The Ascend Summit brings together prominent electric power experts to offer fresh perspectives on wholesale electricity markets, resource planning, green energy purchasing, battery storage, and merchant portfolio management.
The wide-scale adoption of renewable energy is creating unprecedented structural change in energy supply. The evolution taking place in our electric grids requires greater insight into the economic opportunities addressed at the Ascend Summit.
Presenters: Michael Fisher, PhD, Senior Manager of Portfolio Analytics, Ascend Analytics; Margot Genereux, Power Systems Engineer, Ascend Analytics; Zander Kessler, Energy Analyst, Storage & Renewables, Ascend Analytics
Presenters: Scott Wrigglesworth, VP of Operations & Strategy, Ascend Analytics
Presenters: Brandon Mauch, PhD, Director of Resource Planning Analytics, Ascend Analytics and Anthony Boukarim, Senior Manager of Resource Planning & Valuation, Ascend Analytics
Speaker: Gary Dorris, PhD, CEO, Ascend Analytics
The rapid acceleration of the Energy Transition has created new opportunities and challenges. In this panel, we will explore what we might expect next on a pathway of electrification and decarbonization. We will discuss the macro drivers, economic opportunity, 24x7 green, impediments of queue reform transmission, and reliability.
Moderator: Gary Dorris, PhD, CEO, Ascend Analytics
Speakers: Mark Gabriel, President & CEO, United Power; Alice Jackson, SVP, Xcel Energy; Eric Blank, Chairman, Colorado Public Utilities Commission
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The future of 24x7 green changes the future value of RECs to be time (hourly) sensitive and has significant implications for choices made today. We will explore how to best position renewable contracts today for a significantly different future and how hourly attributes and storage can consistently be incorporated into today's procurement decisions.
Moderator: Glen Davis, President, Agile Energy Advisors
Speakers: Amanda Peterson Corio, Global Head of Data Center Energy, Google; Vibhu Kaushik, SVP & Global Head of Energy, Utilities, & Storage, Prologis; Chris Taylor, CEO, GridStor
Irrational exuberance or carpe diem, will today's winners be tomorrow's losers? What creates sustained project value and when is it at risk? We will review project prices, rationalizations, and current market conditions for asset sales.
Moderator: Michael Fisher, PhD, Senior Manager of Portfolio Analytics, Ascend Analytics
Speakers: Hagen Lee, CEO, Peregrine Energy Solutions; Andrew Waranch, CEO, Spearmint Energy; Michael Rucker, Founder & CEO, Scout Clean Energy
Utilities and Corporates are pursuing 100% carbon-free energy supply goals with great speed. Learn the strategic approaches, resource needs, and challenges to build a carbon-free energy supply portfolio.
Moderator: Mark Dyson, Managing Director, RMI
Speakers: Lena Perkins, PhD, Emerging Technologies Manager & Senior Resource Planner, City of Palo Alto; Roy Xu, Director of Power Resources, Peninsula Clean Energy; Scott Mellon, Assistant General Manager - Power Management, City of Glendale; Zakary Liske, Senior Manager of Power Operations, SVCE
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We discuss changes to the landscape of power procurement and what they mean for clean energy investment.
Moderator: Jon Powers, Co-Founder & President, CleanCapital
Speakers: Arlo Corwin, VP & Head of US Wind Development, AES; Joshua Rogol, CDO & President, Strata Clean Energy; Eric Stoutenburg, PhD, Director of Energy Storage, Eolian
Moderator: Anthony Boukarim, Senior Manager of Resource Planning & Valuation, Ascend Analytics
Speakers: Michael Enger, Director of Energy & Market Operations, Austin Energy; Paul Eory, Manager of Strategy & Planning, Lansing Board of Water & Light; Andrea Torres, Senior Portfolio Manager, San Diego Community Power
Moderator: Zach Brode, Manager of Analytics, Ascend Analytics
Speakers: Jared Hansen, Director of Resource Planning, Idaho Power; Wesley Cole, PhD, Senior System Modeler, NREL
Moderator: Rodney Kizito, PhD, Senior Manager of Energy Analytic Services, Ascend Analytics
Speakers: Caleb Stephenson, EVP of Commercial Operations, Calpine; Marco Ferrara, PhD, Co-Founder & SVP Software & Analytics, Form Energy
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We'll explore applications and approaches to leveraging machine learning tools to enhance asset returns through ISO bidding and state of charge optimization of storage.
