ERCOT Announces Second Annual Innovation Summit

Event to host discussions with industry leaders and experts on innovation opportunities in a rapidly transforming grid

(Austin, TX) – Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. (ERCOT) today announced the Second Annual ERCOT Innovation Summit to be held May 6, 2025, at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Round Rock, Texas.

The Innovation Summit is an important event for industry stakeholders that will bring together visionaries, thought leaders, and innovators across the energy research and practitioner ecosystem to discuss learnings and experiences across a variety of critical challenges facing the industry.

Seats are available for in-person attendance. Register to attend the Summit in person or online.

“As the Texas electric power grid continues to rapidly transform and grow, the Innovation Summit provides an opportunity to bring together leaders to share ideas and technology advancements and to collaborate on innovative solutions to the opportunities and challenges facing the industry,” said ERCOT President and CEO Pablo Vegas.

The Summit will be an invaluable opportunity for participants to engage in thoughtful panel discussions with industry leaders and experts on topics including innovation in planning and operations, data center interconnection, and demand response, plus provide a hands-on look at how ERCOT and other Independent System Operators (ISOs) and Regional Transmission Operators (RTOs) are using the latest technologies to enhance the reliability, efficiency, and adaptability of the grid.

The Summit panels will feature industry executives and subject matter experts on topics including:

Grid Transformation Initiatives. Moderator Prashant Kansal, ERCOT Director of Grid Transformation, will discuss grid research, innovation, and transformation projects including ERCOT’s future innovation roadmap.

Data Centers. Moderator Bill Blevins, ERCOT Director, Grid Coordination, will talk with panelists representing various data center stakeholders with a focus on designs, growth projections, grid interconnection, and demand flexibility.

Demand Response. Moderator Gordon Drake, ERCOT Director, Market Design and Analysis, will talk with panelists from a wide demand response ecosystem about orchestration software, large behind-the-meter generation, regulatory impacts, and utility operations.

Probabilistic Planning & Operations. Moderator Pete Warnken, ERCOT Director, Resource Adequacy, will lead a panel with representatives from research entities, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and ISOs about probabilistic methods for capacity and reliability assessments.

ISO Innovations. Moderator Nitika Mago, ERCOT Senior Manager, Balancing Operations and Planning, will chat with experts from other ISOs about the rapidly evolving grid and what they are doing in the innovation space.

The ERCOT Innovation Summit is open to stakeholders in the energy research and innovation ecosystems, such as market participants, vendors, ISOs/RTOs, academia, and research labs who are interested to hear about topics that are vital for ERCOT and other ISOs to meet their missions of providing reliable and affordable electricity for their regions. 

Visit www.ercot.com/summit for agenda updates, speaker bios, panel sessions, FAQs, and general information.

Source Link: https://www.ercot.com/news/release/03142025-ercot-announces-second