analysis, stakeholder feedback and economic modeling to assess the feasibility, costs and benefits of compliance.
We compare these rules with other significant policy initiatives, like the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, providing a broader context for understanding the potential implications of the EPA's new rules.
Our findings suggest these rules could significantly reshape the U.S. energy landscape, presenting both challenges and opportunities for the power industry. We discuss potential implications for the future of the power sector and the environment, highlighting the potential for these rules to drive innovation in the sector, spur investment in clean energy technologies, and contribute to the fight against climate change.
Finally, we propose directions for further research, including more detailed studies on the technical feasibility and economic viability of the proposed technologies, as well as ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the rules' impacts. Our study lays a valuable foundation for these future research efforts and contributes to the ongoing dialogue on the future of the U.S. power sector.
DeAnna C. Myers
Senior Manager, Learning & Development
Sargent & Lundy
DeAnna Myers is the Learning and Development Manager at Sargent Lundy, LLC, a prominent engineering consultant in the power generation industry. Ms. Myers orchestrates the design and delivery of more than 500 courses annually. Her company utilizes in-house subject matter experts and an in-house development team to develop course content aimed at sustaining organizational knowledge capital.
Ms. Myers authored the organization's first knowledge transfer process and continues to cultivate the organization's learning culture through classroom training, on-line learning and communities of practice.
Ms. Myers completed her Master's degree in Northwestern University's Learning and Organizational Change Program in June 2013. Her master's research is based on the transfer of knowledge across levels of expertise as a means of sustaining intellectual capital within the organization.
Her research is featured on Northwestern's Knowledge Lens website for exemplary Capstone efforts.
Jody Porter
STS CONSULTING SERVICES LLC
Jody Porter is the director, nuclear organizational and leadership development for the Duke Energy nuclear fleet. She is responsible for leading the strategy, development and execution of processes, programs and practices to strengthen the leadership and nuclear fleet to create and sustain a high performing organization.
Prior to becoming director, nuclear organizational and leadership development, Porter held positions including organizational development consultant, assistant organizational effectiveness manager and internal communicator at Oconee Nuclear Station. She joined the company in 2010. Before joining Duke Energy, Porter worked at Sauer-Danfoss as the site learning specialist.
Porter earned a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in organizational development from Clemson University, and she is currently pursuing her doctorate in industrial and organizational psychology from Northcentral University.
Samuel R. Barnes, P.E.
President & CEO
Middough Inc.
Sam has spent his 30-year career in the electric energy industry leading design, consulting, and project management across EPC and owners engineering models. The last decade being focused on energy transition: microgrids, DERs, BESS and EV Charging. At Charge Infrastructure, Sam is responsible for operations for EPC execution of EV charging infrastructure projects across the United States.
Ed Davis
Senior Consultant
DOE Loan Programs Office
Edward Davis is a senior nuclear industry consultant with over 40 years of nuclear industry experience in a number of senior management roles, including engineering, business development, project finance, marketing, strategic planning as well as governmental affairs.
In his long career, Mr. Davis has developed a wide range of knowledge on energy and environmental issues both domestic and internationally and has a keen understanding of governmental policymaking, regulatory compliance, state rate making, as well as legislative and political affairs.
Currently, Mr. Davis serves as President and Managing Director of the Pegasus Group where he is responsible for providing strategic consulting services to a wide range of clients in the energy and electric utility industries as well as Federal agencies in a number of strategic areas. Mr. Davis is a subject matter expert in his field and has testified before Congress and State Public Utility Commissions on nuclear energy issues.
DOE Financing Beyond the Regional Hydrogen Hubs
While DOE announced $7 billion to launch seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) in October 2023 , there are additional plans for hydrogen hubs that were not selected. DOE's Loan Programs Office (LPO) is also available to support hydrogen projects through debt financing for Innovative Energy and Innovative Supply Chain Projects. LPO can support production, midstream infrastructure, and end-use projects, making it a flexible option.
Megan Reusser
Hydrogen Technology Manager
Burns & McDonnell
Megan Reusser is the Hydrogen Technology Manager at Burns & McDonnell with over a dozen years of industry experience. She has a diverse background in front-end project development including process engineering, proposal management, and cost estimation. These skills create a unique blend of both technical and commercial expertise that she uses to provide her clients with technical solutions that optimize process design, reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions, and decrease overall costs. She specializes in technologies supporting decarbonization projects such as green hydrogen production, carbon capture, liquefied air energy storage, and other emerging markets. In 2022, she was named a "Rising Star" in Hydrogen Economist's "Women in Hydrogen 50". Megan earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Kansas.
The Economics of Small-Scale Hydrogen Pilot Projects: Challenges and Lessons Learned
Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier that can help decarbonize various sectors, but its deployment is still in the early stages, especially for small-scale projects. While hydrogen pilot projects can showcase the potential of the technology and generate valuable data, they often struggle to achieve financial viability. In this presentation, we will explore the economic challenges of small-scale hydrogen pilot projects and the reasons why they often to not proceed past the feasibility stage. We will discuss the high capital costs and technical complexities of hydrogen production, storage, and distribution, and how they affect the economics of small-scale projects. We will also examine the regulatory and policy barriers that impede the growth of the hydrogen market, including the lack of incentives and support for early-stage projects, and the uncertain regulatory framework for hydrogen. Furthermore, we will analyze some case studies of small-scale hydrogen pilot projects and highlight the key lessons learned. Ultimately, this presentation aims to provide insights into the economics of small-scale hydrogen pilot projects and to suggest possible solutions to overcome the challenges and accelerate the deployment of hydrogen at scale.
