Knowledge Hubs

A crucial extension of the Power + Utilities Australia Leadership Summit, the Knowledge Hub offer a range of technically-focussed sessions on the expo floor. The Knowledge Hub presents valuable opportunities to reach not only Leadership Summit delegates, but more than 2,000 expo visitors seeking commercial solutions to assist them in addressing the challenges of the energy transition.

Each session will unpack the important issues that energy professionals operating in an increasingly interconnected energy value network need to understand, in order to fully appreciate the implications of the convergence and sector couplings, rapidly connecting the worlds of electricity, gas, heat, cooling and transportation.

Take a look at the program below!

Knowledge Hub

Check out the Knowledge Hub 2024 Agenda!

Tuesday 07 May, 2024

10:00 am - 10:30 am

The Power of Data for a More Sustainable Future

Location: Knowledge Hub

In today’s era of rapid technological advancement and increasing focus on sustainability, the paradigm shift from traditional document-centric asset lifecycle management to a data-centric approach has emerged as a catalyst for driving positive change. This presentation explores the transformative potential of embracing data-driven methodologies to realise digital twins that open the doors for improved project and asset performance in support of a net zero future,  as well as some of the challenges that may get in your way.

Speakers:
Marcus Haynes, Senior Manager – Digital Strategy Acceleration – Asset Lifecycle Intelligence Division, Hexagon

Brought to you by:

  • Hexagon

10:30 am - 11:00 am

Fleet Solutions in Tax and Compliance

An overview on how advanced fleet solutions can benefit an organisation’s Tax Compliance (Fuel Tax Credits and Fringe Benefits Tax) and additional insights these solutions can provide to an organisation such as fleet optimisation, fleet safety and ESG.

Speakers:
Jason Suwignjo, Director – Workforce & Innovation, KPMG

Brought to you by:

  • Geotab

11:00 am - 11:30 am

Platform Native vs Cloud Native vs Cloud Agnostic

Location: Knowledge Hub

What do DevOps, containerisation, orchestration, and cloud computing all have in common? They make the DNA of what we know today as cloud native!

Encapsulated is the democratisation of open-sourced tooling and techniques that provide the necessary layers of abstraction, which suggest that portability and vendor neutrality are inherent.  However, in practice, it is often not.

We’ll dissect some opinionated differences in what abstractions we should prioritise for truly cloud-native architecture.

Speakers:
Billy Thompson, Cloud Engineering Manager, Akamai

Brought to you by:

  • Akamai

11:30 am - 12:00 pm

Unlocking Multi-Stakeholder Value with Community Batteries

Location: Knowledge Hub

Community batteries are emerging as a compelling solution to resolve the impact of excess solar generation on distribution feeders and create new value streams for retailers, distribution network system providers (DNSPs), and consumers.

Join our session to learn:

● What community batteries are and how recent government programs are accelerating deployments
● How community batteries introduce new value streams for stakeholders across the energy ecosystem
● Why sophisticated asset management software is critical to monitoring, dispatching, and optimizing community batteries across value streams and markets

Speakers:
Pamoda Wijetunge, Regional Head of ANZ, AutoGrid

Brought to you by:

  • AutoGrid

12:00 pm - 12:30 pm

Optimizing Energy Distribution: The Role of DERMS in Grid Management

Location: Knowledge Hub

Discover how Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS) are revolutionizing the landscape of energy distribution. In this insightful presentation, we’ll delve into the pivotal role DERMS plays in optimizing grid management, enhancing reliability, and maximizing efficiency. Learn how DERMS harnesses the power of renewable energy sources, microgrids, and smart technologies to balance supply and demand in real-time. Join us as we uncover the potential of DERMS to shape the future of energy distribution and pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient grid infrastructure.

Speakers:
Dan Lysaker, Director of Product Design, AspenTech

Brought to you by:

  • AspenTech

1:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Power System Monitoring in a Digital World

Location: Knowledge Hub

The importance of complete monitoring of power systems in digital substations, power stations and industrial sites.

