ScottMadden, Inc., one of North America’s leading energy consulting firms, will soon join researchers, academics, and industry executives to “power up” the conversation about the future of energy and technology, specifically how these two industries are connected to and affected by current innovation. These discussions are the focus of Intersect: Energy in an Information Age—a high-level, invitation-only summit—presented by the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Strategic Energy Institute from April 18–19. In addition to energy and technology, attendees of the event will take a close look at energy policy and grid security and examine methods to expand industry innovation.
More than 200 are expected to attend the Intersect conference to hear presentations from utilities, research labs, and non-governmental organizations, including Microsoft, Nissan Motors, the Electric Power Research Institute, the World Resources Institute, and more. ScottMadden will serve as a co-sponsor alongside General Electric and Southern Company.
Brad Kitchens, president and CEO of ScottMadden, will join panelists from General Electric, Southface, Southern Company, and Electric Power Research Institute to discuss the digitization of the energy sector and the outlook for innovation through a regional, national, and global lens. Georgia Tech president, Dr. G.P. “Bud” Peterson, will serve as moderator.
“ScottMadden is excited to participate in this year’s conference,” says Mr. Kitchens. “Discussions will focus on the scale and increasingly rapid pace of innovation at the intersection of physical energy infrastructure and information technology. It should be enlightening for all of us.”
Additionally, Chris Vlahoplus, partner and clean tech & sustainability practice leader at ScottMadden, will capture key themes. Please let us know if you are interested in receiving this analysis post-event.
“Based on the success of last year’s inaugural conference, we expect the quality of discussions will contribute to another unique summary of key insights,” adds Mr. Vlahoplus.
Energy is arguably the single most important issue of our modern times. Few sectors have a greater direct impact on our economy or every aspect of life—from household comforts and conveniences to transportation, manufacturing, and communications, it is omnipresent. Networked, digital systems that are connected to the traditional, physical energy infrastructure are growing exponentially. The overlap between these systems and computing, big data, and physical infrastructure is creating a need for new resources, particularly in regards to the safety and security of operational structures and personal consumer information.
The worldwide demand for power to support social and technological innovation is rapidly rising. The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects that growing economies and an increasing world population will drive energy demand more than 50 percent by 2035. At the same time, the energy sector is undergoing one of its greatest transformations in history, with dramatic growth in high-efficiency, low-cost, clean technologies enabling the Southeast to quietly emerge as a leader in terms of implementing these reliable, affordable energy technologies. Georgia, for instance, is the 8th largest producer of solar energy in the United States and is among the top three in solar installations, giving rise to the need for equitable regulation.
Technology thrives in Atlanta, a top location for innovative businesses, including a number of startups based in or related to energy. A key element of Intersect that highlights these companies is an Innovation Trek, a tour of business incubators based in Technology Square, which will illustrate how innovative thinking is driving change across multiple platforms and industries, including energy. Several of those startups began at Georgia Tech, including the Advanced Technology Development Center, which assists entrepreneurs in launching successful companies.
For more information, or to request a copy of our post-conference recap, please contact us.
About the Strategic Energy Institute
The Georgia Institute of Technology’s Strategic Energy Institute integrates energy activities across the nation’s largest technology university. Its mission is to serve as a channel for integrating, facilitating and enabling Institute-wide programs in energy research and development while attracting and engaging with external partners. The Strategic Energy Institute focuses on collaborative interactions in research areas that include fuels and chemical processing, energy generation and conservation, energy utilization, delivery and storage, and policy.
About ScottMadden, Inc.
ScottMadden is the management consulting firm that does what it takes to get it done right. Our practice areas include Energy, Clean Tech & Sustainability, Corporate & Shared Services, Grid Transformation, and Rates, Regulation, & Planning. We deliver a broad array of consulting services ranging from strategic planning through implementation across many industries, business units, and functions. To learn more, visit www.scottmadden.com | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
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Media contact:
Mary Tew
919-714-7628