Whitaker Irvin, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer
Q Hydrogen
Mr. Irvin is the Chief Executive Officer of Q Hydrogen and has been since its formation in 2013. He is also serving as the Chief Operating Office of QuasarWave Corporation, a position he has held since 2010.
Mr. Irvin is responsible for crafting commercialization strategies and is known for his relationships within the commercial and equity communities.
His background includes technology deployment at Raytheon Company and experience in the financial sector. Mr. Irvin graduated from Babson College in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and Global Business Management. He is also a certified Project Management Professional ("PMP").
The Development of a Commercialized Hydrogen Campus will fuel adoption
Renewable energy sources will play an essential role in future energy strategies due to the increasing demand for energy and the need to energize a path to net zero. With a hydrogen economy valued at $130 billion and estimated to grow 9.2% annually, production costs will decrease by 50% through 2030.
Currently, advances in the hydrogen vertical are from large international players who are awarded government grants to create regional clean hydrogen hubs. While the multi-national players have been awarded 7 billion dollars in funding, it will be up to entrepreneurs and start-ups to finance new hydrogen technology and innovations not imagined by the big conglomerates.
Q Hydrogen is investing and opening the first Q Hydrogen commercial campus in the U.S. based on new proprietary technology. A hydrogen campus will boost hydrogen fuel adoption and meet growing industry infrastructure needs. Companies will run their electricity from hydrogen produced on the campus in Groveton, New Hampshire.
Innovative commercialized hydrogen hubs by start-ups will scale job opportunities, improve energy security, and provide a pathway for company adoption of a clean energy alternative.
The presentation will discuss the need for hydrogen investment, technology creativity, and the viability of commercialized hydrogen campuses. What will change the hydrogen landscape will be hydrogen hubs financed by well-capitalized and inventive start-ups bringing technical innovation to the vertical.
Clayton Tucker
Process Engineer - Green Energy Solutions
Lectrodryer
Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Kentucky
Specialize in Hydrogen Purification Product Lines, Process Design, and Custom Engineered Products
Works with 10+ Electrolyzer OEMs to date
2020 AIChE Award Recipient for work on designing a Green Hydrogen Ammonia Production Plant
Hydrogen Purity for Fuel and Liquefaction BOP Requirements
For hydrogen to be liquified or to be used as fuel, it needs to comply with certain purity In order to comply with applicable ordinances worldwide. The degree of hydrogen purity affects the cost of BOP. Learn the factors that affect hydrogen purification (oxygen, nitrogen, water and/or residual ammonia, depending on source) and the relationship between purity requirements and purification cost that makes the selected systems more CAPEX or OPEX intensive.
Justin Williams
Senior Account Executive
Trevi Communications
David Trombly
Senior Engineer Supervisor
UC Davis
David works at UC Davis Utilities where he supervises a team of engineers and analysts who gather, maintain, and analyze utilities data, optimize utility systems, manage energy purchasing, and support campus sustainability initiatives. Before coming to UC Davis, David worked as a consultant helping clients with environmental compliance, litigation, permitting, and risk assessment.
The journey to achieve 100% renewable energy community
Co-Authors
Ann Moore, Industry Principal - Power & Utilities, AVEVA
With 40K students and 24K faculty and staff on campus, University of California, Davis is a small grid by itself. With $20M of annual electricity spending, UC David has an aggressive goal to supply 100% renewable energy to campus by 2025. A significant component of achieving this goal is the 14MW solar farm which is the largest Behind-the-Meter (BTM) solar installation on a university in US. This installation creates an issue that also reflects the solar-heavy California electric grid: net demand is high in the evening hours when prices are high. In an effort to mitigate this, Facilities Management staff have created a framework of efforts to address this issue including industrial scale load shifting, demand response in fleet of buildings, battery backups, and campus eBus charging pattern and smart charging analysis, etc. This presentation will show how UC Davis has leveraged data and data-driven decision making to solve the challenges, generate the cost savings, improve the resiliency and reliability to step on the journey to achieve the 100% renewable goal.
William Mangan, MBA, MEM, PMP
Operations and Maintenance Manager
Kissimmee Utility Authority
Bill Mangan is the Operations and Maintenance Manager at the Cane Island Power Park, a 750 MW gas power plant located in Central Florida.
Bill's career started in 1998 with the US Navy. Over a period of 14 years, Bill served on multiple submarines, in multiple leadership roles, to include power plant mechanic, Division Officer on the USS PITTSBURGH and USS TUCSON, Project Manager for the Afghan National Police in Kabul, Afghanistan, and Chief Engineer on the USS HELENA. Bill continues to serve in the Navy Reserve as a Commander and Commanding Officer.
After leaving active duty, Bill worked with Nextera Energy, at the St. Lucie Nuclear Station. At St. Lucie, Bill served as an operations instructor, leading the electronic work package program development and training, and Mechanical Maintenance Department Head, where he led over 60 nuclear mechanics, welders, machinist, non-destructive testing specialist, and weld engineers.
After leaving Plant St. Lucie, Bill was activated for one year with the Naval Reserves as the Executive Assistant to the Commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay.
Bill has been working with KUA/FMPA for four years as the O&M Manager at Cane Island.
Bill's educational background includes an MBA from John Hopkins University, a Master of Engineering Management from Old Dominion University, and a BS from Jacksonville University. Bill also holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) and Six Sigma Green Belt certifications.
