Thursday, February 6
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Registration
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | TEN’s Symposium Welcome Reception
Friday, February 7
7:30 AM – 7:00 PM | Registration
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM | Networking Breakfast
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Opening Plenary Session
- Welcome Remarks
- Keynote Remarks
- Fireside Chat
- Panel: Navigating Federal and State Policies for Geothermal and Thermal Energy Networks: Opportunities, Challenges and Future Directions
This panel will explore the evolving landscape of federal and state policies shaping the development, deployment, and integration of geothermal and thermal energy networks in the U.S. With increasing attention on decarbonization and energy security, geothermal and thermal energy systems are gaining traction as sustainable alternatives for heating, cooling, and power generation. However, regulatory frameworks, incentives, and policy barriers vary significantly at the federal, state, and local levels, presenting both challenges and opportunities for stakeholders in the industry.
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Networking Break
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Concurrent Sessions 1
- Applied Session - Track 1A: Building Affordable Thermal Energy Networks
The success of utility-scale thermal energy networks depends on bringing down the costs. Using history of innovation as a guide, we may be at the peak of the “cost curve,” with market saturation, optimized system designs, and declining costs on the horizon—that is, if we take the right lessons from UTEN pilots. This panel will examine cost drivers in UTEN pilot projects, explore the opportunity to integrate electric grid savings into TENs costs and rates, and compare the costs of these systems to a business-as-usual approach to heating and cooling.
- Engineering & Design Session - Track 1B: The Benefits and Challenges of Microgrids in Relation to Geothermal
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Networking Lunch
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM | Concurrent Sessions 2
- Applied Session - Track 2A: Financing and Cost Recovery Mechanisms for Thermal Energy Networks (TENs) and Geothermal Energy Networks (GENs)
Thermal energy networks, like other energy infrastructure, need to find sources of financing and then apply a cost recovery model within acceptable timeframes. This is non-trivial for TENs. These systems require significant long-term thermal investments, but many of the operational benefits will be realized by others. The panelists will explore ways to monetize the benefits of TENs and identify cost recovery models necessary to make TENs scalable and sustainable.
- Engineering & Design Session - Track 2B: Modern Best Practices for Design and Construction of Thermal Energy Networks (TENs)
There are good, better, and best practices for the design and construction of energy networks. This panel will present and discuss the latest practices for both design and construction of Thermal Energy Networks. Panelists include mechanical code development officials, engineering design professionals and construction personnel from across the industry.
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Concurrent Sessions 3
- Applied Session - Track 3A: Naming Differences – How do we Agree on Nomenclature?
- Engineering & Design - Track 3B: The Gas to Geo Transformation (Gas Utility Topics)
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM | Networking Break
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM | Concurrent Session 4
- Applied Session - Track 4A: Striking the Balance: The Regulatory Role for TENs
Eight states have passed legislation either allowing or mandating utility-scale thermal energy networks. Now it’s up to regulators to decide how these pilots will proceed -goals of the pilots, what should be measured, where they should be sited, what designs are allowed, what can be included in the rates, potential ownership models and so much more. The question is what is absolutely necessary and desirable and what should the market figure out. What is too much or too little regulation? How can regulation help scale TENs with the necessary guardrails to protect the rate payer, labor, and the environment?
- Engineering & Design Session - Track 4B: Learn How Municipalities, the Military, and Utilities are Engineering and Designing TENs and GENs
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM | Networking Reception
Saturday, February 8
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Optional Field Trips
- Field Trip #1: Boston, MA
- Field Trip #2: Framingham, MA
Additional information to be announced. Agenda subject to change.
