Activity Stations in the Innovation Power House (click to see details)
CLEAN CURRENTS 2026
Time: 10:45 AM - 12:30 PM
Day: 9/23/2026
Room Number: CC Central: Innovation Power House
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The Innovation Power House features five activity stations. Anytime from 10:45 a.m. to 12:30 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:
Particle Pursuit: The Carbon Capture Challenge
Expand Hydropower Workforce Awareness
Make the Modernization Call: Energy Modeling Showdown
Power Through Uncertainty: A Hydropower Licensing Risk Challenge
HydroForecast in Action: Navigate Real Hydropower Challenges with Machine-Learning Forecasts and a Real-Time Evaluation Framework
Particle Pursuit: The Carbon Capture Challenge
Advanced Technology Activity Station
Innovation Ambassadors: Jeremy Tredeau and Kevin Tieman, Mersen USA, and Daniel Hogue, Tri-Dam Project
Test your reflexes in this fast-paced "Hungry, Hungry Hippos"-style game where the balls represent carbon dust. Just like in real equipment, carbon collects quickly-and your job is to capture as much of it as you can before it causes trouble. While you're there, learn how outdated maintenance practices have quietly persisted for decades and why keeping carbon-brush, brush-gear, slip-ring, and commutator maintenance up-to-date is essential for preventing flashovers, minimizing damage from carbon dust, and avoiding costly, unscheduled outages.
Expand Hydropower Workforce Awareness
Enhanced Collaboration, Education, & Outreach Activity Station
Innovation Ambassadors: Ashley Brooks, Jenna Zabarah, and Emily Pineo, Hydropower Foundation, and Arielle Cardinal and Betsy Stratton, National Laboratory of the Rockies
Discover how the Hydropower Foundation and National Lab of the Rockies are engaging students in hydropower career pathways through competitions, campus clubs, social media storytelling, and industry-connected career expos. Explore online workforce resources with us, sign up for mentoring opportunities, or record a 30-second "day in the life" video that we'll amplify to inspire future hydropower professionals.
Make the Modernization Call: Energy Modeling Showdown
Improved Valuation Activity Station
Innovation Ambassadors: Cameron Isaman and Bret Hoffman, Kleinschmidt Associates
Compare hydropower modernization options using Kleinschmidt's Energy Modeling Analysis-an approach that evaluates generation potential and revenue impacts from upgrades like new runners, unit replacements, and minimum-flow additions. Play a quick, game-style activity to test upgrade scenarios and learn how the model has been used in the real world.
Power Through Uncertainty: A Hydropower Licensing Risk Challenge
Optimized Regulatory Processes Activity Station
Innovation Ambassadors: Indya Messier and Trevor Herritt, SWCA Environmental Consultants
Can you Power Through Uncertainty? In this custom tabletop game, you'll take the reins of a hydropower project and navigate environmental and regulatory challenges on your path to a FERC license order. Make smart risk mitigation decisions and avoid costly setbacks on your journey through licensing.
HydroForecast in Action: Navigate Real Hydropower Challenges with Machine-Learning Forecasts and a Real-Time Evaluation Framework
Sustainable Development & Operations Activity Station
Innovation Ambassadors: Hunter Johnson and Alex Truby, Upstream Tech, and Cameron Bracken and Vince Tidwell, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Step into the operator's seat and make real-time hydropower decisions under shifting inflows and competing constraints. Experience the real challenges of day-to-day operations and see how pairing forecasts with real-time evaluation adds value by reducing uncertainty when it matters most. Through an interactive game, you'll use HydroForecast-a machine-learning, probabilistic inflow model-alongside PNNL's forecast evaluation framework to turn critical information into operational clarity that supports generation, environmental compliance, and infrastructure safety across hydropower systems.
Innovation Power House Partners:
