Watch for updates as we continue to finalize our speaker line-up.
Day 1: Wide-Area Timing and Synchronization
| Time | Session | Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| 9 - 9:30 am | Welcome and Introductions | TBD |
| 9:30 - 10:15 am | Keynote Address | TBD |
| 10:30 am - 12 pm | Tomorrow's Grid Today: Grid Modernization, Reliability, and Security in the Next Decade | TBD |
| 1 - 1:50 pm | State of the Grid: Timing and Synchronization | |
| 2 - 2:50 pm | Grid Reliability through Alternative Synchronization and Timing | TBD |
| 3 - 3:50 pm | Today's Needs, Tomorrow's Grid: Synchronization Resilience for Energy Utilities | TBD |
Day 2: Communications Systems
| Time | Session | Speakers |
| 9-9:15 a.m. | Welcome and Recap of Day 1 | TBD |
| 9:15-10 a.m. | Keynote Address | TBD |
| 10:15-11:45 a.m. | Tomorrow’s Grid Today: Communications Security for the Age of OT | TBD |
| 1-1:50 p.m. | State of the Grid: Communications Security | TBD |
| 2-2:50 p.m. | Grid Reliability through Secure Communications | TBD |
| 3-3:50 p.m. | Today’s Needs, Tomorrow’s Grid: Telecommunications Resilience for Energy Utilities | TBD |
Day One will focus on wide-area timing and synchronization, which are crucial for various operations on the power grid, including load balancing for electricity generation, the effective deployment of sensors throughout the grid, and the rapid detection of faults.
Currently, synchronization on the power grid mainly relies on the US Global Positioning System (GPS) and Network Time Protocol (NTP) servers, both of which have vulnerabilities that pose inherent risks to grid operations. Industry is developing alternative timing and synchronization solutions, which are being evaluated by the DOE and utilities, to enhance reliability, broaden security, and prepare the grid for the growth of new energy producers, loads, and device expansion at the grid edge over the next decade.
Day Two will focus on the communications systems at the core of grid operations, ensuring the successful delivery of energy from demand monitoring to the orchestration of flexible generation. The grid today uses a variety of modern and legacy communication methods – from 5G to microwave – and a modernizing grid will require expanded communication approaches to effectively integrate OT and IT devices at the edge with those in existing grid operations.
The communication architecture supporting the evolving grid must enable reliable, secure two-way communication to provide timely and accurate data throughout the system, facilitating real-time coordination among grid operators, generators, regulators, and demand sources. A next-generation grid communication architecture is crucial for utilities to enhance operational capabilities, mitigate outage risks, and bolster overall grid resilience.