Kenneth Luebbert
Senior Director - Gen Support Engineering
Evergy, Inc
Kenny Luebbert is a seasoned engineering professional with a diverse background in mechanical engineering, business administration, and project leadership. Holding a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri and a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Kansas, Kenny has cultivated a unique skill set that blends technical expertise with strategic business acumen.
As a registered professional engineer in the state of Kansas, Kenny has demonstrated his commitment to upholding high standards of professionalism and excellence in his field. With over six years of experience as a consulting engineer, he specialized in implementing power plant controls and digital twin/simulation projects, showcasing his proficiency in cutting-edge technologies shaping the energy sector.
Kenny's career trajectory at Evergy exemplifies his dedication and expertise. Over the course of twenty-four years with the company, he has assumed increasingly challenging roles in project and engineering leadership. Currently serving as the Senior Director of Generation Engineering, Kenny leads a dynamic team responsible for supporting a diverse fleet of fossil and renewable generating units. His strategic vision and technical prowess play a pivotal role in ensuring the reliability and efficiency of Evergy's power generation operations.
Throughout his career, Kenny Luebbert has demonstrated a passion for innovation and a relentless pursuit of excellence. His breadth of experience, coupled with his commitment to continuous learning, positions him as a respected leader in the energy industry.
Winter Preparation/EOP-012
Darren Hoard
Senior Engineer
Evergy, Inc
Darren Hoard is a Senior Engineer whose primary role is the technical support for multiple sites in Evergy's Gas Turbine fleet. He creates and evaluates bid specifications, prepares for and project manages outages and maintains capital budgets for various projects in which he is involved. Darren's prior responsibilities within Evergy include Maintenance Engineer, BOP Engineer and Performance Engineer at the Sibley Power Plant; as well as Central Engineering's Fire Protection Engineer and Turbine Engineer.
Darren Hoard completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri - Kansas City. When he's not busy with work, Darren's major hobby includes traveling. He also enjoys the outdoors, attending sporting events and concerts (for which he will also travel).
Exploring fuel oil as an alternative during winter peaks
Co-Authors
Craig Burgett, Project Manager, Kiewit
In the United States, winter storms Uri (2021) and Elliot (2022) interrupted natural gas production by more than 15 billion cubic feet per day according to S&P Global Commodity Insights. These interruptions led to reduced natural gas availability across multiple regions nationwide, while record cold weather caused a surge in gas and electric demand.
During these winter storms, electric generation set or nearly set peak winter demands. Some generating units struggled to maintain operation due to restricted natural gas supply. Others were forced to shut down or purchase expensive natural gas during the supply restriction. One solution to mitigate a generating unit's exposure to natural gas supply and increased electric demand is to equip existing or new gas turbines with fuel oil burning equipment. Fuel oil can serve as a contingency fuel when natural gas supply is limited, or when the cost of natural gas surpasses the cost of using fuel oil.
In our presentation, we discuss the benefits of a collaborative project approach for fuel oil installations. This approach involves working together to develop the engineering design that will be used by the owner for the procurement of equipment and construction services. Attendees will gain insight into main drivers for installing fuel oil burning equipment, major equipment, key design concepts, the role of Geotech, communication strategies, action items tracking, supply chain impacts and more. This collaborative approach ensures a comprehensive understanding of the project, leading to efficient execution and successful outcomes.
Mike Harbison
President
M E H & Associates, LLC
Mr. Michael Harbison is the Founder and Owner of M E H & Associates, LLC. In this capacity, he performs unit walk-downs and assessments, modifies combustion systems, reduces emissions through advanced computational modeling, assesses and tunes boilers / boiler operations. Mr. Harbison covers the full US for the power generation sector.
Mr. Harbison specialized in process optimization for over twenty-five years.
Dr. Yang Ge
Team Leader
SmartBurn LLC
Dr. Yang Ge has over 25 years of extensive research and field experience in coal combustion, modeling-based design and hands-on analysis, assessment and tuning of coal-fired boiler combustion. Dr. Ge has led unit optimization, CFD modeling analysis and combustion tuning on a wide variety of boiler types. He has served as the technical leader and project manager for a number of SmartBurn's assessment, logic update, tuning and optimization projects. Dr. Ge has BS, MS and PhD degrees in engineering mechanics and thermophysics from Tsinghua University in China and a second PhD in Chemical Engineering from The Ohio State University.
DCS Logic Upgrades for Fuel Variability & Turndown
Co-Authors
Frank Fowler, Vice President, Business Development, SmartBurn, LLC
Variability in North Dakota lignite has long presented significant challenges for operations and NOx emissions compliance. In addition, successful operation in current power markets requires increasing operating flexibility, including operating at increasingly lower loads.
Standard DCS BTU compensation is often not adequate to address the inherent variability in coal, especially North Dakota lignite. BTU correction or compensation signals often vary with load, rather than with changes in coal heating value. This complicates operations for all coal-fired units. Cooling air or "tramp" air from burners or cyclones out of service becomes increasingly difficult as turndown increases. This results in higher combustion NOx and higher heat rates. Both of these issues are more difficult for cyclone units, where variation in fuel and air flows results in large variation in stoichiometric ratios in individual cyclones. The result is often increased cyclone slagging and poor cyclone slag tapping.
