The forum provided an opportunity to network with over 200 guests and exhibitors participating in the Innovation Showcase representing the microgrid and innovative technology industry. Participating in the Forum were corporate, government, industry and institutional representatives from: wind, solar, micro-hydro, geothermal, and storage systems, engineering, electric mobility (G2V, V2H, and V2G), energy storage and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), equipment manufacturers, utilities, consultants, federal, provincial and municipal governments, communities and students.
The Innovation Showcase will bring together the most current corporate and institutional state-of-the-art technologies. There will be plenty of opportunity for you to network, ask questions, and interact with our expert panelists.
Forum Goals and Objectives:
- Highlight and showcase state-of-the-art microgrid technologies for remote (off-grid) and networked operations.
- Highlight the revolutionary potential of electric mobility (G2V, V2H, and V2G), energy storage and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to disrupt the existing utility distribution sector.
- Explore financing and investment barriers for technology developers and foster new business models for consumer benefits.
- Foster collaborative research partnerships between universities and industry to strengthen the eco- system for innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Focus on integration of distributed energy (wind, solar, micro-hydro, geothermal, co-generation, and storage) systems to improve performance and resilience of the distributed network.
- Address regulation and policy issues and need for alignment.
Agenda
| 8:30 am |
Registration & Continental Breakfast |
| 9:30 am |
WelcomeGlen Wright, Chairman, Council for Clean & Reliable Energy Jatin Nathwani, Executive Director, WISE |
| 9:45 am |
Keynote SpeakerBruce Campbell, President and CEO, IESO |
| 10:15 am |
Break |
| 9:45 am |
Panel 1Technology and Disruptive Innovation Declining cost structure of distributed energy resources (solar, EVs and storage, microgrids) pose a challenge to the utility distribution network. Will prosumers proliferate? Is the state of technology mature enough for a massive exodus of customers and is there a real threat of stranded assets? Moderator: Jatin Nathwani, Professor & Executive Director, Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy, University of Waterloo
|
| 12:00 pm |
Lunch |
| 1:00 pm |
Innovation Showcase, Networking & Industry-Academic Collaboration |
| 1:15 pm | Optional Lab Tours (for Pre-registered Guests) |
| 1:30 pm |
Panel 2Financing Business Models: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly The traditional ‘cost recovery’ model for the electricity sector was designed and built for a one- way flow of energy technology. Technology is changing the texture of the system. Will distributed energy resources, high penetration of variable generation and ICT-enabled consumers undermine the existing business model of the distribution utilities? Moderator: David McFadden, Counsel, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
|
| 3:00 pm |
Reception, Innovation Showcase, Networking & Industry-Academic Collaboration |
| 3:45 pm | Optional Lab Tours (for Pre-registered Guests) |
| 5:30 pm |
Closing Remarks:David McFadden, Counsel, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP |