We are more than a month removed from POWERGEN International 2024 in New Orleans, the show’s website has changed color schemes and we are marching toward 2025 in Dallas.

Those who have attended know the show doesn’t come together overnight. Dozens of power sector professionals volunteer their time throughout the year to help plan and curate the POWERGEN technical conference program, which featured more than 200 speakers in 2024.

The POWERGEN International conference program is rich in case studies and technical knowledge – covering all issues related to the construction, maintenance, operation, regulation and chemistry of power generation.

Our show’s content is led by power industry professionals – for power industry professionals – and is committed to helping find a path from where the sector is now to where it’s going.

Educational topics in the POWERGEN program include trends in conventional power, utility-scale renewables, energy storage, onsite power, emerging carbon-free technologies, operations & maintenance (O&M), artificial intelligence, reliability, emission controls and workforce challenges.

Now, as we re-tool our advisory committee for 2025 – we need you!

We are excited to announce that our Call for Committee is now open, and you can apply here. If your background and experience lines up with what we’re looking for, we’ll contact you.

Committee members represent:

• Electric Utilities (Investor-owned, Publicly-owned, Co-op, etc.)
• Independent Power Producers (IPP)
• Commercial and industrial companies with on-site power
• Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPCs)
• Power generation equipment OEMs
• Trade associations
• Consulting
• Academia

Positions sought for the committee include but aren’t limited to:

• Plant or Site Manager
• Operations Manager
• Project Manager
• Performance Engineer
• Energy Analyst
• Director of O&M
• Director of Operations
• Director of Power Generation
• Emerging Technologies Director
• Chief Engineer
• Health and Safety Manager
• We are especially interested in representatives of technology companies involved in securing power for artificial intelligence, data center or cryptocurrency applications.

As an advisory committee member, you’ll help:

• Serve as a resource to the POWERGEN team to develop ideas for new tracks, topics, and speakers prior to opening call for abstracts.
• Solicit and peer review technical abstracts and case studies that become show presentations.
• Suggest and recruit panelists and keynote speakers from your own networks.
• Act as an ambassador for POWERGEN at other industry events and with peers/professional networks.
• Lead panel discussions and introduce speakers at the show.

Committee members receive one complementary delegate pass to POWERGEN International and their name and company affiliation in official show programming. POWERGEN International takes place February 11-13, 2025, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas.

Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to the power industry’s premier event. Your expertise is crucial in shaping the future of power generation!

POWERGEN International 2024 officially begins Tuesday at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The event promises a week of education, networking and business between power producers, utilities, EPCs, consultants, OEMs, large-scale energy users and more.

At last count, the 2024 event is seeing a 42% increase in utility representation from 2023. Large-scale energy users are up 32% from last year. We have also enhanced the attendee onsite experience by bringing back the Power Park and, in the spirit of New Orleans, adding Creole cooking demos in one of our show floor Knowledge Hubs.

The event features a dynamic Keynote speaker lineup featuring thinkers and executives representing utilities, government and major power consumers. For those in attendance, there may even be a surprise or two.

POWERGEN’s technical conference program features nine tracks in 2024. The jam-packed program features presentations highlighting case studies, new breakthroughs and leading insights relevant to the power and utility industries. Click here to read about some of the most highly-anticipated sessions.

Sprinkled in are two mega sessions, which are 90-minute, high-level industry panels with thought leaders who dive deep into the most relevant topics related to the power sector. These mega sessions are open to all attendees.

But many people were in New Orleans before POWERGEN even began for a day of pre-conference learning.

Nearly 40 people attended site visits to Entergy’s New Orleans Power Station and Ninemile 6 plant. At New Orleans Power Station, attendees received an up-close look at the seven Wärtsilä 50SG engines providing a total output of 129.5 MW to the New Orleans area. At Ninemile 6, attendees got to see SPOT – The agile mobile robot, which conducts remote inspections. Attendees at Ninemile 6 also toured the combined-cycle units and water lab.

The show also brought back POWERGEN University (PGU) in 2024. The two- and four-hour courses offered intensive opportunities for attendees to gain skills and knowledge.

The most widely attended PGU course was Hydrogen Impacts on Gas Turbines: Performance, Emissions and Potential Regulations, which was led by Bobby Noble and Benjamin Emerson. The course explored often misunderstood or non-obvious impacts of combusting hydrogen in gas turbines, with discussion about gas turbine operability, emissions and combustion dynamics.

