2026 Spring Technical Workshop

The 2026 Spring Technical Workshop will be held at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona.

FULL WORKSHOP AGENDA AVAILABLE SOON!

Monday, March 16:
8:00 am – Noon:  Tutorial: Increasing DER Hosting Capacity with Flexible Interconnections and Flow Control
8:00 am – 5:00 pm: i2X Special Topic Hybrid Workshop: GFM
Noon – 5:00 pm: ESIG Working Group Meetings (Must be an ESIG member to attend)
5:15 – 7:15 pm: ESIG Meet and Greet

Tuesday, March 17:
8:00 am – 5:00 pm: Technical Workshop
6:00 pm – 8:o0 pm: Networking Reception

Wednesday, March 18:
8:00 am – 5:00 pm: Technical Workshop
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm: Local hike in the Sonoran Desert

Thursday, March 19:
8:00 am – Noon: Technical Workshop

i2X Special Topic Hybrid Workshop: GFM

ESIG with support from Elevate Energy Consulting, and in collaboration with Berkeley Lab and EPRI, is supporting the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) initiative to facilitate the Forum for the Implementation of Reliability Standards for Transmission (FIRST) as part of the DOE’s Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X).  This full-day workshop on Monday, March 16, will cover Grid Forming IBR Specifications, Testing Requirements and Lessons Learned. Click here to register for the workshop as a VIRTUAL attendee.

Tutorial: Increasing DER Hosting Capacity with Flexible Interconnections and Flow Control

This tutorial focuses on two proven, low-cost advanced grid technologies – flexible interconnections and power-electronics-based flow controllers – that can significantly increase hosting capacity for distributed energy resources (DERs). These can be faster and more cost-effective than traditional grid reinforcements, by maximizing the utilization of existing network assets, accelerating DER interconnections, reducing costs and environmental impacts, and providing the operational flexibility needed for future grids. While conventional reinforcements remain essential for long-term firm capacity, advanced technologies can defer or reduce the size of infrastructure upgrades and/or provide a transition while long-term firm capacity is being constructed. The tutorial features innovative solutions and guides participants through the full adoption lifecycle of these advanced applications, illustrated with real-world utility-scale demonstration projects and key lessons learned.

Speakers:
Leo Jiang, Engineering Fellow, ESIG
Mike Hanestad, Principal Power System Engineer and Team Lead, RLC Engineering
Jon Grooters, Director of the US Market, EnerNex

ESIG Working Group Meetings

ESIG’s Working Groups provide the opportunity for members to weigh-in on the direction of ESIG’s efforts. Working Groups are driven by member interests with support from ESIG staff, and members may propose new Working Groups, or new Task Forces within a Working Group, to the ESIG board as an ongoing activity or for a temporary defined purpose.  At a high level, the purpose of a Working Group or task force is to create a working community to pursue existing ideas or develop new concepts. Working Group meetings offer a great opportunity to sit-in on technical presentations and conversations within specific areas of interest, as well as connect with peers from around the world.

ESIG Meet and Greet

Join us on Monday night for an informal Meet and Greet outside of the Kiva Ballroom at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. This event is designed for newcomers and ESIG-veterans alike to meet new folks and say hello to old friends before the technical workshop begins. Enjoy the beautiful Sonoran desert, learn more about ESIG activities, and meet your next Workshop lunch buddy!

The 2026 Spring Technical Workshop will be held at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona.

The special ESIG room rate is $249/night. The last day to make your reservation is February 23, 2026. We highly encourage you to book your room for the 2026 Spring Technical Workshop as soon as possible – if your plans change, you can cancel your reservation up to 24 hours before arrival with no penalty.  We do expect the room block to sell out.
Click here to book your room.