Stage Presentations

IEEE PES Grid Edge Stages

Explore the technologies, strategies, and innovations shaping the future of grid modernization.

The IEEE PES Grid Edge Stages bring together utility leaders, technology providers, policymakers, researchers, and innovators for focused discussions on the most important issues transforming the electric power industry.

DER Operation and Benefit Realization Stage
Turning DER deployment into measurable grid, customer, and market value.
AI in the Energy Industry Stage
Practical applications of AI across planning, operations, forecasting, and decision-making.
Grid and Customer Resilience Stage
Strategies and technologies that strengthen reliability and customer preparedness.
Data Center Efficiency and Interconnection Flexibility Stage
Planning for data center load growth, flexible interconnection, and grid impacts.
Start-Up and Innovation Showcase Stage
Emerging companies, disruptive technologies, and new ideas shaping the future of energy.

As distributed energy resources (DERs) continue to scale across the grid, utilities, regulators, technology providers, and customers are focused on turning deployment into measurable value. The DER Operation and Benefit Realization Stage explores how organizations are managing and optimizing DER portfolios, integrating flexible resources into grid operations, and unlocking economic, reliability, and sustainability benefits at scale.

Through expert presentations, case studies, and collaborative discussions, attendees will examine the operational strategies, market frameworks, and technology solutions that enable DERs to support grid modernization while delivering tangible outcomes for utilities and customers alike.

Key Topics:

  • DER orchestration, aggregation, and optimization
  • Virtual power plants and flexible load management
  • Grid services and non-wires alternatives
  • DERMS implementation and operational best practices
  • Performance measurement and benefit quantification
  • Customer participation, incentives, and engagement strategies
  • Regulatory frameworks and market integration
  • How Distributed Storage can be used as a controllable resource

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming how the energy industry plans, operates, and maintains critical infrastructure. The AI in the Energy Industry Stage brings together utility leaders, technology innovators, researchers, and policymakers to explore the practical applications of AI across the electric power sector.

From predictive asset management and advanced forecasting to generative AI and autonomous grid operations, this stage highlights how intelligent technologies are helping organizations improve efficiency, resilience, and decision-making while navigating governance, cybersecurity, and workforce considerations.

Key Topics:

  • AI-driven grid planning and operations
  • Predictive maintenance and asset intelligence
  • Generative AI applications for utilities
  • Load forecasting, wind/solar forecasting and price forecasting
  • Autonomous and self-healing grid technologies
  • AI governance, cybersecurity, and risk management
  • Workforce transformation and AI-enabled decision support
  • Productivity improvements for utilities

As extreme weather events, evolving customer expectations, and emerging grid challenges continue to shape the energy landscape, resilience has become a top priority for utilities and communities alike. The Grid and Customer Resilience Stage focuses on strategies, technologies, and partnerships that strengthen reliability while empowering customers to better prepare for and respond to disruptions.

Attendees will gain insights into how utilities are leveraging advanced infrastructure, distributed resources, analytics, and customer programs to build a more resilient and adaptable energy future.

Key Topics:

  • Storm preparedness and grid hardening
  • Microgrids and community resilience solutions
  • Customer energy resilience and backup power strategies
  • Advanced outage management and restoration technologies
  • Grid modernization for reliability improvement
  • Wildfire, climate, and extreme weather mitigation
  • Resilience planning, metrics, and investment strategies

The rapid growth of data centers is reshaping electricity demand, infrastructure planning, and utility operations across the globe. The Data Center Efficiency and Interconnection Flexibility Stage examines the evolving relationship between data center operators, utilities, regulators, and technology providers as they work to meet unprecedented load growth while maintaining system reliability.

This stage explores innovative approaches to energy efficiency, flexible interconnection strategies, power infrastructure design, and collaborative planning models that support the expansion of digital infrastructure while advancing grid objectives.

Key Topics:

  • Data center load growth and grid impacts
  • Large-load interconnection strategies
  • Flexible and phased interconnection models
  • Energy efficiency and power optimization technologies
  • Behind-the-meter resources and onsite generation
  • Grid planning for hyperscale and edge facilities
  • Utility and data center collaboration frameworks
  • AI-driven infrastructure and power management
  • Impact of the loss of large loads to grid stability

The Start-up and Innovation Showcase Stage is the destination for emerging technologies, disruptive ideas, and entrepreneurs shaping the future of energy. Designed to connect innovators with utilities, investors, industry leaders, and strategic partners, this stage highlights breakthrough solutions addressing the industry’s most pressing challenges.

Through rapid-fire presentations, technology demonstrations, and thought leadership sessions, attendees will discover how start-ups and emerging companies are accelerating the development of smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy systems.

Key Topics:

  • Early-stage energy technology innovation
  • Grid modernization and digital solutions
  • Clean energy and decarbonization technologies
  • AI, automation, and advanced analytics
  • Utility innovation programs and pilot projects
  • Venture investment and commercialization pathways
  • Cross-industry partnerships and innovation ecosystems
  • Emerging business models and market opportunities