“This is kind of the make or break time to ensure that we set ourselves up for achieving a lot of the 2040, 2050 goals that are set in across most of the countries worldwide,” Noble told attendees.

POWERGEN International runs through Thursday.

There will be much to discuss this year as the event kicks off in less than two weeks. The power sector continues to evolve at a frenetic pace to meet decarbonization goals and increasing demands for electrification. The industry will need to navigate new policies and leverage emerging technologies while maintaining resource adequacy and reliability.

The destination is 2050, but how do we get there?

POWERGEN’s technical conference program guides the conversation for how we navigate the issues of today and offers a way forward. The jam-packed program features presentations highlighting case studies, new breakthroughs and leading insights relevant to the power and utility industries.

As we begin counting down the days until the event, here are five educational sessions we’re looking forward to at this year’s show. And when you’re finished reading, go to the POWERGEN website to learn about all of our educational sessions and register here.

1. So you’ve won a hydrogen hub award – what’s next?

Jan 25, 2024 | 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM

In October the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) named seven regional clean hydrogen hubs expected to receive $7 billion in federal funding, a long-awaited announcement for an initiative aimed at scaling up clean hydrogen production, storage, delivery, and consumption. The awardees are now going through a negotiation process to obtain a commitment from DOE.

This dynamic panel will feature representatives from multiple selected hydrogen hubs, including the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) and the Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub (HyVelocity H2Hub). Speakers will share their projects’ concepts for hydrogen production and end-use, insights from experience working with DOE and other lessons learned. There will be a moderated Q&A following the presentations, and the audience will have time to ask questions of their own. 

Make sure you stick around until the final day of POWERGEN for this panel. It will be well worth the wait.

2. Utility perspective on near-term nuclear projects

Jan 24, 2024 | 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

Advanced nuclear reactors are not the nuclear tech of our grandparents’ generation.

Small modular reactors and microreactors offer the promise of lower costs and faster build times than large, conventional reactors, yet this promise of simplicity and standardization has yet to be tested. Large utilities will be expected to help usher these projects in.

Executives from utilities including Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Duke Energy will come together in this engaging panel to discuss their preparation for future nuclear generation deployment, the challenges they are facing and who they’re looking for in a nuclear project partner. 

RELATED: Duke Energy proposes site for new nuclear in North Carolina

3. Complications with cycling HRSGs

Jan 24, 2024 | 2:45 PM – 3:15 PM

Cycling a Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) is not new, but with the increase in renewable energy sources, these plants seem to be cycling harder than ever.  

A cycling plant makes it difficult to maintain the cycle chemistry and instrumentation, minimize the potential for deposition, and differentiate between mechanical and chemical issues. Furthermore, layup of HRSGs during downtime seems to be the root cause of many failures. Because some issues are chemistry-related and others are mechanical in nature, a water treater must understand both, and be able to perform effective root cause analyses to provide solutions.  

This presentation will cover recent case studies of problems and solutions related to cycle-water chemistry in cycling HRSGs.

4. ISO Trio: The future of storage with America’s 3 most dynamic grid operators

Jan 23, 2024 | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

The electric power sector is deploying a variety of energy storage options that range in terms of duration and technology. U.S. battery storage capacity is especially growing and could nearly double in 2024. But the need for storage can look very different, depending on who you ask.

In this panel, we’ll sit down with three grid operators – CAISO, ERCOT, and NYISO – to discuss how they are shaping the role of energy storage in their regions.

5. Tackling new regulatory changes at the technology level

Jan 25, 2024 | 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM

Regulations. Technology. Supply chain constraints. The last year has brought changes from a regulatory perspective for air, water, and solid waste from power generation facilities.  

This panel will discuss some of those regulations and their impacts at the plant level. It will also provide background and insight into the technologies that may play a role in meeting these new requirements.

Of course we could not talk about POWERGEN’s technical conference program without plugging our two mega sessions, which are 90-minute, high-level industry panels with thought leaders who dive deep into the most relevant topics related to the power sector. These mega sessions are open to all attendees. Learn more about those sessions here.

All of the above are great reasons to attend “Accelerating the Energy Workforce Development Workshop,” hosted by POWERGEN and the U.S. Women in Nuclear (WIN).

The workshop, held Jan. 22 from 12:00 – 5:00 pm at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, will engage attendees in the generation of a Workforce Development report, which will offer recommendations on developing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce as energy industries gear up for rapid expansion. Workshop attendees will be listed as co-authors on the report.