In this presentation, we will discuss improved BTU compensation and air flow logic that provides reliable cyclone SR control and improved emissions and efficiency at lower unit loads. The benefits are:
• Reduced operating issues and maintenance costs related to slagged up cyclones
• Reduced overall excess O2
• Reduced NOx emissions and urea or ammonia costs
• Lower stable minimum loads
• Increased boiler efficiency/reduced heat rates, especially at lower loads
We will explain the approach and present results based on case studies where these upgrades have been implemented.
Jill Liska
General Counsel, Sponsor of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative
Sargent & Lundy
Brooke Mills
Sr. Comms Business Partner
GE Vernova
Mel Bergsneider
Executive Account Manager
Allume Energy
Mel Bergsneider is Executive Account Manager at Allume Energy, responsible for business
development in the U.S. market. As the first US-based employee at Allume Energy, Mel
leads the Australian-born startup's expansion across target markets such as California, New
York, and Florida. Mel works closely with affordable housing providers, solar installers, and
real estate developers to provide solar energy benefits to participating tenants. Previous
experience includes working in energy efficiency in San Francisco, installing solar at a
Women's Cooperative in Nicaragua, and supporting sustainable development in the Amazon
Rainforest.
Prior to joining Allume Energy, Mel worked in energy equity at GRID Alternatives and in
energy efficiency at Carbon Lighthouse. She also interned in the Amazon Rainforest at
Fundación Runa and was a Community Coach at Greenpeace USA, serving as Director of
Sustainability at Residence Hall Association.
Mel has dedicated her career towards fighting climate change, and in that path, she found a
passion for solar energy. Mel holds a BA from Indiana University in Bloomington in
Entrepreneurship, Corporate Innovation and Sustainable Business. She also holds a
Certification in Energy Innovation and Emerging Technologi
Advancing Green Building with Solar Energy Integration
Multifamily residents earn around 52% of the average salary in the United States and as a result, they face energy burdens three times higher than people living in standalone homes. And until recently, there was no way for multifamily residents to access clean, affordable energy from their rooftops. Allume Energy's Solshare, a world-first technology, is unlocking solar energy for multifamily buildings, providing a solution to energy inequity.
In this session Mel Bergsneider, Executive Account Manager at Allume Energy, will explore the energy equity challenges around multifamily buildings and apartment renters in particular and what the unique barriers are to obtaining rooftop solar in multifamily properties. We will then discuss how this new technology solves these challenges and what the opportunities and challenges have been of implementation in the US.
Justin Walters
VDC Lead
Middough
Justin Walters is a distinguished design professional with over 15 years of experience, currently serving as a VDC Specialist at Middough. His extensive expertise in Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) coordination has been instrumental in optimizing project workflows and enhancing collaboration within the organization.
Leveraging BIM Technology for Industrial Power Project Execution
Join us as we explore the transformative power of emerging technologies in industrial power projects. These innovations serve as a gateway to unprecedented opportunities, streamlining software, scanning, and data workflows, enhancing data accessibility, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders. These opportunities ultimately result in faster execution, higher quality, and under budget projects.
In an era characterized by relentless technological innovation, industrial power professionals face the challenge of navigating a complex landscape of options. The variety of advanced tools and groundbreaking platforms can be overwhelming, leaving decision-makers uncertain about which technologies will drive success in their projects. Moreover, the implementation of new technologies often requires significant investments of time, resources, and expertise, further complicating decision-making processes. In this presentation we will explore these issues and discuss solutions to minimize uncertainty while adopting new technologies.
Amidst this uncertainty, recent practices have emerged as guiding lights, offering proven strategies and solutions to revolutionize efficiency, communication, and collaboration within industrial power projects. By embracing these practices, teams can confidently navigate even the most intricate projects, leveraging technology to achieve unparalleled outcomes.
Prepare to be captivated by groundbreaking integrations tailored to the unique challenges faced by industrial power professionals. These integrations facilitate seamless sharing of large data files, point cloud management, enhancing accessibility and collaboration, and ultimately driving a dramatic improvement in project quality, efficiency and stakeholder satisfaction.
Don't miss this opportunity to unlock the potential of emerging technologies and propel your projects to new heights. Join us on a journey of discovery and innovation as we uncover the keys to success in industrial power projects.
Jhansi Kandasamy
Director, Net-Zero Program
Idaho National Laboratory
Jhansi Kandasamy is an electrical engineer, business professional, past chair of U.S. Women in Nuclear (WIN), and co-founder of U.S. WIN Nuclear Executives of Tomorrow. Kandasamy has taken on numerous energy challenges over the course of her 30 years in nuclear energy and emerged as both a successful leader and sought-after mentor. Prior to her role as director of INL's Net-Zero program, Kandasamy took on the challenge of developing carbon-free energy as the executive vice president of engineering for GE-Hitachi. There, she contributed to the development of a new generation of nuclear reactors called small modular reactors. This work helped her achieve one of her core goals: protecting the planet by developing energy alternatives. Kandasamy was poised to take on this work after holding progressive roles as maintenance supervisor, operations supervisor, engineering manager, regulatory assurance manager and chemistry environmental manager at Exelon's Limerick Generating Station and Oyster Creek Generating Station. She then transitioned to Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) Nuclear Salem/Hope Creek New Jersey where she held positions as regulatory assurance manager, work management director and senior projects director. Kandasamy obtained U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission senior reactor operator certification at the Limerick Generating Station. As a woman in a largely male-dominated space, Kandasamy was motivated to help other women and historically underrepresented groups, which is why she became involved with U.S. WIN in various capacities, including being selected as the recent past chair of the organization. She served on the local American Nuclear Society executive committee and as co-founder of Atomic Allies, which was born from a memorandum of understanding signed by U.S. WIN, the Nuclear Energy Institute, North American Young 20-GA50518 continued on back...Generation in Nuclear and the American Nuclear Society. She is on the oversight committee for and initiated the U.S. WIN Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group, which addresses not only gender gaps, but all diversity in the nuclear workforce. In her free time, Kandasamy is the president and chair for a college her father started in a rural part of India to educate underprivileged men and women from rural villages. Kandasamy is happily married and the proud mother of two children. She is also an avid reader -- a hobby fueled by her natural curiosity and love of learning -- and enjoys painting, travel, pickleball and walking.
