Preliminary ELECTRIC POWER 2012 Conference Program

Professional Advancement Courses at ELECTRIC POWER are in-depth workshops where you can learn the latest tools and technologies to help advance your career. Industry leaders will keep you up-to-date with the hottest industry topics. Morning, afternoon and full-day courses are offered. Lunch is provided for those attending two half-day courses or one full-day course. A customized certificate of completion for each course will be provided upon request. For further information, please contact Conference Director Kim Arellano at 713-343-1879.

The Keynote Address and Power Industry Executive Roundtable open the 14th annual ELECTRIC POWER Conference & Exhibition. They set the stage for the conference and serve as a primer for the issues that will be discussed in greater detail during the three-day conference in Baltimore, MD. The opening keynote address and roundtable are free to all attendees! Don’t miss the most popular session at ELECTRIC POWER. Get there early. Last year we ran out of seats, and it was standing room only. The exhibit floor opens immediately after the keynote for all to view the latest technologies and products.

This track will focus on topics concerning the operation of existing solid fuel power plants. It will address the evolving challenges to satisfy regulatory, environmental and economic considerations. Specifically, the topics will include fuel switching and blending, materials handling, BTG upgrades to optimize Plant capacity and efficiency, and prolonging Plant life and Plant retirement planning.

Gas Turbine and Combined Cycle plants continue to grow bumping Coal to under 49% of the generation pie. With new shale coming on the market the prices seem to be in favor of this environmentally friendly and flexible resource. Still Gas power plants face challenges such as aging plants, heat rate flexibility/efficiency, and that ever changing price volatility. This track will focus on the challenges that these aging plants face through case studies and will look at the various options to increase efficiency and reliability of these assets. The track will also delve into the design and engineering challenges that new plants face and how to optimize them in order to meet the changing operational demands in this highly completive power market.

The nuclear energy industry continues to thrive and grow despite of the economic downturn and the tragic events in Japan. There are two major projects currently under construction in the US and several others in planning. As such, this track envisions to profile international new projects, including the completion of long delayed projects, the impacts from the Fukushima disaster, the planned Small Modular Reactor (SMRs), and economic benefits of the existing nuclear fleet.

Utilities are looking to add renewable energy sources to their generation portfolio as the demand for clean energy increases. Starting as a minor contributor a few years ago, renewable energy sources such as wind power, solar PV, solar thermal (CSP), and biomass have all become mainstream and growing sources of new generation. Utilities must balance the clear energy benefits of renewable energy with challenges such as integration issues and scaling up challenges from these relative new technologies. In addition, unlike the incentives that other forms of generation receive on a permanent basis, that to inconsistent federal policies, the incentives available to renewable energy generators are not available consistently. For utilities, this adds additional uncertainty as they look to grow their portfolios for clean energy options. This track is aimed at facilitating a better understanding of the issues involved in acquiring renewable energy technologies and integrating them into the grid.

This track will focus on topics concerning outage management, reliability planning and strategy, cycling and reduced load capability, safety, remaining life strategies and tactics (condition assessment methods and techniques), and plant retirement (costs, strategies, retaining emissions credits).

This track will focus on topics concerning safety, efficiency and heat rate improvements, operations for compliance, training, workforce, waste management (ash, water), and NERC compliance (693 and CIP).

Numerous environmental regulatory issues continue to confront the utility industry. The EPA continues to ratchet down emission rates and discharge limits through rule-making processes involving air, water and waste regulations. This dual track program will explore regulatory environment and strategy along with compliance technologies.

This track will address emerging issues, novel technology pathways and explore the basis for planning relevant to the power sector.

$175 admission allows you to attend
Roundtable Discussions: Monday, May, 14 from 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(this workshop is for plant staff only no vendors allowed)

Managing the Staff – career development, human performance or workforce planning

Managing the Plant – knowledge management or outage planning

External Relations – preparing for an “incident”

Internal Relations – communications with management, organization culture, safety culture or time management
Reception: Monday, May 14 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Opening Keynote: Tuesday, May 15 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
8:30 AM Welcome and Introductions
9:00 AM Transformative Technology - State of the Industry - EPRI
9:30 AM Future Fuels Mix - State of the Industry – EIA (invited)
10:00 AM General Session "The Biggest Challenges Facing the Power Industry" - Panel Discussion
11:00 AM Adjourn to Exhibit Floor and Lunch
Clearing the Air on Air Emission Regulations: Tuesday, May 15 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Safety Swap Meet: Wednesday, May 16 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM