2024 MIPSYCON: Top Five Takeaways

Attending MIPSYCON is a rewarding experience, and this year was no exception, as it provided valuable opportunities to connect with industry leaders and stay up-to-date on the latest power system technology. From insightful sessions on substations, project management (Jim Thiede and I presented), power generation, and tutorials, this year's conference emphasized the power of collaboration in driving innovation across our industry. Here are my top five takeaways from this year's conference:

1. Transmission Grid Congestion

The increase in data centers that power AI, ChatGPT, and Cloud Storage are distressing the system. As power engineers, we actively solve these data centers' power requirements and recognize potential congestion on our transmission grid.

2. Resource Shortages

The industry is experiencing resource shortages (material and labor), impacting future projects. Utilities, developers, and contractors are looking for alternatives to alleviate resource shortages, including refurbished materials, different vendors outside of clients' standards, and overseas talent. It is very important to include your vendors early and trust them as an extension of your team to accomplish a common goal. Constant communication among all parties identifies potential pitfalls and helps mitigate scheduling deviations.

3. Weather-dependent Resources

The Grid's capacity and energy are transitioning to more weather-dependent resources. Therefore, we must understand and plan for tomorrow's risks while our generation fleet becomes weather-dependent.

4. 765kV Transmission Systems

The upgrades to our transmission and distribution systems are being planned to include EHV of 765kV transmission systems. It was noted that the 765kV system can transmit power equivalent to approximately three 345kV systems. The Transmission Right-of-Way is not much bigger; however, the substation footprint is much larger and needs to be considered.

5. Battery Storage

The need for battery storage will become more important in the generation mix. Like Solar, we are experiencing technological changes and improvements that will reduce costs and increase energy density.

MIPSYCON leaves me feeling motivated and inspired. This year's conference underscored the importance of collaboration, continuous learning, and our collective effort to tackle the unique challenges facing electric utilities in the Midwest. I'm excited to apply these key insights in my work and continue advancing innovation in the industry. Looking forward to seeing everyone again next year!

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