HMHI Conference Agenda Preview

HOMER Microgrid and Hybrid Power International Conference 
Agenda: October 12-14, 2021

Join the Hybrid Power Revolution: Conference sessions are complimentary to attend and presented online on Oct. 12-14, 2021

HOMER Microgrid and Hybrid Power International (HMHI) is now just a few days away. This year’s conference theme, Powering the New Energy World, includes six separate sessions over three days.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Three days of premium content.
• Six sessions to give you deep understanding.
• 34 expert speakers and moderators on microgrids, hybrid power, energy storage and distributed generation.

Attendees from more than 110 countries have registered, bringing together a global community of microgrid and hybrid power experts, project developers, equipment suppliers, financiers and sustainability leaders to advance high-quality, affordable microgrids and distributed energy systems. 

In the sessions detailed below, you will gain practical and technical insights into off-grid, remote and grid-tied systems globally via knowledge-sharing presentations, in-depth discussions and the exploration of real-world examples of diverse hybrid power applications and value propositions.

Session 1

Introduction and Market Assessment
DATE:October 12, 2021
TIME: 8:00 am – 10:00 am MDT(UTC-6)

Interest in hybrid systems, distributed energy and microgrids continues to grow at a fast rate. This session will look back over the past decades and explore what the future holds for global microgrid markets. A moderated panel discussion will follow speaker presentations.

• Discover the three key trends driving global microgrid markets and the roles they will play in the future.
• Gain insights into the economic, sustainability and resiliency benefits microgrids offer.
• Learn about the policies and regulations that hinder the adoption of microgrids and how these challenges can be met.

Presentations

Welcome and Opening Remarks 

Peter Lilienthal, Global Microgrid Lead, UL Renewable Energy; Founder, HOMER Energy by UL

Keynote:
Three key trends in global microgrid markets: EaaS, C&I and EVs
Peter Asmus, Research Director, Guidehouse Insights

Keynote: Policies and programs driving (and hindering) microgrid adoption
Cameron Brooks, Executive Director, Think Microgrid

Moderator:Panel discussion
Kevin Normandeau, Publishing Executive, Microgrid Knowledge

Session 2

Utility-scale Renewables: Hybridization of Front-of-the-Meter Power Systems
DATE: October 12, 2021
TIME: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm MDT(UTC-6)

Hybrid solar-plus-storage systems are the energy solution of today, but these systems are complex and require profitably participating in multiple energy markets and a system design that provides the energy needed within the constraints of the site, as well as choosing between DC and AC systems. In this session, we will explore the increased demand for utility-scale hybrid systems along with the advantages of modeling and optimizing complex variables – whether as a systems integrator or a project developer and independent power producer.  A panel discussion and audience Q&A will follow the speaker presentations.

• Gain insights into energy storage participation in wholesale markets and the factors impacting the need to add storage to renewable energy systems.
• Learn more about the factors to consider when selecting DC-coupled versus AC-coupled systems.
• Discover the benefits of optimization technology, system modeling and analysis for site selection, revenue generation, pricing and risk mitigation.

Presentations

Energy storage: The building blocks of a green grid
Christina Duong, Energy market specialist, UL

All things are not equal: how and why to use different battery augmentation and dispatch strategies
David Mintzer, Lead, Energy Storage, UL

AC vs. DC coupling: An old debate renewed
Neha Sinha, GE Renewable Energy Hybrids

Parametric Optimization of Energy Storage Resources to Drive Asset Value
Raafe Khan, Manager of Energy Storage, Pine Gate Renewables

Session 3

Off-grid Systems and Their Expanding Role in Industrialized Countries 
DATE: October 13, 2021
TIME: 8:00 am – 10:00 am MDT(UTC-6)

Minigrids for energy access in developing countries paved the way for a wider diversity of microgrid applications. Now, the focus has expanded to the use of microgrids to reduce costs and increase resilience in industrialized countries. For communities around the world experiencing natural disasters, extreme weather conditions, unstable political contexts and forced displacement, gaining access to life-saving energy can be challenging and expensive. This session explores how microgrids provide an effective and economic solution for affordable and accessible power in diverse locations. 

• Learn how renewable energy provides an effective alternative to diesel-powered systems.
• Gain insights into the vast untapped opportunity for DC meshgrids to serve communities with populations too small for AC microgrids.
• Discover how microgrids can help communities rebuild and thrive during and after natural disasters or when located in an extreme environment.

