Microgrid & Energy Storage Innovation Forum

The 21st edition of the Microgrid & Energy Storage Innovation Forum, taking place December 1-2, 2026, in Chicago, will bring together technology innovators, project developers, utilities, energy providers, and policymakers for focused networking and in-depth knowledge exchange at the forefront of energy storage and microgrid development in North America. The program will emphasize how key enabling technologies, innovative applications, and evolving business models can address the rapidly growing demand driven by data centers, transportation electrification, and other high-growth sectors. The forum focuses on powering the next era of distributed energy and addressing challenges posed by energy availability and reliability, grid resiliency, and rising costs. Key themes include unlocking new revenue and business models, delivering resilience and decarbonization, integrating next-gen technologies, scaling faster and smarter, and networking with key executives. Topics covered include distributed energy systems and grid-edge innovation, advanced energy storage technologies, co-location strategies, powering data centers and high-density digital infrastructure, electrification of transport and EV charging, AI-driven energy management and grid optimization, grid resilience, interconnection challenges, hybrid energy systems, hydrogen and alternative energy carriers, behind-the-meter solutions and energy-as-a-service models, market design, revenue stacking, new business models, policy, regulation, permitting reform, cybersecurity for distributed and digitalized energy systems, digitalization (IoT, advanced analytics, digital twins), sustainability, lifecycle impacts, battery recycling, supply chains, critical minerals, manufacturing scale-up, and future grid architectures.