We are pleased to announce that we have scheduled a webinar regarding “Securing Operational Visibility & Digital Twins in Existing Hydropower Facilities to Optimize Asset Management & Cyber Physical Security” on Tuesday, March 18th at 1pmET, presented by Christian Hager of Fend Tech. This webinar is part of our HOP-DS-IPS Cyber Security Workshop and will set the stage for our breakout groups discussions during the HOP Spring 2025 General Meeting & DS Spring 2025 General Meeting.About the Presentation:Of the 90,000+ of dams in the US, of which approximately 2,300 produce power, the average age is 60+ years.Reliance on hydropower & dams grows, however we are faced with a dam infrastructure that is rapidly aging. This calls for a modernization of Industrial Control Systems(ICS) that increasingly relies on remote connectivity to optimize operational visibility, efficiency, and reliability. Operators are turning to real-time digital twins/ historian solutions to utilize ICS data for predictive maintenance, advanced modeling, alert monitoring, etc. However, this modernization and digital convergence of the hydropower infrastructure can open up new threat vectors for cyberattacks and malware.Issues: In the face of such challenges, several traditional approaches will be discussed, but each has serious drawbacks: deploying and relying on porous, software-based defenses or intrusion-detection systems that only alert you AFTER the system has been breached.However, key operational mantras remain:Connect nothing directly to the internetSecure & harden the critical operational networkDo not trust a software-only solution or any files coming into the facilityUse secure side-channel communications instead of insecure two-way commsMaintain continuity of operationsSolutions: next-generation small-form factor data diodes, peripheral media kiosks, asset mapping and file scanning tools all offer a secure and lower cost-of-ownership alternative to technology currently in use by many hydroelectric and power operators.NREL’s Hydropower Cybersecurity Value-at-Risk Framework Feb 2023 assists with control identification and the CISA Dams Sector Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model v2 already calls out patching, upgrading, network segmentation, asset management and asset hardening as mitigation practices.Drawing from a recently conducted study by the presenter for the DOE’s EERE Water Power Technology Office (WPTO), attendees will learn from multiple case studies how power generation operations have increased real-time operational monitoring visibility and reduced cost-of-ownership without exposing the mission critical infrastructure to threat actors and internal vulnerabilities.The session will also impart the power of secure digital twins with real-time operational visibility from areas that were previously “air gapped” or too-remote-to-connect.Several case studies will highlight the ability of safely pulling operational data from secure facilities or networks with standard communication systems (e.g. with cellular or satellite/ Starlink networks).Presenter Contact Information:Christian Hager – chager@fend.tech

Join us on March 19, 2025, from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET for our Wind Working Group 2025 Virtual Kickoff Meeting. This session and working group will bring together utilities from the Asset Management in Generation (AMIG), Energy & Integration Strategy (E&IS), Hydro Operations & Planning (HOPIG) as well as the Power System Planning and Operations (PSPO) interest groups.Please register on this page – A calendar invite will automatically be sent to your inbox upon registration.Purpose of the DiscussionIn response to strong member interest and growing demand, we are excited to launch the CEATI Wind Working Group to provide a collaborative platform for utilities to address key challenges such as grid integration, operations & maintenance (O&M), end-of-life management, environmental and regulatory factors, PPAs vs. 3rd party developers, and data analytics. This session will help define the working group’s direction and initial project(s).Agenda Highlights:2024 Research Overview – Exploratory survey results and summary of discussionsPrioritizing Topics of Interest – Grid integration, O&M, end-of-life strategies, data analytics, PPAs, environmental and regulatory factors, etc.Wind Working Group 2025 Action Plan – Review outline and key themes.Discussion & Next Steps – Refining structure, potential research projects, and initiatives.The working group aims to organize quarterly discussions, collaborative research, and knowledge-sharing initiatives based on member priorities. We encourage your participation and invite you to share this opportunity with colleagues who may be interested.

Registration for our Hydropower Operations & Planning March 2025 In-Person General Meeting and the Annual Hydropower Conference is now open!The deadline to register for both the upcoming Hydropower Operations & Planning March 2025 In-Person General Meeting & the Annual Hydropower Conference is February 14th, 2025.Please note that you only need to register if you are planning to attend in-person. The virtual dial-in link will be provided closer to the date.Please note that there is no limit as to how many members from a utility can attend the working groups & general meetings.

We are pleased to announce that the Young Professionals Group will be hosting a 2025 Spring Networking Breakfast on Tuesday, March 25th from 7:00 - 8:30 AM, in conjunction with the Hydropower Conference in Palm Springs, CA.Join us for breakfast, networking and icebreaker activities, an NREL presentation on Workforce Development Efforts in Hydropower and a young professionals panel discussion on Career Achievements of Emerging Professionals in the Hydropower Industry, including topics like career beginnings, challenges and growth, work-life balance, and future aspirations.We look forward to your participation!