Presentations

Basis for the future: Simulation of measured operational behavior of the microgrid in Cerros de Vera, Uruguay
Natalia Bitenc, Renewable and sustainability analyst at Mercados Aries, UPM – CIEMAT – UTE

Engineering in a typhoon
Otteh Edubio, Service/project delivery team lead, Okra Solar

California’s largest utility mitigates fire risk with hybrid solar + storage remote grid
Michele Nesbit, Co-founder, COO, BoxPower

The lowest place: Big, rural microgrids in the Dead Sea region
Elad Orian, Co-founder and general manager, Comet-ME

Refugee camps: Modeling demand flexibility and tiered-resilience to reduce energy costs
Manojit Ray, Research scholar, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

Session 4

C&I Behind-the-meter Projects and EV Charging: Moving Toward a More Resilient, Mobile Electrified Future
DATE: October 13, 2021
TIME: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm MDT(UTC-6)

As demand for utility-supplied electricity continues to rise, hybrid power and microgrids offer an effective and economical solution to constraints utilities face. This session explores the economic, environmental and resilience benefits of microgrids and their varied applications, meeting electrification timelines for districts, facilities and fleets. 

• Learn how hybrid power sources can support growing electrification in transportation.
• Discover how commercial-scale, behind-the-meter deployments provide facilities unparalleled economic, environmental and resilience benefits and support an electrified future.
• Gain insights into how HOMER Energy’s software can optimize the division of power between a distributed energy resource (DER) system and grid supply to reduce customer costs and maximize DER developer and utility return.

Presentations

EV charging: Design and feasibility of a hybrid-power charging station
Venkatesh Boddapati, PhD, Assistant professor, B.M.S. College of Engineering

How fleet managers meet rapid EV charging timelines
Duncan Campbell, Vice president, Scale Microgrid

EV charging feasibility study
Kwitonda Japhet, Master’s student, African Centre of Excellence in Energy for Sustainable Development (ACE-ESD), College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda

Solar microgrids for resilience and cost reduction
Craig Lewis, Founder and executive director, Clean Coalition

Snohomish County PUD Microgrid—using microgrids as a platform for V2G
Gaston Ortega, Business development lead, Microgrid and Battery Energy Storage Solutions, Grid Edge Solutions, Hitachi ABB Power Grids

DER developers and utility collaboration to improve customer experience
Alexis Tubb, Manager, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)

Session 5

Island Power: Renewables for Diesel-powered Utilities
DATE: October 14, 2021
TIME: 8:00 am – 10:00 am MDT(UTC-6)

Often disconnected from main power grids, islands can be isolated and lack access to affordable, reliable energy. Reliance on diesel generators is fraught with challenges, including cost, a negative impact on the environment and unreliability. Developments in hybrid renewable power systems make them more cost-effective and accessible than ever before. This session will provide use cases demonstrating how microgrids offer a more sustainable energy alternative to remote communities. 

• Gain insights into the challenges of island-based microgrids, including interconnecting a net-zero facility into the electrical grid and controlling voltage following the integration of hybrid power sources.
• Learn how hybrid microgrids can maximize renewable energy penetration and enable systems to run generator-off for extended periods.
• Discover the benefits of energy management software, storage and grid resiliency, and their relevance to mainland grids.

Presentations

Microgrid case study: Abaco Community Center, Bahamas
Leon DeSouza, Senior project manager, Clinton Climate Initiative, Clinton Foundation

Navigating uncharted waters: Grid interconnections in Curacao
Michael Ginsburg, Vice president of Energy Transition, Bowman Consulting

Harbledown Island: Lessons learned from a year of operations
Mike Murray, Co-founder and COO, Ageto Energy

Wind turbine integration on a diesel-powered microgrid in the Greek islands
Martin Savaris, Corporate finance and strategy, EWT Direct Wind

Island case studies: How energy management systems help optimize microgrids
Risto Paldanius, Vice president, Americas, Wärtsilä Energy

Session 6

Innovative Energy Resources and Technologies: Addressing the Challenges of the Microgrid Revolution
DATE: October 14, 2021
TIME: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm MDT(UTC-6)

Technology has become a force multiplier in the adoption of innovative energy resources and hybrid power microgrids. This session will explore the role of transformative technologies in the decarbonization, decentralization and digitalization of global energy markets. Presenters will discuss advanced storage technologies, the benefits of monitoring and alternative sources of fuel. 

• Find out how utilizing renewables, storage and hydrogen can decarbonize existing and new conventional plants.
• Learn about the role and challenges of communication protocols in enabling transactive and modern grid integrating DERs and why this topic matters to developers, networks, utilities and system operators.
• Gain insights into alternative sources for backup power and how they can increase the reliability and energy storage of microgrids.

Presentations

Flow batteries in utility-scale solar + storage
Brian Ballek, Commercial analyst, Invinity Energy Systems

From conventional to hybrid power plants and microgrids
Dino Ablakovic, Product manager for microgrids, Siemens Energy

Energy system monitoring made easy 
Dylan Spriggs, Power systems engineer, Blue Planet Energy

Enabling a transactive energy marketplace: Grid-tied communication protocols
Christopher Wiacek, Head of global business development, PXiSE Energy

Energy storage microgrids: how the control of microgrid energy can increase renewable energy penetration
Cyril Colin, CEO, Elum Energy

Register now

You are invited to register for HOMER Energy by UL’s 9th Annual HOMER Microgrid and Hybrid Power International, which will be virtual this year. Registration is complimentary and gives you access to three energy-charged days – 100% virtual.