Q3 2026

Mike Caravaggio

Vice President, Energy Supply,
Fleet Reliability and Environment

Jeffery Preece

Vice President, Energy Supply,
Fleet Development and Fuels

This edition highlights how EPRI is helping the industry navigate a rapidly changing energy landscape, from the insights shared at our Fall Generation Advisory and Council Meeting in Dallas to new research, technologies, and partnerships advancing reliability, flexibility, and operational performance across the generation fleet. You will find examples of innovation in action, including technology transfer success stories, expanded thermal fleet research, advancements in renewables and hydropower, and collaborations that are helping prepare the next generation of energy leaders. We hope you enjoy this look at the work being done across the Generation Sector to turn research into practical solutions for our members and the industry 

and remember you can visit our EPRI Generation Value page anytime to learn more about our long term Council Objectives, and library of member success stories!

FEATURED ARTICLES

 RESEARCH & RESULTS

Generation Leaders Gather in Dallas to Explore the Future of Power Generation

More than 600 power generation professionals from 14 countries gathered in Dallas for EPRI's 2026 Fall Generation Advisory and Council Meeting. Across 40 technical sessions and 158 hours of content, attendees explored artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, fleet optimization, energy storage, generation transitions, and other technologies shaping the future of electricity generation.

A common theme throughout the week was turning research into practical solutions that improve reliability, resilience, affordability, and environmental performance. The event also featured the 2025 Generation Sector Technology Transfer Awards, recognizing 11 projects that successfully moved EPRI research into industry practice.

Hosted by Mike Caravaggio, Vice President, Energy Supply-Fleet Reliability and Environment, and Jeffery Preece, Vice President, Energy Supply-Fleet Development and Fuels, the Texas-themed awards celebrated achievements in optimization, cybersecurity, renewable energy, machine learning, asset management, equipment life extension, and operational performance. Inspired by the spirit of the Lone Star State, award categories such as the Cattle Drive Award, Texas Ranger Award, Iron Horse Award, and Lone Star Performance Award highlighted teams that successfully moved innovative research from concept to implementation.

Expanding Research to Meet Evolving Thermal Fleet Challenges

As the power industry navigates fuel transitions, more flexible operations, evolving environmental requirements, and workforce turnover, EPRI is expanding Program 232 into the Integrated Combustion and Emissions Controls Program beginning in 2027.

The enhanced program broadens EPRI's research focus beyond traditional emissions controls to address a wider range of thermal fleet challenges, including combustion optimization, fuel quality, natural gas co-firing, operational flexibility, particulate control, and flue gas desulfurization technologies. Working alongside Programs 223 and 233, the effort will provide an integrated approach to improving plant performance, reliability, and environmental compliance.

Key benefits for members include:

• Improved Reliability: Research and technical support for combustion systems, SCRs, flue gas desulfurization systems, sorbent injection technologies, electrostatic precipitators, and fabric filters.

• Greater Compliance Confidence: Practical guidance to help address NOₓ, SOₓ, CO, VOCs, mercury, particulate matter, and other environmental challenges.
• Support for Fuel Transitions: Research and best practices related to fuel quality, fuel conversions, and co-firing strategies.
• Knowledge Retention and Workforce Development: Access to workshops, webcasts, technical guidance, troubleshooting resources, and industry expertise.

By bringing together combustion, fuel quality, emissions controls, and operational flexibility under a single research framework, the expanded program will help utilities make informed decisions, improve performance, and retain critical thermal generation expertise for the future.

Building a Model for Industry - University Collaboration in Energy Research

Partnerships between industry and academia play an important role in advancing energy technologies and preparing the next generation of technical leaders. One example is the collaboration among EPRI, Penn State, and Vistra, which combines applied research, workforce development, and industry expertise.

The partnership grew from a nine-month sabbatical in Charlotte by Jacqueline O'Connor, professor of mechanical engineering at Penn State. Working alongside EPRI researchers, she helped develop a research roadmap focused on materials and combustion challenges associated with low- and zero-carbon fuels. That work has since expanded into ongoing research projects and peer-reviewed studies aimed at improving the performance and durability of advanced turbine systems.

