Determining what projects will be financially justified to move forward has proven more difficult as the market reacts to low gas prices and regulatory requirements. This session examines how generators prioritize and select options that are the most attractive, and seeks to answer the question, what is more valuable, reliability improvement, security of supply, or a diverse generation mix?

Safety has always been fundamental of our industry’s mission. The panel discussion will focus on how power generating entities implement and promote a safety culture that complements production in competitive markets.

As NERC continues to promulgate rules and regulations around plant cyber security, generators continue to grapple with interpretation as well as implementation. This session will provide real-world examples of how plants are implementing NERC CIP regulations. For more information click here.

The benefits of proper combustion in fuels are well known. They include greater efficiency, reduced maintenance, lower emissions and better load response among others. This session will explore techniques that have been successfully employed to improve furnace combustion.

As regulations drive generating assets toward different or new technology, maximizing the current fleet through tested and appropriate maintenance strategies is key. This session takes a new look at a variety of possible maintenance strategies that may enhance your plant’s bottom line.

Many coal plants that remain in service operate under often-extreme economic stress even as they approach the end of their service lives. This session provides real-world examples of how some generators have responded to the current environment to keep their assets in the dispatch mix.

Flexible Power is becoming the new standard for generation across North America, driven by a variety of economic and market forces. Must-run renewable resources often deliver off-peak power, driving the demand for flexible generation. Unpredictable dispatch schedules and zero-fuel dispatch costs of renewables can reduce net load during all time periods and slash the typical peak periods to shorter, more sporadic durations. The new on-peak periods occur in shorter bursts, and are much more volatile in nature, requiring resources that can respond to market signals promptly and efficiently. Accordingly, markets have begun to place a premium value on these capabilities. This session will discuss and evaluate the drivers of flexible generation and will describe the role that reciprocating engines provide in today’s marketplace.