John Evans
Principal Consultant
Thornton Tomasetti
John leads the safety and risk team at Thornton Tomasetti and has over 30 years experience in hazard and risk assessment and management. As well as leading the teams John is a practitioner in hazard identification, assessment, control, mitigation and management techniques and brings his practical experience with an understanding of state of the art modelling techniques undertaken by Thornton Tomasetti to support clients solve their problems.
John has worked on global projects assessing the hazards and risks for the exploration, production, extraction, transportation and processing of oil and gas including LNG and CNG, and has identified, developed and supported the implementation of control, mitigation and management systems. John currently leads the Thornton Tomasetti team assessing the hazards from alternative energy systems including hydrogen and ammonia and has also worked on multiple carbon capture and storage projects.
Comparison of Hydrogen Jet Fire Modelling Techniques
As the world starts its progression to net zero, hydrogen is seen as a form of energy that is both transportable and flexible and can replace traditional hydrocarbon fuels. Hydrogen has been used for many years across a number of industries and its characteristics as a flammable fluid are well known, although the heat load from impacting hydrogen jet fires is less well characterised.
The heat load from a hydrocarbon jet fire impacting onto a pipe or vessel 'target' is well understood and there have been a wide range of experiments undertaken which have help validate computer models. There are standard jet fire tests for hydrocarbon fuels primarily used to test passive fire protection systems. The total heat load on a target is made up of a contribution of the radiative and the convective heat flux. The convective heat load may be higher for hydrogen fires due to the greater adiabatic flame temperature of hydrogen and the increased storage pressure, and hence flow velocity, typically used for hydrogen. The radiative heat load will also differ as the combustion of hydrogen in air has emissions in the infrared range due to vibrationally excited water molecules and emissions in the ultraviolet range due to OH molecules. Hydrocarbon fires emit in the visible spectrum from the pyrolysis of carbon and in the ultraviolet range due to OH molecules.
This paper reports on a comparison of four large scale hydrogen jet fire releases impacting on a target, assessed using CFD modelling techniques. Two different CFD software packages were used to provide a comparison of the heat load on a target for the two modelling packages. The results were further compared to experimental data for the same releases for hydrocarbon jet fires allowing a direct comparison between hydrogen and hydrocarbon jet fires.
Joshua Reidy
CEO and Co-Founder
Thread
Dr. Joshua Riedy is the Co-Founder and CEO of Thread, a technology company that provides data solutions for critical infrastructure management. Prior to founding Thread, Josh was Chief Operating Officer at EdgeData in 2016. Before that, Josh was the Vice Provost and Chief Strategy Officer, and Chief Information Officer at the University of North Dakota. Josh holds a doctoral degree from the University of South Dakota, and both a MA and BA South Dakota State University.
Josh has more than 15 years of expertise managing complex, multi-party technology projects, coordinating government agencies, higher education systems, and private parties. As a former CIO with a software development background, Josh is proficient in the areas of research computing, IT architecture, and development. He also has substantial drone knowledge having received grant funding from notable organizations including the North Dakota Department of Commerce, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the National Science Foundation.
The Missing Data: Why Utilities of the Future Need Modern Automation
The current state of the energy utilities industry is one that can loosely be characterized by its lack of modern technology. Inundated with obsolete methods of data collection, inspection insights and automated workflow, utility providers continue to lag woefully behind other industries in terms of platform integration and modernization. In this session, Josh Reidy, CEO and Co-founder of Thread and their development partner Xcel Energy will explore the current state of the utilities industry, its lack of digitization and the necessary steps to propel the industry forward.
Josh and company will delve into the current state of our country's utility infrastructure and provide his insight on why providers have long accepted the status quo of utility industry standards In particular, they will critique the current limitations of asset inspection practices, which require manual labor, and are extremely hazardous and time consuming.
The audience will leave with a richer understanding of the inflection point the utilities industry is experiencing. Josh will provide actionable insights regarding how operators can incorporate the usage of real-time data, automation, and artificial intelligence, to bridge the gap towards digitizing the archaic industry, and the overwhelming positive effects such changes will have for utility companies, their distribution partners and their customers.
Todd Svoboda
Principal Engineer
East Kentucky Power Cooperative Inc. [EKPC]
Todd Svoboda is currently working as a Principal Engineer at East Kentucky Power Cooperative in Winchester KY. Todd went to school at Northern Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky, receiving his degree in Chemical Engineering. Todd currently manages EKPC's generating facilities KPDES Water Permits, BMP plans, water and wastewater projects, Effluent Limitation Guidelines, project management, and more. Todd leads and coordinates projects with engineering and construction, legal, Kentucky Division of Water, plant managers, and consultants. Prior to working at EKPC, Todd worked at Lexmark International almost 19 years in various roles. He served in management, operations, environmental, product engineering, research and development, consulting, and sales.