The collaboration extends beyond research. EPRI and Vistra support student spaces within Penn State's Mechanical Engineering Department, while industry leaders regularly participate in guest lectures, seminars, and advisory activities that connect students with real-world energy challenges and career opportunities.

Looking ahead, the partnership is expanding its focus on workforce development. A new course being introduced in Fall 2026 will incorporate industry perspectives into the classroom, helping students better understand energy systems, emerging technologies, and career pathways across the power sector.

Additional support from organizations such as the Sloan Foundation and the National Science Foundation is expected to further strengthen workforce development initiatives and advance gas turbine combustion research. The effort also demonstrates how industry, academic, and government resources can be aligned to accelerate innovation and address challenges associated with the energy transition.

Together, these activities provide a model for how universities, research organizations, and industry partners can work together to advance technology development, strengthen the future workforce, and support a more resilient energy sector.

EPRI Research Helps Advance Critical Industry Standards

EPRI-supported research is helping shape important updates to the National Board Inspection Code (NBIC), moving new technologies and industry best practices from research into real-world application.

Approved changes for the 2027 edition of NBIC Part 2 include new proficiency requirements for advanced nondestructive examination (NDE) methods. These updates strengthen expectations for inspector competency and support more reliable asset inspections.

The NBIC has also approved new provisions supporting the use of additively manufactured replacement components in Part 3, Repairs and Alterations. The updates expand existing welding and repair guidance and introduce new pathways for deploying components produced through direct energy deposition (DED) additive manufacturing.

Backed by years of EPRI research, these changes reduce barriers to adopting advanced manufacturing technologies, including the use of Grade 91 steel replacement parts in time-dependent applications. The new requirements also establish documentation and traceability standards that provide critical material and performance information throughout a component's service life.

Together, these updates could enable the industry's first field installations of 3D-printed pressure-boundary components. They also demonstrate how collaboration among EPRI, utilities, manufacturers, and standards organizations can strengthen safety, reliability, and supply chain resilience across the power sector. For more information, contact John Siefert for more information.

Benchmarking Lightning Protection Performance to Improve Wind Turbine Blade Reliability

Lightning strikes are a leading cause of wind turbine blade damage, yet the effectiveness of available lightning protection upgrades can be difficult to measure.

To help address this challenge, EPRI has launched a project to evaluate lightning protection system performance and assess the benefits of selected retrofit technologies. Using high-voltage testing, engineering analysis, and nondestructive evaluation, researchers will compare blade designs before and after upgrades to better understand how they perform during lightning strikes.

The results will help wind asset owners make more informed maintenance and upgrade decisions, improve blade reliability, and reduce downtime and repair costs.

The research is intended to provide wind asset owners and operators with a stronger technical basis for evaluating LPS retrofit alternatives, prioritizing inspections, refining maintenance strategies, and assessing damage following lightning exposure. Expected outputs include practical guidance on LPS inspection and maintenance, application of nondestructive testing to characterize lightning damage, and the potential role of retrofit technologies in reducing blade damage, downtime, and O&M costs. Below is a photograph showing the high voltage lightning attachment testing being performed on a wind turbine blade tip. For more information, contact Noah Myrent in EPRI’s Wind Generation Program.

Introducing the Hydropower Modernization Wiki - Co

This year, the Hydropower Generation Supplemental Program, SP212, launched the Hydropower Modernization Wiki. The centralized, searchable resource supports modernization planning with guidance on task prioritization, component condition assessments, and modernization options.

The Wiki synthesizes more than 2,000 pages from seven modernization guidance documents, making the information easier to use and update as procedures and technologies evolve. Available to SP212 funding organizations, the Wiki can serve as a framework and documentation resource for future modernization projects.https://hydrowiki.epri.com

For questions about this Wiki or the Hydropower Supplemental Program, contact Mark Christian.

Turning Solar Data into Actionable Insights: How Benchmarking Helps Improve Power Plant Performance

As solar generation continues to grow, owners and operators need better visibility into how their plants are performing and where energy losses occur.

To help answer those questions, EPRI's Solar Utilization Performance Reliability (SUPER) Benchmarking tool analyzes anonymized operational data from utility-scale solar plants to identify performance trends and quantify energy losses. The platform combines plant operating data, weather information, and performance analytics to help distinguish unavoidable losses from opportunities for improvement.

