By Marco C. Janssen, UTInnovation, the Netherlands
If you have never gone to such a conference before and you’re invited to one, don’t resist. You will leave with a newfound appreciation for the industry, a tote bag full of energy gadgets and, most importantly, a smile and new friends.
As power system professionals I am sure we all have been to at least one power conference. Advertised as the best an engineer can get, electric power conferences are like the Oscars of the energy world, minus the red carpet and dramatic acceptance speeches. Instead of glitzy gowns and golden statuettes, engineers flaunt their best polo shirts and lug around gadgets that look like they’re auditioning for a sci-fi movie and these events are electric in every sense of the word.
If you are not a power system professional, walking into such an event may feel a little like stepping into an alternate universe where transformers aren’t just robots in disguise but crucial pieces of infrastructure.
The air and the exhibition floor and the conference rooms buzzes with enthusiasm as exhibitors showcase everything from ultra-efficient solar panels to cables that could probably tow a spaceship, and speakers present the latest and greatest results from real projects to solutions and approaches. Trust me, in this environment technology gets way more applause than a celebrity reveals on the red carpet.
Networking at these events is an art form. Clusters of industry professionals huddle together, passionately debating which system or approach is superior. You overhear snippets like, “Did you see the new switchgear at booth 42? Absolute game-changer!” Forget small talk about the weather—here, the forecast is all about renewable energy, Artificial Intelligence and digital transformation.
The booths at these shows are a spectacle of competition. Exhibitors go above and beyond to attract attention, with everything from flashing LED displays to interactive demos that beep, whir, and bang. One booth might have a robot arm pouring coffee, while another offers virtual reality tours of a power plant. It’s like Disneyland for energy nerds.
The giveaways, of course, steal the show. Who wouldn’t want a miniature wind turbine desk ornament, or a stress ball shaped like a solar panel? One year, I even saw a booth giving out socks with their logos printed on them—a true fashion statement for the voltage-savvy crowd.
Then come the conference with its speakers, often industry titans whose PowerPoint presentations are legendary (or infamous). They wax poetic about grid resilience, smart meters, and the future of energy storage while the audience furiously scribbles notes. The Q&A sessions? That’s where the real drama unfolds, with questions so specific they require a degree in electrical engineering to decode.
These conferences aren’t all about serious discussions; there’s plenty of room for lighthearted moments. You’ll find an exhibitor attempting to explain the intricacies of a hydraulic turbine with the enthusiasm of someone describing their favorite pizza topping. And let’s not forget the after-hours mixers where attendees bond over appetizers and their shared disdain for outdated substation designs. It is an environment to meet your peers and make friends for life.
Ultimately, these shows are a world unto themselves, where the buzzwords are literal (“current,” “voltage,” “resistance”) and the excitement is genuinely palpable. It’s a place where innovation meets industry, where you learn that “smart grids” are not just a concept but a lifestyle, and where the humble power cable can be the star of the show.
If you have never gone to such a conference before and you’re invited to one, don’t resist. You will leave with a newfound appreciation for the industry, a tote bag full of energy-themed swag, and, most importantly, a smile and new friends. After all, who can resist the charm of an industry that truly knows how to light up a room?
Biography:
Marco C. Janssen is the CEO of UTInnovation and the former VP of Operational Excellence at TAQA, Digital Grid Leader for Latin America at EY and Director of the Smart Grid PMO at DEWA. He received his BSc degree in Electrical Engineering from the Polytechnic in Arnhem, Netherlands and has worked for over 33 years in the field of Power and Water O&M, Digital Transformation, Protection, AMI and Distribution and Substation Automation. He was a member of IEC TC57 WG 10, 17, 18, 19, the IEEE PES PSRC and CIGRE B5 and D2 WGs. He was the convenor of D2.35 and editor of the Quality Assurance Program for the Testing Subcommittee of the UCA International Users Group. He holds one patent, is the author of the book titled “Recreating the Power Grid”, has authored more than 53 papers, is co-author of 4 Cigre Technical Brochures and 2 books on SmartGrids and Electrical Power Substations Engineering and is the author of the “I Think” column in the PAC World magazine.