Moderator: Jeff Hartsough, Managing Director of Asset Operations, Ascend Analytics
Speakers: Chris Eshleman, Director of Energy Analytics & Electric Supply, East Bay Community Energy; Ted James, Head of North America, ACCURE Battery Intelligence
Moderator: Adam Hise, Managing Director of Storage Risk Solutions, Ascend Analytics
Speakers: Andy Galen, Renewables Strategist, Nephila Climate; Ken-Ichi Hino, Executive Director of Energy Storage, UBS; Christopher Giuffre, Chief Strategy Officer & Co-Founder, USQRisk
Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewables holds the potential to create cycles of excess and shortages leading to depressed and extreme prices. Where, when, and how do opportunities unfold for renewables, storage, and DERs and what are the indicators of opportunity.
Speakers: Brent Nelson, PhD, Managing Director of Markets & Strategy, Ascend Analytics; Santiago Saravia, Renewable Energy Analyst, Ascend Analytics
At the conclusion of the Ascend Market Outlook Session, Lyft codes will be provided for transport to Chautauqua Park. Meet at the Ranger Station at Chautauqua Park at 3:45pm for a group photo. The hikes will begin promptly at 4pm.
We have two hike options, guided by Ascend staff: one more strenuous, and one more moderate. If you are hiking, wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for changing weather conditions. For those not hiking, we will have lawn games at Chautauqua Park on the lawn in front of the dining hall.
Black Diamond hike: 1st/2nd Flatiron trail
Strenuous 3.5 miles with 1,500 feet of climbing
Blue Square hike: Bluebell Trail to Ski Jump
Moderate 1.5 miles with 460 feet of climbing
Green Circle: Lawn games and/or casual hike at Chautauqua Park
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Presenters: Brandon Mauch, PhD, Director of Resource Planning Analytics; Zach Brode, Manager of Analytics
Presenters: Scott Wrigglesworth, VP of Operations & Strategy; Anand Govindarajan, Manager of Energy Analytic Solutions
Presenters: Brent Nelson, PhD, Managing Director of Markets & Strategy; Santiago Saravia, Renewable Energy Analyst; Robert LaFaso, Manager of Resource Valuation
Presenters: Jeff Hartsough, Managing Director of SmartBidder; Tapas Peshin, Manager of Bidder & Trading
For those wishing to stay in Boulder throughout the afternoon, Ascend staff are available to be your guides to local breweries, road cycling, gravel cycling, or eBiking around town. Please reach out to us at ascendsummit@ascendanalytics.com if interested.
A - PowerSIMM Planner
B - PowerSIMM Portfolio Manager
C - BatterySIMM
D - SmartBidder
For those wishing to stay in Boulder throughout the afternoon, Ascend staff are available to be your guides in local breweries, road cycling, gravel cycling, or eBiking around town. Please notify Ascend if interested.
Brandon Mauch, PhD, Director of Resource Planning Analytics; and Zach Brode, Manager of Analytics.
Scott Wrigglesworth, VP of Operations & Strategy
Brent Nelson, PhD, Managing Director of Markets & Strategy; Santiago Saravia, Renewable Energy Analyst; Robert LaFaso, Manager of Resource Valuation
Jeff Hartsough, Managing Director of SmartBidder; Tapas Peshin, Manager of Bidder & Trading; Jonah Simon, Director of Battery Products Development
Dr. Dorris has been a pioneer of innovative solutions for energy planning and risk. For the last dozen years, Gary has introduced utilities to new solutions to model and analyze planning portfolios. His analytic innovations and expertise are sought by industry leaders including expert testimony in some of the most prominent resource planning and risk management proceedings in the country. His company’s software solutions are used by 3 of the top 5 utilities in America and many COOPs and municipalities. He has established industry standards for model validation, monetization of risk, portfolio selection, and performance metrics. In 2001, Dr. Dorris won distinguished recognition from the IPE for contributions to the field of energy risk management. Dr. Dorris holds a Ph.D. in applied economics and finance from Cornell University and a BS in mechanical engineering and BA in economics with Magna Cum Laude distinction also from Cornell University.
Dr. Nelson leads forecasting practice and provides expertise in new market dynamics, storage and renewable project valuation, resource planning, and renewable integration. Prior to joining Ascend, Dr. Nelson was an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Northern Arizona University, while also holding a collaborative appointment with the directorate of Scientific Computing and Energy Analysis at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. He also worked for the US Department of Energy from 2014-2016, focusing on technology research and development programs for energy efficiency and demand side management. He has extensive experience in energy technology and energy system modeling, with a focus on understanding the impacts of future shifts in technology adoption. Dr. Nelson holds PhD and MS degrees in mechanical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, and a bachelor‘s degee in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.
Scott Wrigglesworth provides clients with expertise and analytical support in areas of energy portfolio management. Before joining the company, he spent 17 years with Dayton Power and Light and the AES Corporation. There he focused on practical solutions in energy analytics, actionable reporting, margin modeling and portfolio optimization. At Ascend, Scott applies his experience in commercial portfolio optimization to the Ascend Analytics team in a multifaceted role. Mr. Wrigglesworth also teaches a course in Energy Markets at the University of Dayton from where he also earned his MBA. He holds a BA in Global Economics and International Business from Cedarville University.
