2026 TECHNICAL CONFERENCE PROGRAM

The power generation industry faces several challenges, such as explosive electricity demand, net-zero goals and supply chain constraints, all while working to maintain reliability. This track highlights how utilities, power producers, EPC companies and other stakeholders are adapting to these modern realities, from high-level planning strategies to regulatory considerations.

• Utility resource planning
• Decarbonization strategies
• Meeting load growth projections
• Market trends and dynamics
• Renewable energy integration
• Adapting to evolving policy
• Addressing regulatory factors in power projects
• Navigating supply chain challenges
• Maintaining system reliability under growing pressures
• Workforce issues

Power generation owners and operators must strategically manage their assets and optimize operations and maintenance to reduce downtime and maintain peak efficiency. This includes leveraging data and the latest digital and monitoring technologies that enhance decision-making, drive down costs and ensure that generating facilities remain viable.

Topics in this case study-heavy track include:

• Predictive, preventative and corrective maintenance
• Remote monitoring
• Outage management
• SCADA and CMMS
• Case studies on equipment upgrades
• Weatherization strategies
• New technologies for O&M
• Data analytics
• Artificial Intelligence/augmented reality
• Digital twins
• Plant retirement strategies
• Procedures and safety

Gas turbines remain the workhorse of modern power generation, offering flexibility and reliability. This track will explore the evolving role of gas turbines during the energy transition, including advancements in turbine technology, fuel flexibility and operational optimization. Technical case studies will cover emissions reduction and efficiency improvements.

• Advancements in gas turbine technology
• Fuel flexibility
• Pilot projects with low-carbon fuels
• Changing operational profile
• Emissions reduction technologies
• Market trends and regulatory influences
• Turbine maintenance and lifecycle management
• Integrating turbines with energy storage and flexible generation systems
• Future market roles and opportunities

Utilities, power producers and large electricity users are interested in nuclear energy as a “clean firm” power solution. Once-retired large, conventional reactors are being brought back to life, while companies are racing to deploy smaller reactors with the promise of cheaper and faster build times. Topics in this track include advanced nuclear technologies and deployment plans, O&M issues for the current fleet and increasingly favorable regulatory policy.

• O&M case studies
• Outage management
• Small Modular Reactor and Microreactor (SMRs) technologies
• Project financing
• Supply chain and construction costs
• Safety and compliance
• Workforce challenges
• Evolving policy support

The electric power sector is rapidly deploying energy storage options that range in terms of duration and technology. Lithium-ion battery storage continues to grow significantly, but longer-duration storage technologies like compressed air systems and other novel battery chemistries are also being developed and tested. This track focuses on the growing adoption of storage technologies, technical and operational challenges and pathways to their further adoption.

Topics include:

• Utility-scale case studies and applications
• Integration challenges
• Non-battery storage solutions
• Safe operations and best practices
• System financing and viability
• Hybrid power plants

For optimal performance and reliability, utility-scale solar and wind generation requires a strategic, fleetwide operations and maintenance approach. This track will explore key O&M and EPC considerations—siting, component health, operational risks and balance of system challenges—alongside case studies and the latest technologies in inspections and monitoring. Discussions will also address policy, supply chain disruptions and other current trends, providing actionable insights for developers, asset owners and O&M professionals navigating today’s evolving energy landscape.

Topics include:

• Siting and basic infrastructure issues
• Inspections and monitoring
• Inverter maintenance and replacement
• Solar cell degradation and microcracking
• Balance of system issues
• Monitoring and forecasting
• Turbine control systems
• Major component repair including gearboxes
• Repowering
• Supply chain/manufacturer challenges
• Policy and regulation

Microgrids, flexible gen-sets, CHP and others represent a growing segment of the energy evolution and the shift from centralized power. Customers like data centers are making the biggest splash, shifting from temporary power strategies and building large onsite plants to work around utility interconnection delays. Sometimes they’re ditching the grid entirely. Universities, hospitals and industrial companies are also adopting microgrids for resilience and mission critical needs. This track will feature case studies of onsite generation projects, highlighting their operational flexibility and interaction with the grid and utilities.

Topics include: 

• Microgrids and distributed energy resources 
• The latest data center solutions
• Reciprocating engines, turbines and fuel cells 
• Flexibility and resilience in power systems 
• Renewable energy and storage integration 
• Utility and customer collaboration 
• Co-location strategies 
• Policy and regulatory considerations
• Asset management 
• Financing and investment in flexible generation solutions
   

Exploring cleaner fuels – present and potential future. Among alternative fuels, biofuels are the most established, while hydrogen and ammonia are still being explored and tested. This track will feature the latest case studies, insights and technical advancements in the power generation alternative fuel space. This includes the opportunities and barriers to larger deployment for combusting and storing hydrogen, a recipient of attention and favorable policy in recent years.

• Advancements in hydrogen and ammonia for power generation
• Hydrogen blending case studies
• Balance of plant considerations
• Market drivers and opportunities for large-scale deployment
• Emerging power generation strategies for biofuels
• Biomass co-firing with coal
• Boiler maintenance
• Ash handling and emissions control
• Policy and regulatory support
• Safety and operational

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies are seen as critical for reducing emissions from fossil-fired power plants and industrial operations. This track will explore the latest advancements in carbon capture technologies on the path to deployment, along with emission control strategies that mitigate the environmental impact of power generation. Sessions will also focus on regulatory frameworks, deployment challenges and innovations in emission monitoring and control systems.

• Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) adoption and deployment
• CCUS financing
• Pilot project case studies
• Tax credits and incentives
• Direct air capture
• Regulatory issues
• Emission rules for plants

This track encompasses the most critical aspects of hydropower today, including environmental stewardship, technological innovation and efficient operation. Explore how industry leaders are addressing evolving challenges, from climate change and dam safety to technological advancements and new developments in hydropower generation.

Topics include:

• Climate change impacts
• Fish passage and survival
• Dam safety
• Efficient water management
• Innovations in turbines, generators, controls and civil infrastructure
• Artificial intelligence and digitalization
• New hydropower development
• Pumped storage
• O&M
• Maintaining aging infrastructure
• Financial and regulatory issues