Speakers:
Jason Jost, BDM – Head of Power and Utilities, Helios Power Solutions

Brought to you by:

  • Helios Power Solutions

2:30 pm - 3:00 pm

Construction Lifecycle Management with Autodesk Construction Cloud

Location: Knowledge Hub

Adoption of Autodesk Construction Cloud is the highest growth sector of all the Autodesk solutions offered by ARKANCE Australia.

Learn how ARKANCE partners with industry to support and advance the adoption of Autodesk Construction Cloud to improve project quality, increase safety, reduce risk, and save time by putting the right information in the right hands.

Speakers:
Franz Hein, Digital Transformation Lead – Architecture and Construction – ANZ, ARKANCE

Brought to you by:

  • ARKANCE

3:00 pm - 3:30 pm

BESS Solutions: Helping Sustain Power Accessibility through Energy Storage

PowerPlus Energy is an Australian Manufacturer of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).

Join us as we discuss the role these systems can play in providing power security within the Utility landscape.

The session will explore:

    • Replacement of SWER lines and fringe of grid utility assets with Stand Alone Power Systems (BESS), helping you answer the question: When is it a good idea to retire a SWER line?
    • Telecom UPS’ have always been focused on providing support to the asset owner. What if we could still guarantee this support whilst also making use of the system to participate in FCAS and Energy Arbitrage?

Speakers:
Edwin Cotter, Senior Sales Engineer, PowerPlus Energy

Brought to you by:

  • PowerPlus Energy

Wednesday 08 May, 2024

10:00 am - 10:30 am

Empowering Tomorrow: Designing Future-Proof Energy Storage Systems for Efficiency, Security, and Scalability

Location: Knowledge Hub

In the ever-evolving landscape of energy storage, the imperative to future-proof systems has become paramount. This keynote delves into the strategic fusion of innovation and foresight, exploring how to design energy storage solutions that transcend current limitations and anticipate the demands of tomorrow. From cybersecurity challenges to the imperative of modularity and scalability, we dissect the key components necessary for resilience and adaptability. Moreover, we unravel the intricacies of designing with operational expenses at the forefront, uncovering strategies to optimise efficiency without compromising on performance or security. Join us as we navigate the frontier of energy storage design, unlocking the potential to shape a sustainable and secure energy future.

Speakers:
Wayne Foster, Technical & Innovation Manager, Valen Power

Brought to you by:

  • Valen Power

10:30 am - 11:00 am

Navigating the Energy Transition: Harnessing Digital to Better Balance Compliance, Customer-centricity, and Value Realisation

Location: Knowledge Hub

Australia’s energy landscape is undergoing a transformative shift, driven by the move towards net zero, evolving consumer preferences, and technological advancements. In this rapidly changing environment, the reliance on Data, IoT technology and scalable IT systems is more critical than ever. Learn how industry players are navigating this transition by leveraging their existing IP and enhancing IT systems to maintain regulatory compliance, while prioritising customer-centricity, and enabling future-ready technology applications. Learn about which key strategies energy leaders should employ today for modernising legacy IT infrastructures and aligning them with the demands of the evolving energy market while delivering practical value outcomes to customers and stakeholders.

Speakers:
Gavin Currie, Consulting Principal – Automation, Leonardo

Brought to you by:

  • Leonardo

11:00 am - 11:30 am

Advancing Earth Resistance Testing for Transmission Towers: A Simplified Procedure from AEMC Instruments

Location: Knowledge Hub

Join us for an informative exploration of the challenges posed by earth resistance measurements in transmission networks and an introduction to the AEMC Instruments Model 6474 GroundFlex® Field Kit.

Earthing arrangements of transmission networks utilize overhead conductors to provide an effective path for lightning to dissipate to earth, creating a parallel network of structures, a unique challenge that conventional test methods cannot accurately account for. This leads transmission operators to resort to indirect calculations using soil data or expensive disconnection procedures involving line crews. Discover how the GroundFlex® Field Kit overcomes challenges, offering an efficient solution to streamline earth resistance measurements and ensure the safety and reliability of Australia’s power transmission networks.