Timothy Eiden
Environment Technology Associate III
Sargent and Lundy
Timothy Eiden graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. He has worked at Sargent and Lundy in the Environmental Technologies Group for over two and a half years. There he has prepared over a dozen LCAs to be submitted as a part of FOA applications.
The Role of Life Cycle Assessments in GHG Emissions
Title: The Role of Life Cycle Assessments in GHG Emissions
Author: Timothy Eiden
Abstract:
The goal of the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is to model the global warming potential (GWP) associated with installing proposed full-scale integrated carbon dioxide (CO2) capture systems from cradle-to-delivered electricity or industrial product, often at existing power or industrial facilities. Emissions from energy inputs into the facility including fuels and electricity; combustion emissions at the facility; chemical production; construction of the facility and manufacturing impacts; transportation of all equipment, materials, chemicals, and fuels; carbon dioxide transport and saline aquifer storage; and, in the case of projects delivering electricity, electricity transmission and distribution emissions make up the scope of emissions studied for the LCA. The LCA model is typically developed in OpenLCA utilizing the pre-established National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) processes and supplemented by publicly available information. OpenLCA calculates GWP for each process in a product system and displays the results in kilograms (kg) of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions. This presentation will cover a case study on developing a LCA for a CO2 capture system and how the inputs, such as fuel source, distribution, etc. impact the overall GWP of the project.
Eric Fins
Vice President
Grove Climate Group
Eric Fins is the Vice President of Grove Climate Group, LLC. Eric works directly with GCG's clients to understand the full scope of their work and develop strategies to achieve their climate goals, including political and policy advice, strategic guidance, background research and analysis, memos and reports, and connecting relevant parties to build relationships and coalitions.
Prior to joining GCG, Eric spent nearly 15 years in the U.S. House of Representatives in a variety of capacities, most recently as the Deputy Staff Director of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis (SCCC). Known as the "climate think tank" for House Democrats, Eric was responsible for coordinating climate policy with House Democratic Leadership, including the standing committees, in addition to the White House and Senate. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated "[SCCC's] work formed the foundation of Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act, helping to deliver the largest climate investment in human history."
Eric received his J.D. from American University Manga Cum Laude and served as a staff member on the American University Law Review for two years. He is a member of the DC Bar. He also received his bachelor's degree from American University. Eric lives in North Carolina with his wife, two kids, and their dog.
Update on BIL/IIJA and IRA
Gursaran Singh, MASc, P.Eng, PMP
VP Energy Alliances
Volta Energy Inc.
Dan McGee
Director, Hydrogen Markets
Kiewit
DAN MCGEE / ENGINEERING SERVICES DIRECTOR OF HYDROGEN MARKET
Providing services for the development of assets, enhancement of operations and improvement of performance, Dan McGee, the engineering services director of hydrogen market at Kiewit, uses his 35 years of power generation experience to provide comprehensive engineering designs and solution strategies. He partners with clients throughout the project lifecycle from pre-FEED/FEED through commissioning and spearheads hydrogen engineering efforts.
Previously, Dan led project management consulting services, the power retrofit engineering team, and solar and battery energy storage systems engineering efforts. A certified Project Management Professional with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Dan is a published subject matter expert in power engineering. He has presented at multiple Kiewit events and co-authored an article on water and steam chemistry control.
Hydrogen: The Ultimate Solution for Energy Storage and Transport?
Hydrogen, a versatile energy carrier, holds the potential to revolutionize various sectors and applications. This presentation dives into the process of generating, storing and using hydrogen as an energy storage solution. We provide a comparison of different storage technologies, focusing on their scalability, efficiency and the expected capital and operational costs.
We discuss methods and technologies used to produce hydrogen from renewable sources and increase its density through compression. We examine the optimal pressure levels and techniques for different applications, along with the benefits and drawbacks of these pressure levels.
In our exploration of using hydrogen as a fuel for power plants, we consider efficiency, emissions, safety and compatibility. We discuss the process of converting hydrogen into usable energy, the emissions that result from this process, and the safety measures that need to be in place when handling and storing hydrogen. We also look at how compatible hydrogen is with existing power plant infrastructure and what modifications may be needed.
We foster a complete understanding of hydrogen's role and dispel misconceptions while highlighting safety concerns associated with hydrogen use in our industry. We provide examples of how these concerns can be addressed to ensure a safe and effective use of hydrogen.
Through this presentation, we provide an overview of hydrogen's potential as an energy storage solution, stimulating discussion and further research. We dive into the future possibilities of hydrogen, discussing how its versatility and potential for clean energy production can play a pivotal role in our industry's future. We conclude with a call to action, encouraging further exploration and innovation in the field of hydrogen energy storage.
