Activity Stations in the Innovation Power House (click to see details)

The Innovation Power House features five activity stations. Anytime from 2:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., stop by to visit one or more of the activity stations - spend five minutes or the full time interacting with the Innovation Ambassadors.

Click an activity below to jump to its details:
Friction Fighters: Self-Lubricating Wicket Gate Bushings
Clean Energy Challenge: Build the Future Grid
Hydro‑Enhanced Grid Stability: An Interactive Exploration
Power the Standard: Shape the Future of Low‑Impact PSH
Can You Trust the Forecast? A Hydropower Decision Challenge

Friction Fighters: Self-Lubricating Wicket Gate Bushings

Advanced Technology Activity Station
Innovation Ambassadors: Dan Patla and Matthew Lloyd, USACE - Hydroelectric Design Center, and Kyle DeSomber, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Step into the front line of hydropower innovation as USACE, PNNL, Reclamation, and TVA team up to build the industry's next‑generation test plan for independent self‑lubricating bushing evaluation. Explore real samples, interact with the developing test methodology, and influence a research effort that will impact every owner and operator.

Clean Energy Challenge: Build the Future Grid

Enhanced Collaboration, Education, & Outreach Activity Station
Innovation Ambassadors: Kristin Lodge, James Webber, and Alan Eastridge, Chelan Public Utility District

Jump into an immersive, fast‑paced version of Chelan County PUD's Clean Energy Challenge, where you'll assemble your own clean energy portfolio while balancing budgets, permitting, environmental impacts, and community priorities. Along the way, you'll discover how hands‑on STEM learning and industry partnerships are inspiring tomorrow's clean energy workforce

Hydro‑Enhanced Grid Stability: An Interactive Exploration

Improved Valuation Activity Station
Innovation Ambassadors: Thomas Oeyvang and Sambeet Mishra, Universitet I Sorost Norge /// University of South-eastern Norway

Explore an interactive virtual-reality experience that reveals how coordinated hydropower and reactive power control can strengthen voltage stability and grid security in renewable heavy power systems. Engage with dynamic simulations, before and after grid scenarios, and visualizations inspired by real world insights from Norway’s SysOpt and CoordQ initiatives.

Power the Standard: Shape the Future of Low‑Impact PSH

Optimized Regulatory Processes Activity Station
Innovation Ambassadors: Surabhi Karambelkar and Shannon Ames, Low Impact Hydropower Institute

Weigh in on real‑world strategies for bringing the Low Impact Pumped Storage Hydropower Standard to life! Through rapid‑feedback activities, tactile boards, and dynamic visuals, you'll play a direct role in shaping how to achieve responsible, low‑impact PSH development looks like-and why it matters for developers, communities, ecosystems, and the clean‑energy grid.

Can You Trust the Forecast? A Hydropower Decision Challenge

Sustainable Development & Operations Activity Station
Innovation Ambassadors: Shaun Carney and Amy Volkens, RTI International

Would you act on this forecast? Take on the role of a reservoir operator and make release decisions before knowing how trustworthy the forecast is. Then explore interactive forecast evaluation dashboards from RTI to see how information about forecast skill, uncertainty, and past performance might change your decision.

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