Dr. Brandon Mauch leads a team of analysts at Ascend in providing modeling support for resources planning. He is currently managing work for NorthWestern Energy and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Prior to joining Ascend, Brandon was a Senior Program Manager for CLEAResult Consulting where he managed utility energy efficiency and demand response programs for Midwestern utilities. Before that, he was a Utility Regulation Engineer for the Iowa Utilities Board where he worked on regional energy policy issues, resource planning and rate cases for Iowa’s investor-owned utilities. Brandon holds a Ph.D. in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University where his research focused on wind power forecasting and risk assessment of wind forecasts. He also holds a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin and a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kansas.
Anthony Boukarim conducts renewables valuation and resource planning for utilities and CCAs providing consulting expertise for risk management and renewable integration. His portfolio of projects in the US includes resource valuation, RFO administration, and forecasting analyses for Clean Power Alliance, Peninsula Clean Energy, Burbank Water and Power, Salt River Project Power and Water, among others. Prior to joining Ascend, Mr. Boukarim worked in Arthur D. Little/McKinsey & Co as a management consultant in their Energy & Utilities Practice. Mr. Boukarim has also worked as a research analyst in energy topics for Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley. In addition to four years of international experience in the energy sector, he holds a master’s degree in Energy Resources Engineering from Stanford University and a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the American University of Beirut.
Adam Hise leads development and commercialization of insurance-backed revenue risk transfer offerings for storage and renewable facilities. Before joining Ascend, he founded and led EnBalance Storage until the 2021 acquisition by Ascend, developing novel risk shifting products to advance storage and renewable energy deployment. Prior to EnBalance, he did power marketing with Scout Clean Energy and emerging tech strategy consulting. He holds an MS in Environment Science & Engineering from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and BS in Biological Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech.
Michael Fisher, PhD leads the BatterySIMM team which produces bankable asset valuations and revenue forecasts for merchant storage. Dr. Fisher has spent the last 15 years of his career in the energy industry, most recently as Duquesne Light‘s head of business development where he grew a development platform for the utility‘s unregulated businesses. He has a deep understanding of what developers and project finance professionals need across the project lifecycle. Dr Fisher‘s doctoral research at Carnegie Mellon explored the technical, economic, and emissions impacts of distributed storage, where he created a battery optimization model that explored how storage behaves when responding to retail and wholesale value streams. Dr. Fisher holds a Ph.D in energy policy from Carnegie Mellon University and a BS in economics and BAS in systems engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr Rodney Kizito will serve as the client-facing lead, handling client matters and ensuring work product, releases and analytic initiatives are delivered in a timely fashion. Prior to joining Ascend, he spent 6 years working for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Solar Energy Technologies Office. During his time with the DOE, he managed a $20M+ portfolio of government funded projects that focused on the development, demonstration, deployment, and commercialization of solar energy related technologies. Rodney has a PhD in Industrial Engineering and research backgrounds in predictive analytics and techno-economic optimization of solar-plus-storage microgrid systems.
Jeff Hartsough leads the SmartBidder business, Ascend‘s real-time operations optimization platform for storage, renewables, hybrids, and load. He works across the technical and commercial teams to drive platform innovation centered on customer needs and ensure customers fully realize the value of SmartBidder‘s optimization capabilities. Prior to joining Ascend, Jeff was most recently a senior product manager at Cisco Systems, and has led product development on energy, IoT, and cybersecurity products, and also previously worked as a management consultant. He holds an MBA from University of California - Berkeley and a BA from Yale University.
Santiago Saravia serves as an analyst on the BatterySIMM team, where he leads valuation efforts for dozens of storage projects across deregulated U.S. power markets, including project finance and M&A support for over 5GW of hybrid and standalone projects in Texas and California. Santiago is an expert on location-specific Inflation Reduction Act tax incentives for renewable and storage projects, having developed maps to identify current and future eligibility.
Zach Brode leads resource planning, portfolio management, and valuation projects. He also manages the development of PowerSIMM. Zach joined Ascend after completing his M.A. in Economics at the University of British Columbia. At Ascend, Zach works with utility clients to model energy systems in support of capacity planning and resource assessment and valuation. He also has experience with avoided cost analysis and new resource power procurement analysis.
Prior to joining Ascend Analytics, Mr. Huisenga was a Senior Vice President and Energy District Business Line Leader with WSP USA, a Top 5 ranked design firm by Engineering News Record (ENR), spending 15 years in roles covering sustainability services, renewable energy, and management. Mr. Huisenga experience also includes leading Product Strategy for Spruce Power, a Residential Solar & Battery Storage Asset Management firm.
Mr. Huisenga earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Iowa and his Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.
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