Rick Lank
President and Chief Commercialization Officer
Resilient Power Works, LLC
Rick has worked in the microgrid and utility sphere for a decade or so, beginning with initial success in designing a public benefit microgrid in Connecticut around the time of Hurricane Sandy. Participated by invitation of the Governor in the "Resilience through Microgrids" panel in 2013/14. Developed a working relationship with Dr. David Tucker at the HyPer (Hybrid Performance) Lab at NETL's (National Energy Technology Lab), where we have collaborated on the utility-application design of the Hydrogen Hybrid Microgrid (HHM) clean power generating system. Following the extended federal lab closures during Covid, Resilient Power Works (RPW) began working with on a commercialization strategy with Dr. Tucker and his team with the passage of the IRA and the surge in funding for hydrogen-based technologies, Tucker and Lank began to promote the benefits of the HHM, while refining some finishing touches on the advanced dynamic power controls. In that role, Lank attended the Experience Power Conference in Savannah. Georgia last year and was pleased with the emphasis on hydrogen that was given by Experience POWER
OPTIMIZING CLEAN HYDROGEN HYBRID MICROGRID TECHNOLOGIES FOR GRID RESILIENCE
This hydrogen-powered, scalable power plant, capable of producing its own hydrogen on-site, has only recently introduced to the military and utility industry by RPW; it is designed for both "in front of the meter" and "behind-the-meter" applications. As a utility asset, it can provide low-cost spinning reserves (to counter-balance the effects of non-dispatchable assets) on utility distribution lines and has exceptional ramp-up speeds, behaving much like a diesel (but running on hydrogen - gray, blue or green). The hybrid configuration has been shown (in cyber-physical testing) to extend the life of a SOFC by better than seven times the typical useful life.
the HHM represents a break-through in hybrid technology for microgrid applications, in large measure
due to its advanced power controls, its safety (producing its own hydrogen at 50 psi) and its being
designed around a novel tightly coupled power production model, involving a pressurized Solid Oxide
Fuel Cell (SOFC) and a modified
NG turbine. It is capable of load-following, further enhancing its already high fuel efficiency. and
providing low-cost spinning reserves. A demonstration model is now being built for further testing
and refinement at the HyPer (Hybrid Performance) Lab at NETL in Morgantown, WV, due for completion
by the Third Quarter.
Joseph Vonderhaar
Station Manager, Spurlock Power Station
EAST KENTUCKY POWER CORPORATION
Steve Dobson
EAST KENTUCKY POWER CORPORATION
Chris Kurle
Manager of Purchasing
Basin Electric Power Cooperative
Chris Kurle is the Manager of Purchasing at Basin Electric Power Cooperative. Basin Electric Power Cooperative is a consumer-owned, regional generation and transmission cooperative, located in Bismarck, North Dakota, that provides wholesale power to member rural electric systems in nine states. Chris has been in various positions within the supply chain industry for the past 34 years and has experienced a wide variety of supply chain challenges and wins. Chris manages a team of purchasing professionals that process on average 50,000 purchase orders per year. Chris has an MBA from the University of Mary along with a Masters in Management. Chris is also a Certificated Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) through the Institute for Supply Management. In her free time, she enjoys attending concerts, being on the family ranch with her registered Hereford cattle and walleye fishing on Lake Sakakawea with her husband.
Benjamin Carmichael
Business Development Manager, Advanced Energy Systems Research and Development
Southern Company
Ben Carmichael is part of the Advanced Energy Systems team at Southern Company Research and Development, where he works as a Business Development Manager to establish the national and international collaborations that support Southern Company's advanced energy systems development programs. Ben joined Southern Company in 2006 and has had a variety of opportunities across Southern Company affiliates, including engineering roles in both Southern Company Fleet Operations and Generation Planning and Development, managing the nuclear fuel procurement program for Southern Nuclear Operating Company, and managing new nuclear development opportunities for Southern Nuclear Development, LLC. Ben holds a Bachelor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and a Master of Science of Civil Engineering from Auburn University, a Masters of Engineering in sustainability from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and a Professional Engineer license in the State of Alabama.
Emmanuel Darko, P.E.
Principal Nuclear Engineer
PSEG Energy Holdings
Junaid Ali
CEO
Prismecs
Junaid Ali is a Chief Executive Officer for E-industrify and Prismecs, Project Director for GE Power and Senior Project Manager for APR Energy. He has led energy industry projects that have delivered 1700 MWe for leading clients worldwide. He excels at driving performance at the highest levels of global business and meeting the complex needs of clients and project stakeholders worldwide.
Solar-Powered Crypto Mining: Innovation, Sustainability, and Profit
The integration of solar energy into cryptocurrency mining represents a paradigm shift, harnessing renewable energy for digital asset creation. This presentation will articulate the intersection of solar power and crypto mining, providing a blueprint for operators and project managers considering such projects in their portfolios. Participants will gain insights into the technological innovations that make solar-powered crypto mining viable and the strategic planning necessary to implement these solutions effectively. The talk will dissect case studies where solar energy has been successfully utilized for crypto mining, emphasizing lessons learned and best practices in operations and management. Attendees will benefit from a deep dive into the economic and environmental advantages of this synergy, focusing on the potential for cost reduction, increased profitability, and energy independence.
Hudson Gilmer
CEO
LineVision Inc
Peter Hoeflich
Director Generation Technology
Duke Energy
Peter is the Director of Generation Technology in Duke Energy's Generation and Transmission Strategy Organization. In his role, he evaluates emerging generation technologies. Peter has over 30 years of experience in the energy and power generation industries. During that time, he has served in various leadership and technical roles. Peter earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Grove City College and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Ohio State University. He is also a registered professional engineer.
