SPI, ESI, and North America Smart Energy Week Wraps Decade as the Center of Integration
SPI, ESI, and North America Smart Energy Week 2019 capped off the decade this week in Salt Lake City with a trailblazing program that has become the center of renewable integration.
As the largest energy event in North America, it’s the natural direction of conversation among the 19,000, 700+ exhibitors, and 500+ speakers spread across the clean energy spectrum. The Opening General Session, “The Role of Clean Energy in an Integrated De-carbonization Strategy” featured welcome addresses from Julia Hamm, CEO & President, Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), Abigail Ross Hopper, CEO & President, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Tom Starrs, SEIA Chairman and Vice President, Market Strategy & Policy, SunPower Corporation. The session explored how solar and other technologies can combine efforts to accelerate the transition to a renewable energy economy.
“SEIA’s Solar+ Decade vision and our Extend the Solar Investment Tax Credit campaign are exactly in line with the pan technology spirit of this conference,” Ms. Hopper said. “We hope people will leave this conference with a sense of where this industry is going, and what it can accomplish working with other technologies to accelerate clean energy adoption and the many benefits that come with it.”
Beyond solar, Energy Storage International (ESI) continued be the largest energy storage event in North America and featured 250 exhibitors. Hydrogen + Fuel Cells International featured new content on the show floor developed in partnership with the California Fuel Cell Partnership. Yotta Energy was voted Start-up of the Year by attendees in Start-up Alley, which was home to 40 new businesses in the industry.
“The utilities, solutions providers and policy makers attending these events are all committed to integrating multiple technologies into the grid to create the optimal clean resource mix for customers,” said Julia Hamm, CEO & President, Smart Electric Power Alliance. “We’ve evolved our program to anticipate and match the needs of the market.”
Wind Energy International (WEI) was a new addition in 2019, whose inclusion underscored North America Smart Energy Week’s theme of integrated de-carbonization. WEI’s inaugural success would not have been possible without the support of state advocates and partners such as the Distributed Wind Energy Association, Interwest Alliance, Renewable Northwest, ACE NY, Clean Grid Alliance, REpowering Schools, Clean Coalition, and KidWind Project.
“As a Salt Lake City based owner and operator of a portfolio of both solar and wind assets, we’re thrilled North America Smart Energy Week provides a platform for companies like us to showcase their full suite of energy solutions.” Ryan Creamer, CEO, sPower. “It parallels a broader market trend key to the success of our business.”
Attendees packed the Women in Solar & Storage and Luncheon with Dr. Jen Welter, the NFL’s first female coach and were drawn towards the new Podcast Lounge presented by SunCast Media, where host Nico Johnson invited podcasters and their guest to discuss highlights of the show.
Electric vehicles also made their return to the EV Experience with the support of EZ-EV, who hosted the popular Ride & Drive. Attendees were able to choose from the biggest lineup of cars the event has ever seen to test drive, including Audi e-Tron, Tesla Models 3, S, and X, Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt, BMW i3, and several more exciting vehicles.
SPI, ESI, and North America Smart Energy Week returns September 14-17, 2020 in Anaheim, CA. Registration will open in March 2020. For more information, please visit www.smartenergyweek.com.
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ABOUT SOLAR POWER EVENTS
Presented by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), Solar Power Events strives to keep the industry moving forward by offering cutting-edge events centered around the trends, technology, and research that power the industry. For additional information regarding Solar Power Events, visit us at www.re-plus.events.
ABOUT SEIA
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA®) is the driving force behind solar energy and is building a strong solar industry to power America through advocacy and education. As the national trade association for the U.S. solar energy industry, which employs more than 242,000 Americans, we represent all organizations that promote, manufacture, install and support the development of solar energy. SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies to build jobs and diversity, champion the use of cost-competitive solar in America, remove market barriers and educate the public on the benefits of solar energy. For more information, visit www.seia.org.
ABOUT SEPA
The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) is dedicated to helping electric power stakeholders address the most pressing issues they encounter as they pursue the transition to a clean and modern electric future and a carbon-free energy system by 2050. We are a trusted partner providing education, research, standards, and collaboration to help utilities, electric customers, and other industry players across four pathways: Transportation Electrification, Grid Integration, Regulatory Innovation and Utility Business Models. Through educational activities, working groups, peer-to-peer engagements and advisory services, SEPA convenes interested parties to facilitate information exchange and knowledge transfer to offer the highest value for our members and partner organizations. For more information, visit www.sepapower.org.