The results show that solar plant performance can vary significantly across the industry. In addition to benchmarking energy production, SUPER tracks the reliability of key components such as inverters, trackers, and transformers, helping owners improve operations, manage costs, and support long-term asset planning.

Along with EPRI's WinNER, LEAP, and BEST benchmarking tools, SUPER demonstrates how data-driven insights can help improve renewable energy performance, reduce costs, and support better investment decisions. SUPER has grown to more than 15 GW of benchmarked capacity in 2026 and is expected to reach 30 GW in 2027.

 First-of-a-Kind Advanced Manufacturing Hydropower Wicket Gate  

EPRI, Salt River Project, and Lincoln Electric Additive Solutions designed, manufactured, and installed a hydropower wicket gate using advanced manufacturing techniques groundbreaking project.

Hydropower operations increasingly face challenges sourcing large, customized replacement components such as wicket gates, runners, and housings. Aging infrastructure, shrinking supplier networks, and long lead times can make maintaining reliability difficult and costly. To address these challenges, the project team used wire arc directed energy deposition (DED) additive manufacturing to produce two wicket gates. Based on the manufacturing, inspection, and testing data obtained during this research project, SRP has installed one of the gates at an SRP hydropower facility, where its performance continues to be monitored under real-world conditions.

Convergent manufacture of a hydropower wicket gate by depositing an ER316LSi leaf onto a forged 316L stainless steel shaft. The images show the progressive wire-arc DED build, the completed near-net-shape gate, and a transverse section identifying the forged core, initial build-up, deposition-path transition, and final leaf build-up of the final machined gate.

The project demonstrated a pathway to procure, manufacture, and install a wicket gate in about six weeks, compared with more than a year for recent cast components. The first-of-a-kind demonstration shows how additive manufacturing could reduce lead times, strengthen supply chains, and provide new options for maintaining hydropower infrastructure.

A video detailing the manufacturing process and installation can be viewed here.

Building Laboratory Capabilities for Nonmetallic Materials

Polymers, composites, and other nonmetallic materials contribute to the reliability, affordability, and sustainability of existing and next-generation energy infrastructure. EPRI is expanding laboratory capabilities to test, characterize, and assess these materials across the energy sector.

New and existing EPRI laboratory equipment enabling polymer, composite, and nonmetallic materials testing.

For one such project, EPRI is currently seeking approximately six square feet of new or aged HDPE and LLDPE geomembrane materials used in CCP landfills, evaporation ponds, and other containment applications. Samples containing seams and materials removed from service with known exposure histories are especially valuable.

The samples will support laboratory capability development and future research on geomembrane longevity, building on recent EPRI work that demonstrated substantial remaining service life in an in-service evaporation pond liner (EPRI Report 3002027197).

For additional information or to provide samples, please contact Mitch Rencheck 

EPRI Launches Behavioral Deterrents Working Group for Wildlife Deterrent Technologies 

EPRI is launching the Behavioral Deterrents Working Group, a cross-program effort to synthesize lessons and advance wildlife deterrent technologies for energy utilities. Members, researchers, developers, and subject matter experts will examine approaches across aquatic, terrestrial, and aerial systems to identify transferable solutions and support informed decisions.

The group plans a series of webcasts and discussions with scientific experts on emerging technologies, research findings, implementation considerations, and field experience. The first webcast is scheduled for November 18, 2026, at 2 p.m. ET. For more information, contact Katie Surrey or Jon Black.

EPRI Announces Winners of the 2026 Cyber Quantum Challenge

EPRI launched the 2026 Cyber Quantum Challenge, inviting researchers, startups, utilities, academic teams, and industry practitioners to explore how quantum technologies could address cybersecurity challenges in the electric power sector.

The winners are Quantstellar Technologies, Immutaverse, and Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Ibrahim. Their proposals applied quantum technologies to cybersecurity needs, including protecting operational technology as the industry prepares for a post-quantum future.

The challenge drew proposals from the quantum, cybersecurity, and energy communities. Participants considered legacy systems, scalability, safety, and regulatory requirements. Each winner will receive $3,000 and recognition at Quantum World Congress 2026 in College Park, Maryland. EPRI plans to summarize the results and winning approaches in a white paper, and selected concepts may inform future implementation efforts.

