Bhaskar Ray

Full Conference programming includes six tracks of panels and presentations, Monday Deep Dives on affordability, data centers, energy storage, and AI, Main Stage programming, and the RE+ Tech & Innovation Forum. Forum focus areas include solar and storage operations and maintenance, grid stability, tandem solar technologies, AI applications, and long-duration energy storage. Its format includes a keynote, deep-dive presentations, and a closing panel. Show Floor Theater topics include grid edge, industry trends, manufacturing and logistics, installation and operations, global markets, electric drive, fuel cells and batteries, and storage. The program also includes an International Pavilion, Spotlight Country, Start-up Pavilion, and poster sessions. The General Session addresses scaling breakthrough technology into commercial deployment, manufacturing and industrial leadership, energy as a strategic advantage, and the connection between transportation and energy infrastructure.

The program examines Texas power policy, market design, infrastructure development, project investment, and operations. Shared plenary sessions address the 90th Legislative Session and SB 6, PUCT rulemaking, ERCOT’s Batch Zero large-load interconnection process, load growth, data-center power supply, 765-kV transmission, siting and permitting, and local engagement. Headline speakers include State Representative Todd Hunter of the Texas House of Representatives (District 32) and Commissioner Courtney Hjaltman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas. Day Two has concurrent ERCOT Market Reforms and Investment & Asset Optimization tracks. Topics include resource adequacy, transmission cost allocation beyond 4CP, data-center development, battery state-of-charge rules, cybersecurity and energy security, renewable project strategy, dispatchable generation, electricity affordability, demand response, distributed energy resources and ADER, and inverter-based resource ride-through requirements. Other sessions examine battery project economics, powered-land siting factors such as water and cooling, and strategies for optimizing assets in changing market conditions. The closing plenaries cover advanced nuclear, geothermal and other low-emission dispatchable generation; project finance amid tax-credit, FEOC/PFE, procurement, interest-rate, EPC-cost and tariff risks; and energy-asset M&A and deal trends.