July 8, 2016 – More than 150 professionals in the power generation industry gathered in Charlotte, North Carolina last week to assess the energy sector’s most pressing challenges relating to automation and instrumentation, and to outline strategies and solutions to overcome them.
ISA’s 59 th Power Industry Division (POWID) and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Symposium, held 27-30 June, featured more than 70 technical paper presentations along with expert speakers and a diverse range of panel discussions, tutorials, vendor exhibitions, and other value-packed activities.
Attendees met face to face with the leading authorities and thought leaders at the pulse of change in the energy industry and gained the critical insights and perspectives needed to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving energy marketplace.
Sessions addressed the key factors influencing:
- All forms of energy, including nuclear, fossil fuels, hydro and renewables
- Data security and demands for improved industrial cybersecurity
- Reliable, efficient power generation and delivery
- Advanced technologies and emerging applications
Each year, ISA’s POWID Symposium is viewed as the “can’t-miss” event for learning about the latest industry innovations; staying informed of vital regulatory requirements and updates; and networking with a wide range of power generation professionals.
ISA partnered with the EPRI—which conducts research on key challenges in the generation, delivery and use of electricity—to conduct this high-profile event. With robust energy-related research, development and engineering operations, and more than 260 companies tied to the energy sector, the city of Charlotte was a fitting venue for the gathering.
Highlights of the agenda included:
- Addresses by three noted industry experts: Ramesh (Rudy) Shankar, Ph.D., MBA, Professor at the Energy Production Infrastructure Center (EPIC) at the University of North Carolina Charlotte; Robert Romanosky, Ph.D., Advanced Research Technology Manager at the National Energy Technology Laboratory within the US Department of Energy; and Randy Bickford, President of Expert Microsystems, Inc.
- A Vendor Exhibition that showcased leading industry companies and information on their latest products, technologies and services.
Corporate sponsors and exhibitors included: ABB, Beamex, Emerson Process Management, Honeywell, MissionSecure, Owl, Phoenix Contact, Rkneal, Schneider Electric and Ultra Electronics
Also on the agenda were ISA I&C Standards working group meetings and the annual POWID Honors and Awards Banquet.
About ISA
The International Society of Automation ( www.isa.org ) is a nonprofit professional association that sets the standard for those who apply engineering and technology to improve the management, safety, and cybersecurity of modern automation and control systems used across industry and critical infrastructure. Founded in 1945, ISA develops widely used global standards; certifies industry professionals; provides education and training; publishes books and technical articles; hosts conferences and exhibits; and provides networking and career development programs for its 36,000 members and 350,000 customers around the world.
ISA owns Automation.com, a leading online publisher of automation-related content, and is the founding sponsor of The Automation Federation, an association of non-profit organizations serving as “The Voice of Automation.” Through a wholly owned subsidiary, ISA bridges the gap between standards and their implementation with the ISA Security Compliance Institute and the ISA Wireless Compliance Institute.