Researcher Spotlight

Tatum Auvil is a Technical Leader for the Low-Carbon Resources Initiative (LCRI) and Emerging Fuels and Technologies program at EPRI. Her current research activities focus on the role of low-carbon energy carriers such as hydrogen and ammonia in decarbonization of applications across the transportation and industrial sectors. She co-leads the LCRI’s End Use Technical Subcommittee, Hydrogen-Fueled Mobility Program (P269), and Next-Generation Industrial Energy Systems Program (P268). 

Featured Research: An Introduction to Low-Carbon Fuels

Fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, synthetic hydrocarbon fuels, and biofuels can provide greenhouse gas emissions reduction solutions for difficult-to-decarbonize sectors when produced via low-carbon means—from clean electricity, renewable feedstocks, or fossil resources with carbon capture, utilization, and storage. This white paper provides an introduction to the production, transport, storage, and use of these low-carbon fuels.

 Co-Hosted Webinar on Scrubber and Wastewater Interactions  

EPRI recently hosted a webinar on interactions between flue gas desulfurization systems and wastewater systems, focusing largely on likely outcomes from efforts to reduce scrubber purge flow. This interrelationship is important for air quality compliance, operation of current flue gas desulfurization (FGD) wastewater (WW) treatment systems, and potentially for design and operation of zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems (EPA’s estimated O&M costs for ZLD in the 2024 Effluent Limitations Guidelines rule are based on “optimized flows,” which are based on cycling up chlorides to 80% of the scrubber metallurgy’s design maximum or 30,000 mg/L, whichever is less).

The webinar was hosted by EPRI’s programs on Water Quality and Effluent Guidelines (P240), Water Treatment Technologies (P238), Continuous Emissions Monitoring and Measurements (P233), and Integrated Combustion and Emissions Controls for Conventional Power Plants (P253) and brought together about 50 air quality control and wastewater SMEs from across the industry, with presentations from Duke, DTE, and Santee Cooper, as well as the EPRI team. We discussed operational impacts from concentrating scrubber liquor in order to reduce the scrubber purge flow, including scaling and reduced scrubber effectiveness at elevated chloride levels; elevated nitrate levels due to natural gas co-firing; and impacts to ZLD design from concentrated wastewater.

A white paper on the meeting content is currently under development.

 Generation Flexibility Conference  

The 9th Annual EPRI Hybrid Generation Flexibility Conference was held July 22-24, 2026. During three days of discussion, participants explored the challenges and opportunities of operating generating fleets in an increasingly dynamic energy landscape. The conference included:

• 30 technical presentations
• More than 1,000 slides of technical content
• 48 participating companies (global participation)
• Countless discussions, questions, insights, and lessons learned from utilities, suppliers, consultants, researchers, and industry experts.

One message emerged clearly: flexibility, reliability, efficiency, and emissions performance cannot be treated as separate objectives. Future operating strategies must consider all four. The conference has ended, but the work continues as the industry navigates energy transition, security, affordability, reliability, and operational excellence.

 EPRI CTI Cooling Tower Technology Conference  

The EPRI CTI Cooling Tower Technology Conference was held August 4-6, 2026, at EPRI's Charlotte office. EPRI researchers, utility professionals, cooling tower manufacturers, water technology experts, and Cooling Technology Institute representatives shared best practices, emerging technologies, maintenance strategies, and opportunities to improve cooling tower performance. For power generators, cooling towers are critical balance-of-plant systems that directly affect:

• Generation capacity and heat rate
• Reliability during peak summer conditions
• Water consumption and sustainability goals
• Asset life extension and maintenance costs
• Environmental compliance
• Fleet resilience in a changing operating environment

Utility, manufacturer, engineering, and EPRI experts shared practical lessons for improving cooling system performance while managing cost and operational risk.

Charlotte Ping Pong Tournament

(From Left to Right: Luke Hamilton 3^rd Place, Arshpal Gill 1^st Place, and Apurba Sakti 2^nd place.)

