Renewable energy is an important tool for meeting corporate sustainability goals, but the market is constantly changing — and that can present a major challenge when it comes to understanding what’s best for your company.

This tutorial is an introduction for corporate sustainability teams, procurement specialists and non-utility energy buyers that are engaged — or want to become engaged — in sourcing large-scale solar, wind and other clean power resources for their companies or organizations. The session will cover emerging trends in off-site corporate procurement of renewable energy (the why); the fundamentals of energy markets, what's required to execute transactions and the process most buyers take (the how); and a high-level overview of risks present in offsite transactions (the what). These issues will be explored and discussed from the buyers’ point of view.

GreenBiz 18 In-Depth Tutorials are intensive half-day sessions held prior to the start of the conference. These are designed to offer participants an opportunity to dive deeper into a topic of interest and develop tangible knowledge and skills. In addition, attendees will have a greater opportunity to network with their peers in these interactive sessions. Concurrent tutorials will be held the morning of Tuesday, February 6, and are available only to those who purchase an All Access Pass.

Even at cash rich companies, the fight for internal capital can leave compelling energy projects unfunded. Join this workshop to learn how companies are overcoming this challenge through innovative financing mechanisms including green bonds, internal venture capital funds, carbon pricing, and more. 

To see slides from this tutorial, click here.

Is your organization getting the most it can out of the energy it invests in? As companies around the world plan for a decarbonized future, the importance of pairing a renewable energy purchasing strategy with a strong energy productivity target cannot be overstated. Join the Alliance to Save Energy and The Climate Group for a discussion of the tips, tricks and strategies that help companies commit to doubling their energy productivity through the EP100 program while simultaneously going 100 percent renewable through an RE100 commitment.

Join like-minded attendees for interactive moderated lunch discussions around a particular topic. Each table discussion will be led by an expert or thought leader, held at roundtables of up to 10 participants. These are freeform discussions, so bring your own challenges, questions, and ideas to talk through and get to know your fellow conference participants.

Renewable natural gas (RNG) can be an important alternative to diesel and gasoline for companies looking to lower their carbon footprint and contribute to a healthier environment. However, there are a number of myths and mistaken assumptions about RNG that may be holding back greater adoption. This workshop will help clear the air as representatives from UPS, Clean Energy, and the RNG Coalition help attendees understand the difference between fossil extracted versus renewable natural gas and why industry leaders in the transportation industry are choosing to make the switch from fossil fuels to RNG.

Arizona State University workforce development programs for solar PV and microgrid technicians will highlight the Mobile Microgrid Training Platform for hands-on training in deployment, component integration, system operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance. Detailed lesson plans and activities allow participants to work directly with solar PV, lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries, a backup diesel generator, an inverter and controller, various loads, and advanced data logging/monitoring devices. The lessons prepare participants for real-world problem solving through various on-grid and off-grid microgrid use cases and sizing activities, as well as control strategies to optimize system runtime. The unique, hands-on approach to training improves knowledge retention and instills confidence and understanding in participants.