Realizing Tomorrow’s Reliable Grid: Virtual Power Plant Workshop for Utilities
Virtual power plants are a valuable utility resource for advancing key grid objectives including reliability, affordability, and decarbonization. In this interactive workshop, utilities will gain insights from currently deployed VPPs, including implementation challenges and successes experienced by utilities and their VPP vendor partners. Discussions will explore barriers and solutions to both deploying and scaling VPPs, plus available DOE resources, and industry partner support.

Adam Light TRC Companies Speaker Bio	Stacy Phillips Duke Energy Speaker Bio	Kevin Brehm Rocky Mountain Institute Speaker Bio	Kirsten Millar Virtual Peaker Speaker Bio
Joe Bourg Olivine Inc. Speaker Bio	Mary Tobin Rocky Mountain Institute Speaker Bio	Jennifer Downing DOE Loan Programs Office Speaker Bio	Vanessa Richter Oracle Utilities Speaker Bio

What’s Old Is New Again: A Dive Into Current Thermal Energy Storage Technology and Customer Insights Into Curtailment Contracts
This session with include two distinct themes: The first is a showcase of current Thermal Energy Storage technologies and applications from a handful of solutions providers including a panel discussion.  The second will be a discussion with a long-time participant in Duke Energy’s large C&I demand response program called “PowerShare” where direct insights into program participation will be shared.

Jesse DeGrendel CLEAResult Speaker Bio

Liz Fitzpatrick Michaels Energy Speaker Bio

Ysaël Desage BrainBox AI Speaker Bio

In this informal conversation, we invite anyone wrestling with major customer pain points to join us and help PLMA to identify new and evolving issues that fall into the category of “really challenging.” From managed charging to excessive DR events to EM&V (and everything in between), we’ll talk about possible approaches, what solutions have and haven’t helped, and review opportunities to address everyone’s key concerns through upcoming PLMA webinars and conference sessions.

Discussion Facilitator Richard Phillip PLMA Speaker Bio

Navigating a Non-Linear Path Leveraging DERs for Flexible Load
Increased electrification, renewable energy, and extreme weather events are changing the way we distribute and deliver power, not just supply it. While the laws of physics are consistent, there are numerous variables related to the age, design, and load profiles of regional distribution systems; Not to mention the different energy demand, hardware/software infrastructure, and regulatory environment for each territory.

This "Spark DER as a Grid Resource" Strategic Initiative Session will start off with an introduction to advanced distribution management before doing some collaborative scenario planning to navigate the different variables, followed by some examples of real-world valuation of grid services values, IT systems, and delivery models.

Eric Van Orden Virtual Peaker Speaker Bio

Reading Through the Haze: Forecasting the Coming EV Adoption Curves and Grid Impacts
Utilities from across the country are forecasting when and how EVs will impact the electric grid. Similar to a magic mirror, forecasts don’t always match reality. During this session, Utilities will dive into their own (varying) EV adoption forecasts as well as their associated grid impacts. Evaluators will contribute to the conversation by discussing the challenges to forecasting EV loads and how to mitigate these going forward.

Gideon Katsh National Grid Speaker Bio

Jim Musilek NCEMC Speaker Bio

Jay Oliver Duke Energy Speaker Bio

Shane Mathers Baltimore Gas & Electric Speaker Bio

Maximizing Demand Flexibility Leveraging Real Time Pricing
This session will explore the concept of demand flexibility and the potential of leveraging real-time pricing to maximize its benefits. We will discuss real-time pricing programs, pilots that have been deployed, and research around broad scale deployment.

The potential for cost savings and peak reduction is the main benefit that will be highlighted. The technological advancements and infrastructure requirements necessary to support real-time pricing, including smart metering and advanced data analytics. The session will also address the importance of consumer education and engagement in maximizing the benefits of demand flexibility and real-time pricing.

Attendees will gain practical strategies and recommendations for implementing or enhancing real-time pricing programs.

Join us to explore how maximizing demand flexibility leveraging real-time pricing can transform the energy landscape and shape a more efficient and sustainable future.

Jingjing Liu Lawrence Berkeley National Lab Speaker Bio

Jordan Folks Opinion Dynamics Speaker Bio

Maria Kretzing Bidgely Speaker Bio

Chris Gallo Consolidated Edison Speaker Bio

Decarbonization Through Load Management Interactive Workshop
The Decarbonization through Load Management strategic initiative focuses on demonstrating the role of load flexibility in decarbonizing the energy system. In this interactive workshop, attendees will have the opportunity to engage in an open dialogue with a diverse group of industry professionals on topics including quantifying decarbonization impacts, balancing decarbonization goals with reliability and affordability, and more. Through this discussion, we hope to gather new and various perspectives to inform future goals and activities for the initiative.

Dave Alspector Tierra Resource Consultants Speaker Bio

McGee Young Watt Carbon Speaker Bio

Ruth Kiselewich ICF Speaker Bio

Resilience as a Service
Be prepared to take an active role in this workshop! We'll explore current RaaS program efforts and discuss this emerging concept, starting with examples of where RaaS is being deployed and why. Then in small groups, we'll explore some of the other problems RaaS might solve, barriers to its implementation, and the connected devices that could facilitate its participation. Each group will present its ideas, culminating in a discussion of how to create blueprints for successful RaaS implementations.

Facilitator J.T. Thompson Generac Grid Services Speaker Bio

Derek Kirchner TRC Companies Speaker Bio

Aging Infrastructure, Islands, and EVs: Surprising Lessons from India

While the U.S. often leads the world in technology and energy innovations, we also have much to learn from other countries. We’ll explore challenges the challenges faced by both the most populous country on the globe, India, and also by the U.S. These include managing an aging and strained electric grid, the issues created by “electricity islands,” and the complexity of accommodating millions of new EVs. Join us to learn about the innovations happening within India’s energy sector and how this knowledge might apply here.

Giri Iyer Sentient Energy Speaker Bio

Michael Brown Berkshire Hathaway, NV Energy Speaker Bio

Scott Coe GridOptimize Speaker Bio

Ross Malme Kitu Systems Speaker Bio

Jon Hilowitz Orange and Rockland Utilities Speaker Bio