EPRI's annual ping pong tournament brings colleagues together for friendly competition and fast-paced rallies. This year, Arshpal Gill won the championship. For Gill, the appeal extends beyond winning. "I love that it combines fast-paced physical action with deep mental strategy," Gill said. "There's an incredible rush and excitement when you execute the perfect shot." Gill began playing during undergraduate studies in India after developing an interest in racquet sports through badminton. Ping pong became both a break from coursework and a lasting competitive pursuit.

Gill has developed skills through self-directed learning and consistent practice. The sport requires players to read spin, speed, and positioning quickly while coordinating precise movement. For beginners, Gill recommends learning forehand and backhand drives, chopping, slicing, and blocking before focusing on spin, repetition, and consistency. That dedication has led to three consecutive EPRI tournament championships.

UPCOMING EVENTS

EPRI to Host RSTCON 2026 in Charlotte

EPRI will host RSTCON 2026 at its Charlotte, North Carolina campus on October 23–25. The annual technical security and hacking conference brings together cybersecurity and industry professionals to share research, technical expertise, and real-world experience related to critical infrastructure.

RSTCON focuses on topics including cybersecurity research, exploitation, industrial control systems, critical infrastructure, and the sensors, systems, and architectures that support them. Attendees range from academic researchers and vulnerability researchers to hackers, ICS specialists, and industry practitioners.

The conference is designed to be highly technical and interactive, with opportunities for attendees to participate in demonstrations, challenges, hardware testing, and discussions with others working at the intersection of cybersecurity and critical infrastructure.

Join Industry Leaders at the EPRI Generation Australia Workshop 2026

Shaping the future of Generation in Australia. Photo above from the EPRI Generation Australia Workshop 2024.

Generation professionals from across the electricity sector are invited to attend the EPRI Generation Australia Workshop 2026, taking place November 3-5 in Hope Island, Queensland, Australia.

This in-person event will bring together utility leaders, researchers, equipment specialists, and industry experts to discuss EPRI research findings, emerging challenges, technology transfer opportunities, and research priorities shaping Australia's evolving power sector.

The workshop will feature a plenary session and focused technical tracks covering materials, generators, pressure parts, steam turbines, chemistry, nondestructive examination, process control and automation, bulk energy storage, and thermal fleet flexibility. Discussions will examine how power generators are adapting to changing operating requirements while maintaining reliability, affordability, and system resilience.

Attendees will also explore the evolving role of thermal generation during the energy transition, including flexible operations, asset management, retirement planning, and the continued importance of dispatchable generation during periods of low renewable output.

EPRI members and non-members are welcome to attend. Organizations interested in increasing their visibility with utility and industry decision-makers can also take advantage of exhibitor opportunities to showcase technologies, products, and services while engaging directly with technical experts and industry leaders.

 International Water & Environment Meeting Coming to Chatou, France  

Power plants worldwide face growing challenges related to water availability, cooling system performance, environmental compliance, and resilience. To help members respond, EPRI, EDF, and the Power Industry Cooling Water Specialists network will host the EPRI International Water & Environment Meeting in Chatou, France, November 4-6, 2026.

The peer-to-peer technical forum will address water quality, availability, treatment, and discharges; cooling water intake reliability; debris, fish, and jellyfish management; biofouling control; cooling system design and operation; environmental monitoring and forecasting; and changing regulatory and environmental conditions. Participants can exchange practical lessons and solutions that support plant performance, environmental stewardship, and resilience. The meeting also includes a tour of EDF's research facilities in Chatou.

11th International Conference on Advances in Materials, Manufacturing & Repair for Power Plants

Save the Date + Call for Papers

Innovation starts with shared knowledge. We're looking for the latest research, technologies, and real-world applications to help shape the technical program for 11th International Conference on Advances in Materials, Manufacturing & Repair for Power Plants.

Join industry leaders, researchers, and power generation professionals June 8–10, 2027, in Tucson, to explore the future of materials, manufacturing, and repair for power plants.

In addition to the conference, EPRI will host additional member workshops during the week iincluding the 5th EPRI Supply Chain Workshop for Structural Components in Advanced Energy Systems.

Whether you're advancing materials performance, manufacturing processes, or repair technologies, we invite you to submit your work and be part of the conversation.

Learn more about the event, make plans to join us, or submit your paper and help shape the future of the industry. The submission deadline is coming soon.

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