The event will begin with a presentation that provides an overview of gaps and needs in the current energy workforce. This will be followed by a moderated panel discussion featuring utility, trade union, academia and national laboratory representation. This diverse panel will share perspectives and experiences, providing a well-rounded view of workforce dynamics within the energy sector.

Participants will then engage in interactive breakout sessions, collaborating to brainstorm and workshop ideas. The goal is to formulate actionable plans that address the identified gaps and needs, focusing on fostering diversity, equality and inclusivity within the workforce. The ideas from this workshop will feed into a report that will be issued later this year via Power Engineering and U.S. WIN.

This solutions-focused workshop is open to a broad spectrum of industry professionals, including operators, human resources representatives, managers, directors and anyone with a vested interest in workforce development within the energy sector. REGISTER TODAY

Panelists include:

Kimberly Cook-Nelson, Executive Vice President of Nuclear Operations & Chief Nuclear Officer of Entergy:

Kimberly Cook-Nelson is executive vice president of nuclear operations and chief nuclear officer of Entergy, where she is responsible for the safe, secure and reliable operations of Entergy’s four nuclear power plants and five reactors located in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Prior to her current role, she served as chief operating officer, nuclear operations and as Entergy’s vice president, system planning and operations. In Kimberly’s 27 years with Entergy, she has held roles in the headquarters office as well as various leadership positions of increasing responsibility in her 18 years at Waterford 3 nuclear station.

Erin Hultman, Vice President, Member and Corporate Services; Chief Financial Officer:

Erin Hultman is the Vice President of Member and Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer of Nuclear Energy Institute where she is responsible for financial and investment functions as well as workforce development and corporate operations. She also serves as Treasurer for NEI and Nuclear Matters.

Erin has over 30 years of experience assisting non-profit organizations align their resource allocation to the mission. She is a tax-exempt specialist responsible for financial strategy, business development, and regulatory compliance.

Kára M. Temple, Board of Directors at Allied Power, MBA, Former Miss USA:

Kara recently received her MBA from Louisiana State University. Prior to enrolling in her MBA program, for approximately 7 years Kara served as a Reactor Engineer for the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. She focused on emergency preparedness for decommissioning and licensing radioisotope production facilities, ISFISIS, and small modular reactors initial design approval.

Sarah Dankanich, Supply Chain Manager, Cost Estimating at X-energy:

Sarah Dankanich is the Cost Estimating Manager for X-energy’s Supply Chain, leading the Cost Estimating organization to compile industry pricing for clients in preparation for the deployment of the Xe-100, X-energy’s first Small Modular Reactor.  She holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, and Previous to this role spent ten years at GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy supporting the Supply Chain in strategic contract negotiation and procurement, as well as supporting the Commercial Operations division working directly with the nuclear utilities.

Pre-registration is mandatory for the workshop, and attendees are encouraged to visit the registration resource center or contact info@powergen.com for details, including any applicable fees.

To participate, there is a registration fee of $100. Secure your spot today to be part of this transformative event!

With less than three weeks to go before the show kicks off, there are still spots available. Come sharpen your skills or learn something new in an unparalleled learning opportunity!

POWERGEN University (PGU) courses are intensive, led by industry leaders and cover a diverse range of topics crucial for professionals in the power sector.

PGU courses will be held Monday, January 22, 2024 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, the day before POWERGEN International begins.

The courses are open to any attendee at an additional fee. To pre-register and reserve a seat, please visit the registration resource center or reach out to info@powergen.com.

Cost:

2-hour courses – $175
4-hour courses – $300

Here are the 2024 course offerings:

1. Power Plant Closure & Demo: Cost, Safety and Inherent Risks (8:00 AM – 10:00 AM)

This course targets power plant owners, engineers, managers and construction professionals interested in understanding the critical steps in plant closure, decommissioning and demolition. Through case studies and practical insights, participants will explore topics such as owner vs. contractor roles, early planning, workforce involvement, environmental assessments, risk reduction and leadership skills.

Attendees will gain valuable knowledge on contractor qualification, team selection and leadership habits applicable to both professional and personal growth.

Instructor: Frank Bodami, Owner – Managing Member, Total Wrecking & Environmental, LLC

2. Generator 101 (8:00 AM – 12:00 PM)

The Power Generation Market was challenged by demands for technical personnel well before the COVID pandemic arrived. The pandemic exacerbated the departure of key personnel, which continues to be a high priority for users and service providers alike.

Individuals responsible for generator operation, maintenance, overhaul and upgrades need a practical understanding of generator component nomenclature, characteristics, and function. This course will address the key generator components, their characteristics, function and how they contribute to the overall operation.

Turbo Generators (cylindrical rotor 1800 RPM – 3600 RPM) used in applications including geothermal, nuclear, gas and coal will be the primary focus.  An overview of Salient Pole generators used in Hydro applications and Industrial applications will be offered. Content relating to coils and insulation systems will be pertinent across all high voltage stator applications.

Instructor: Howard Moudy, Director of Operations – National Electric Coil

3. Design Optimization of Utility-Scale PV and Storage Hybrid Plants (10:05 AM – 12:05 PM)

Offering a high-level view of utility-scale PV and storage hybrid system design, this course explores methods to maximize value for plant owners. Key topics include selecting and sizing components, designing electrical systems and utilizing effective analytical methods.

Attendees will gain an understanding of the drivers behind the growth of hybrid solar and storage plants, key components, cost-reduction strategies and considerations for PV system design.

Professionals seeking a basic understanding of hybrid plant design and grid services will find this course valuable.

Instructor: Mahesh Morjaria, EVP, Plant Operational Technology – Terabase Energy

4. Minimizing Legal Risk in Power Generation: Navigating Sanctions, Contracts, and Disputes (1:00 PM – 3:00 PM)

Tailored for power sector professionals without a legal background, this course provides insights into mitigating legal risks in power generation projects. Covering international sanctions, project legal equity/structure, contract preparation and dispute resolution, attendees will acquire actionable knowledge applicable to their roles.

The course also emphasizes the importance of proper legal contracts in U.S. Department of Energy-funded projects and decarbonization initiatives.

Instructor: Aleksey Shtivelman, Partner – Shutts and Bowen LLP

5. Hydrogen Impacts on Gas Turbines: Performance, Emissions, and Potential Regulations (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM)

This course is designed for power plant professionals of all disciplines and will explore often misunderstood or non-obvious impacts of combusting hydrogen in gas turbines. The course will begin with a primer on gas turbine operability, emissions, and combustion dynamics. 

With this background, the course will aim to give a broad perspective on combustion of hydrogen to remove and combat misconceptions, ensure engineers and leadership are asking the right questions, and making sure they are prepared for a possible transition.

Topics will include performance, emissions, and current impact of proposed regulatory actions related to hydrogen combustion in gas turbines.

Instructors:

Benjamin Emerson, Senior Research Engineer – Georgia Institute of Technology

Bobby Noble, Program Manager, Gas Turbine R&D – EPRI

The lineup features dynamic thinkers and executives representing utilities, government and major power consumers. The Keynote kicks off the conference and begins at 8 a.m. on January 23.

Deanna Rodriguez, who is President and CEO of Entergy New Orleans, will first address POWERGEN attendees.

Rodriguez is responsible for the company’s reliable service, resource planning, regulatory and public affairs and more. Before her current role, Rodriguez served as vice president of regulatory and public affairs for Entergy Texas.

Entergy has partnered with POWERGEN International as Host Utility for 2024.

Next to take the stage will be Todd Noe, who is Director of Nuclear Technologies Engineering at Microsoft.

Noe is the architect of a strategic roadmap for using new nuclear energy to advance Microsoft’s goal of being carbon-negative by 2030. This includes using small modular reactors (SMRs) to power the company’s data centers.

He has extensive experience in the nuclear industry and is the former Director of Nuclear Plant Engineering at Tennessee Valley Authority.

We are also pleased to welcome Brad Crabtree to the keynote stage in 2024. Crabtree is the Assistant Secretary for the Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, where he leads the office’s research and development.

Prior to DOE, he was at the Great Plains Institute (GPI), where he co-founded and directed the Carbon Capture Coalition.

The power sector is rapidly changing and looks to be very different even just a few years from now. The final POWERGEN keynote speaker has made the future his business.

Brian David Johnson is a futurist, an author and a professor.

He has worked with a broad range of groups, including governments, corporations, nonprofits and start-ups, to help them envision their future.

Currently, Johnson is a professor at Arizona State University’s Global Futures Laboratory and the School for the Future of Innovation in Society.

“We are thrilled to be bring the power generation industry together once again in New Orleans in a few weeks. Our keynote speaker lineup is set to ignite discussions that transcend boundaries, inspiring innovation and shaping the future of the power generation industry. POWERGEN is at the forefront of transformative ideas, where energy visionaries converge to illuminate the path towards a sustainable and dynamic energy landscape,” said Jamie Reesby, Vice President of Generation at Clarion Events, Inc. 

The POWERGEN International 2024 keynote promises to be a source of inspiration, innovation, and actionable insights for professionals in the power generation industry. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with thought leaders who are shaping the future of energy. 

For more information about POWERGEN International® and to register visit powergen.com.  

The knowledge hubs also will offer learning opportunities, so check those out.

In addition, today is also a great opportunity to visit the Initiate! section in the exhibit hall, where 24 startup companies exhibiting and competing for a prize. The winner will be announced at 10 A.M.

Watch the video and learn more about Day 3 at POWERGEN International.

When asked why this is such an important topic to cover at this time, Mel Montes, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging business lead for Clarion Events, pointed out: “It’s important now because of where the world is now.”

What’s more, companies may be hiring a D&I champion and expecting them to pave the way to inclusion. However, to ensure the true diversity of background, experience, thought and ability a company needs, the entire organization must commit to fostering the sense of belonging at all levels.

These are just two important points driven home by speakers in the Powered by Diversity Luncheon at DISTRIBUTECH International and POWERGEN International. This program, sponsored by S&C, featured a dynamic discussion of the situation, best practices, and the need to prioritize DE&I throughout the energy industry.

As Scott Trapp, vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion at Oncor Electric Delivery Company, succinctly put it, “We all really and truly want to belong.” Diversity helps build an organization that has a variety of viewpoints best-suited to create innovative solutions and meet customers’ needs.

And beyond that, ensuring that sense of belonging is vital to current and future staffing needs across the industry. “Employee expectations of employers are changing,” pointed out Felicia Kohlenberger, chief human resources officer for S&C Electric Company. Employees aren’t necessarily looking at every job as a lifelong career, and they won’t hesitate to look elsewhere if they don’t feel they belong.

At the same time, employers are discovering that a diverse talent pool doesn’t necessarily lead to a hire, which Pamela Culpepper, co-founder of Have Her Back LLC referred to as “minding the gap.” Trapp echoed this sentiment in the practice companies may have of showing one “face” of the company during hiring fairs and to prospective employees, when in reality the company looks very different. He said organizations much “make sure you give a true representation of the company you are.”

Looking forward to future work on this important focus, S&C spoke of next year’s luncheon and announced they will be presenting a new Powered by Diversity award at DISTRIBUTECH International in 2023.

The U.S. Commercial Service continues its long association with POWERGEN International and DISTRIBUTECH by bringing 22 separate buyer delegations from around the world to Dallas, all looking for solutions and technology to modernize their energy systems.

U.S. Commercial Service Global Energy Leader Danielle Caltabiano explained that “our job is to help US companies export worldwide and thereby create jobs. POWERGEN and DistribuTECH are among our priority events, and this year we have buyers from 22 countries to meet with exhibitors.”

“We encourage the creation of public and private partnerships inviting utilities and ministry representatives to visit the show, and when they are here we arrange one-to-one meetings with exporting exhibitors, before, during, and after the show,” said Caltabiano. “We are here to bring international opportunities to the exhibitor’s doorstep.”

New to the show this year is delegation from Libya, Latvia, and Egypt, and while the visitors are keen to discover all available technologies, the US Commercial Service team highlighted particular interest in energy storage and hydrogen.

U.S. Commercial Service works across many sectors, bring in billions of dollars of business to US companies. In the energy sector that also support DISTRIBUTECH’s sister event Enlit Africa and are looking to build a similar relationship with Enlit Europe.

Any exhibitors yet to meet the delegation can still do so by contacting Danielle.caltabiano@trade.gov or visiting the team in room A130 at the convention center.

Other highlights include NextEra and Exelon taking part in a panel discussion on “Priming the Utility Workforce to Improve Operations and Outage Planning” as part of the Optimizing Plant Performance. Another interesting session will be “Challenges and Realities for Hydrogen Capable Gas Turbines,” with presentations from Vistra, Georgia Tech, EPRI and GE Gas Power.

In addition, the Day 2 keynote features futurist Nancy Giordano, who offers her vision on the changing nature of work in the post-pandemic world.

Watch the video and learn more about Day 2 at POWERGEN International.