Brings together thought leaders, utilities, energy providers, and project managers for focused networking and information sharing concerning the latest technological developments, design, implementation and operation of hybrid renewable energy microgrids. The emphasis is on maximizing the business case for microgrids, integration into the larger grid, and sharing real-world case studies of both grid-tied and off-grid/remote environments.

The global microgrid market size was valued at USD 3.76 billion in 2016, and is expected to reach USD 17.51 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 17.0%.* The drivers behind this include the need for greater grid reliability and resiliency, the integration and control of distributed energy resources into the grid, as well as the desire by commercial and industrial end users to control energy costs and adopt more on-site renewable energy generation.

The 6th Microgrid Global Innovation Forum, March 13-15, 2018 in Washington, D.C. brings together key thought leaders, utilities, energy providers, and other stakeholders to examine the latest technology developments and lessons learned in the design, implementation and operation of hybrid renewable energy microgrids.

"This will be a tremendous opportunity to interact directly with companies at the cutting-edge of microgrid deployment," says Daniel Coran, editor of the Smart Grid Observer and program manager of the Forum. "Top utilities will be speaking who are pushing the envelope in terms of leveraging microgrids for grid resiliency, service flexibility, and DER integration."

This 6th edition of the Forum will zero in on refining the value proposition and business case for microgrids in North America, integration with the larger grid, and case studies of grid-tied and off-grid projects and pilots to date. Confirmed speakers for the Washington, D.C. Forum include:

• Dr. John Caldwell, Director of Economics, Edison Electric Institute
• Eric Stein - Manager R&D and New Technology Programs, Exelon/PECO
• Charles (Chuck) Hookham, P.E., Director, Project Management and Engineering, CMS Energy
• Howard Smith - Manager, Distributed Energy Resources Policy, Southern Company
• Jon Mele, General Engineer, Distributed Energy Resources Planning & Analytics, Pepco
• Peter H. Asmus, Principal Research Analyst, Navigant Research
• Brian Mehler, Commercial Business Manager, Direct Energy
• Larisa Dobriansky, Chief Business & Policy Innovation Officer, General Microgrids
• Hamideh Bitaraf, Ph.D., Microgrid Advisor, ABB
• Christopher Evanich, Application Director of Microgrids, S&C Electric
• Bruce Nordman, Research Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• Kevin Meagher, President, Power Analytics
• Mark Feasel, Vice President, Electric Utility Segment & Smart Grid, Schneider Electric
• Eric Coffman, Chief of the Office of Energy & Sustainability (OES), Montgomery County, Maryland
• Steven Pullins, Vice President, Dynamic Energy Networks
• Travis Simpkins, PhD, Chief Technology Officer, muGrid Analytics
• David E. Geary, PE, Co-Founder / Principal Engineer, DCfusion
• And many others

The Forum will be held March 13-15, 2018 in the Marvin Center at the George Washington University. Previous versions of the Forum have been held in Irvine, California; Barcelona, Spain; and Lisbon, Portugal.

Topics to be addressed during the two-day conference include:

- Using Innovative Business Models to Solve Today's Biggest Energy Challenges
- Advanced Microgrid Controllers, Hierarchy of Control, Advanced Applications, and Electric Company Interconnection
- Microgrids and DER Integration
- Disruptive Generation: Bypassing the Traditional Grid Paradigm
- Lessons from the Implementation of Utility-Owned Islandable Microgrids
- Benefits of Multi-Stakeholder, Multi-Partner Microgrids
- The Role of Microgrids in Non-Wires Strategies
- Public-Private Partnerships and Utility Cooperation in Microgrids
- Utility's Strategy and Vision for Handling Distributed Energy Resources
- Developing a Regulatory Eco-System for Advanced Microgrids
- Ensuring Reliable Power for Commercial and Industrial Sites with Microgrids
- And More

"North America is a key market for microgrid growth," Coran notes. "This Forum is unique in that attendees will hear directly from utilities who have real world lessons to share and who will be discussing success strategies in this market going forward."

The Microgrid Global Innovation Forum series is organized by the Smart Grid Observer (www.smartgridobserver.com), an online information resource covering current trends and developments in smart grid, renewable energy, and greentech sectors around the world.

Attendees who enter the special discount code SGO20 when registering will receive 20% off the standard rates.

Event Partners include: Microgrid Knowledge, Microgrid Media, Microgrid Institute, Smart Grid Today, EE Online, Emerge Alliance, Navigant Research, Solar Server, altenergymag.com, and Environmental Xprt.

For full information and to register, visit www.microgridinnovation.com


Contact
Daniel R. Coran, Program Manager
+1-815-310-3343
dcoran@smartgridobserver.com

* Microgrid Market Analysis By Application And Segment Forecasts, 2014 - 2025, Grand View Research