Our discussion will delve into the intricacies of earth resistance testing in transmission, providing insights into various earthing arrangements used when constructing transmission towers and critically examining the limitations associated with traditional test procedures. We will explore how the GroundFlex® Field Kit navigates the unique challenges posed by interconnected transmission structures while still producing accurate measurements, ensuring the performance of the earth electrode system meets design and compliance requirements.

Speakers:
Gregg Wong, Instruments Certified Technical Trainer, AEMC®

Brought to you by:

  • AEMC Instruments

11:30 am - 12:00 pm

Power Generation Digital Twins: Reducing Cost and Emissions

Location: Knowledge Hub

Industrial Digital Twin technology is proven to reduce risk, cost and emissions in power generation.

Discover the ways this has been achieved in real world case studies and the role of AI in improving asset reliability.

Speakers:
Martin Kolos, Industry Specialist – Energy Solutions, Emerson

Brought to you by:

12:00 pm - 12:30 pm

Evolving Enterprise Asset Management to include Asset Performance Capabilities

Location: Knowledge Hub

Regardless of size or industry, asset-intensive organizations are always looking to do more with less. That means finding ways to extend asset life to minimize costs, while performing the right maintenance at the right moment to avoid downtime and execute performance centric asset management strategies.

Speakers:
Joe Nichols, VP Strategy & Enablement – Asset Lifestyle Intelligence Division, Hexagon

Brought to you by:

  • Hexagon

1:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Embracing and EV Future Through Connected Vehicle Data

Location: Knowledge Hub

Transitioning to an electric vehicle in the future may seem challenging; you might be wondering where to begin or how to manage such a significant generational shift. With Geotab’s connected vehicle technologies, we can guide you through the process. We offer strategies and opportunities to make the transition smoother and more certain, turning potential chaos into a data-driven opportunity.

Geotab is a global leader in connected transportation solutions. With 40,000+ customers and 4M+ vehicles across 150 countries, our technology empowers clients to improve productivity, safety and sustainability.

Speakers:
Mark Bucknall, Associate Vice President of Business Development – APAC, Geotab

Brought to you by:

  • Geotab

2:00 pm - 2:30 pm

CER Flexibility with the Customer in Charge – The OpenADR Approach

In this session the audience will hear about demand side management and DER use cases from North America, Europe, and Asia.

These use cases range from Ford Motor Company’s programs to simple thermostat adjustments.

In addition, the session will break down how the OpenADR standard works and how it is being used for resource management programs.

Speakers:
Rolf Bienert, Managing and Technical Director, OpenADR Alliance

Brought to you by:

  • OpenADR Alliance

2:30 pm - 3:00 pm

Building Cyber Resilience for Critical Infrastructure

Location: Knowledge Hub

In an era where cyber threats pose a significant risk to the stability and security of critical infrastructure, the power and utilities industry faces unprecedented challenges in safeguarding its operations.  This session explores the imperative for building cyber resilience within the power and utilities sector to mitigate the evolving threats targeting critical infrastructure.

As reliance on digital technologies increases to optimise operations and enhance efficiency, so does the vulnerability of power and utility systems to cyber-attacks.  The interconnected nature of these systems, coupled with the emergence of sophisticated cyber threats, underscores the need for a proactive and comprehensive approach to cybersecurity.  This session delves into the importance of comprehending the cyber threat landscape and the dynamic evolution of power and utility technologies, empowering the industry to enhance its defensive capabilities against cyber threats.

Speakers:
Kurt Teo, Senior Technical Account Manager, Akamai

Brought to you by:

  • Akamai

3:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Passive Harmonic Filter Design for Large-Scale PV and BESS Farms

Location: Knowledge Hub

Passive harmonic filters play a crucial role in the integration of large-scale Photovoltaic (PV) and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) into the power grid. Our discussion will delve into the design considerations and optimization techniques for passive harmonic filters tailored to the unique requirements of PV and BESS farms. The presentation explores the impact of various factors such as system size, grid characteristics, and harmonic distortion levels on filter performance. Furthermore, it delves into the selection of filter parameters, including resonance frequency, impedance to achieve effective harmonic mitigation.

Speakers:
Innocent Bisanabo, Director & Principal Electrical Engineer, Power Grid Solutions

Brought to you by:

  • Power Grid Solutions