This is my 10th year to attend Solar Power International, so forgive me while I wax nostalgic…
Remember when you could spend the first hour or two meandering the show floor, getting the lay of the land? When booths weren’t the size of football fields — and you could find a friend on the show floor by arranging to meet at the panther cages?
Well friends, SPI has finally grown up. It’s a sign of the times. The world is waking up to the possibilities of a total energy transformation. Are you ready? Email us to set up a time to talk marketing at the show.
Today’s SPI is actually four shows in one: Energy Storage International, Smart Energy Microgrid Marketplace, Hydrogen + Fuel Cells International and SPI, the solar show we all know and love.
It’s all under one big tent, branded North America Smart Energy Week (NASEW). Thankfully, they’re all in the same venue, whose name stands alone for convention center monikers: The Salt Palace…of Salt Lake City.
A bigger, more all inclusive show means more ways to network with fellow smart energy smarties. And of course, more happy hours!
It’s easy to get lost in the show haze, especially with so many subshows. So a word to the wise: Before you go, get a plan. Here are my highlights, organized in chronological order. Pro tip: Download the SPI app and get the whole schedule at your fingertips.
Show Highlights
Monday
3-4:30 pm First Timers Roadmap: Recommended even for 10 timers.
(Rm 250E)
5-6:30 Opening General Session: The Role of Clean Energy in An Integrated De-carbonization Strategy. There’s a lot going on in that sentence. We’re going to need to unpack it at the followup event…
6:30-8 Welcome Reception
Tuesday
6-8 am – Run with the Sun 5K: Exercise is tough to come by this week — best to get your run in early. Or join me for morning yoga! Tweet @NancyMEdwards for yoga recs in Salt Lake.
9 am – General Session: Innovation on the Regulatory Front. Bring your coffee!
10 am – Exhibit Hall Opens. Our advice: Walk the show first to get your bearings. Good opp for booth staff to warm up their pitches.
1-2 pm – The Cleanie Awards: A new one for me, but touted as the “only awards program focused exclusively on clean-tech.” Hmmm…
5-6 pm – Hydrogen Fuel Cell/EV Beers with Peers (Booth 7405)
7-10 pm – Ener-Chella Annual Block Party: Gallivan Center, downtown Salt Lake
Wednesday
8:30-10 – Networking Breakfast Roundtable. Have a power breakfast and a power conversation about technologies driving the energy transition. (Room 355; ticket required)
9-6 – Exhibit Hall Open.
12-1 – Help SEIA #DefendTheITC: Campaign Updates and Next Steps (Industry Trends Theater: Booth 7341)
12-1:30 – Women in Solar: Always a great event, but fills up fast! (Rm 355; ticket required)
1-1:30 – Storage Report: SEPA overview of energy storage trends ( Storage Central Theater: Booth 2901)
5-6 pm – Exhibit Hall Happy Hour: Free for all exhibit hall visitors
5-6 pm – TweetUp. Need we say more? (Vivint Booth L-106)
Evening Activity – Party Night. Get on the list! Or don’t. Good night to have dinner with a friend or go back to your hotel and watch some “Office” reruns!
Thursday
8-9 am – Sustainability at the Salt Palace: Walk the show with a different angle and see how convention centers like the Salt Palace are shaping up their sustainability efforts. (Solar Central)
9-2 – Exhibit hall open. Last chance for meetings. Show closes early today so make the most of it!
That’s a wrap! Reach out to schedule a meeting at the show to talk marketing!
For a fully updated schedule rundown, visit the SPI web site.
email: nancy@cleanpowermarketing.com
