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HYDROVISION International 2024 keynote provides industry insights and perspectives

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HYDROVISION International 2024 keynote provides industry insights and perspectives
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton speaks to attendees as part of the HYDROVISION International 2022 keynote (Source: Clarion Energy editors).

The opening keynote session of HYDROVISION International 2024 will feature insights and perspectives into the global hydropower industry from a variety of speakers.

This year, the keynote features an address from Corey Vezina, hydropower program manager in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office.

The mission of WPTO’s Hydropower Program is to conduct research, development, demonstration and commercial activities to advance transformative, cost-effective, reliable and environmentally sustainable hydropower and pumped storage technologies. The Hydropower Program seeks to better understand and capitalize on opportunities for these technologies in support of the rapidly evolving grid in the U.S., while also improving energy-water infrastructure and security.

During the keynote, Vezina will discuss trends in the U.S. hydropower and dams industry and feature work DOE is prioritizing to support the industry and help it grow.

In 2013, Vezina began his career with DOE supporting the State and Community Energy Programs Office in Washington, DC. In 2017, he moved to Golden, Colo., where he joined WPTO as a Technical Project Officer. Vezina holds a B.S. in natural resource management from the University of Maryland and an M.S. in energy policy and climate from Johns Hopkins University.

The keynote will also feature the unveiling of the 2024 inductees into the Hydro Hall of Fame. This established program recognizes facilities that have been operating for 100 years or more and have significant historical influence in their locations. This year, four plants will be inducted, and you have to be at the keynote to learn which ones they are.

Finally, at this year’s keynote, we will feature the Utility Executive Roundtable. Two executives from power-producing companies – one in the U.S. and one in Germany – will discuss the environment for hydropower globally. They will cover their unique challenges and opportunities, many of which overlap despite representing very different companies. The speakers are:

  • Tom Roode, chief of operations and maintenance with Denver Water, HYDROVISION International 2024 host utility, which owns seven small hydro facilities
  • Dr. Klaus Engels, director hydro Germany with Uniper Kraftwerke GmbH, which owns 3.6 GW of hydropower

The keynote session takes place the morning of Wednesday, July 17 and is open to all attendees.