The DeBary Green Hydrogen Project: A Step Towards Decarbonized Gas Power
Co-Authors
Marc Prasse, Senior Project Engineer, Sargent & Lundy
The DeBary Green Hydrogen Project is a first of a kind project that will use power directly from a neighboring Duke Energy solar PV facility to produce hydrogen via PEM electrolysis to be compressed and stored in gaseous form. This green hydrogen can then be blended with natural gas or fired at 100% in an existing, retrofitted GE Vernova 7E peaking gas turbine to produce decarbonized power. This power to power (P2P) project presents a unique opportunity for Duke Energy and other utilities to produce their own carbon-free fuel for later use in clean power generation. The project began planning and development in the middle of 2022, began construction in 2023, and estimated to be commissioned by the end of 2024. Once commissioned, this project is expected to be the first E-class turbine operating on 100% hydrogen.
Duke Energy will present their vision when developing the project and how the project fits into the future of their generating portfolio. The discussion will cover permitting, site selection, project development, selecting the team, and project execution. The presentation will also cover how Duke Energy plans to learn from the project once operational and the application of these learnings to future hydrogen endeavors.
Sargent & Lundy, performing the engineering for Duke Energy on the Project, will walk through the different systems on the project required to create a fully functional integrated system. S&L will share several engineering decisions and challenges that the project overcame and how the system will operate once commissioned.
The presentation will introduce specific opportunities and challenges that many hydrogen project developers are bound to encounter.
Casey Allen
Associate Professor
Marquette University
Dr. Casey Allen is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Marquette University, where he directs the FIRE Lab and Combustible Dust Performance Based Design Center. Dr. Allen's research is dedicated to experimentally studying and modeling flammable vapor ignition and vapor/dust explosion processes. The overarching goal of his research is to develop an improved understanding of combustible mixture formation and its relation to energy release rates and explosion phasing. Applying this knowledge is critical for developing robust explosion protection systems. For his contributions to combustion research and teaching, Dr. Allen has been recipient of the Bernard Lewis Fellowship (Combustion Institute), the Ralph R. Teetor Award (Society of Automotive Engineers), and the Michael J. Wallace Endowed Faculty Scholarship (Marquette University). Dr. Allen holds degrees in Chemical Engineering (B.S.E., University of Iowa) and Mechanical Engineering (Ph.D., Michigan State University). Dr. Allen has consulted with over 30 organizations to assist them with managing the hazards of combustible dust and assuring explosion hazards are managed in accordance with NFPA standards.
Guidelines and Best Practices for Explosion Venting in Energy Storage Systems
Co-Authors
Andreas Brandl, Chief Technology Officer, IEP Technologies
Andreas Kerbl, Head of R&D Explosion Protection, HOERBIGER Wien GmbH
The potential hazards associated with battery energy storage system (BESS) containers have gained significant attention due to the risk of explosion that can result from the failure of a single battery cell. NFPA 855 acknowledges this risk and mandates the implementation of explosion protection systems in BESS containers. However, existing standards for designing explosion vents do not adequately address the unique geometries and battery module layouts in typical BESS containers. The dense arrangement of battery modules within these containers can exacerbate turbulence and explosion propagation rates, while also obstructing flow through traditional explosion vents. Consequently, there is a risk of explosion overpressures surpassing the container strength, even with venting systems in place.
The specific challenges of BESS systems, such as obstructions in the flame path, sub-volumes that are partially isolated and obstructed vent panel areas will be addressed by applying an engineering model to simulate explosion dynamics in a typical BESS container layout. The feasibility of utilizing established standards like NFPA 68 and EN 14991 to specify venting areas will be assessed by comparing model predictions with the design equations of these standards. Validation of the engineering models will be considered using data from experiments and/or detailed simulations. The results of the analysis will inform practical guidelines for designing explosion venting systems to effectively mitigate explosion effects and ensure safety. A best practice approach for explosion vent layout that introduces additional checks to NFPA 68 or EN 14991 will be suggested.
By addressing the limitations of current standards and leveraging modeling techniques, this presentation aims to enhance the understanding of explosion risks in BESS containers and provide valuable insights for designing robust explosion venting systems.
Mukesh Chatter
CEO, President, and Co-founder of Alsym Energy
Alsym Energy
Mukesh Chatter is CEO, president and co-founder of Alsym Energy, a battery developer with a high-performance, low-cost, non-flammable solution for global electrification. Previously, Mukesh co-founded Nexabit Networks and was CEO until its acquisition by Lucent Technologies, and co-managed NeoNet Capital LLC. He was named to Red Herring Magazine's Top 10 Entrepreneurs in 1999, and Rensselaer Entrepreneur of the Year in 2001. Mukesh received his Master's degree in Computer and Systems Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Diversifying Energy Storage Technology for the Energy Transition
In 2023, we saw an 89% increase in energy storage being deployed across all segments of the U.S. energy market compared to 2022. To meet our net zero ambitions for the power sector, annual additions of grid-scale battery energy storage globally must continue to accelerate. Energy storage is mission-critical to ensure renewable energy can be reliably dispatched across grid infrastructure to power an increasingly electrified world. While lithium-ion batteries have been the dominant technology, no singular energy storage will be responsible for this growth. Instead, there is a need for a variety of high-performance and reliable battery technologies - each curated for specific power system needs and environments.
In a session on grid-scale battery storage solutions, non-lithium battery pioneer Mukesh Chatter will discuss the challenges with lithium-based chemistries and the emerging needs of the power generation sector as it increasingly phases off of fossil fuels. He will present the case for scaling non-lithium battery storage technologies that conquer challenges such as toxicity, flammability, and affordability. He will explain how non-lithium batteries have the potential to provide clean energy in places that the predominant lithium-ion competitor cannot, such as wildfire-prone regions and densely populated cities and suburbs.