Plug Power at UTC Telecom & Technology

The first week in May is UTC Telecom & Technology week, where utility telecommunications professionals gather to share best practices and learn about new technology impacting the industry.  Plug Power has been working with utilities since 2008, providing backup power to utility communication equipment in all four corners of the United States, most notably through our multi-year program with SouthernLINC.  We were excited to be able to spend time in Charlotte, NC talking with old and new friends about how Plug Power’s GenSure solution can cost-effectively make their networks more robust while also improving their sustainability.  This year, visitors were able to interact with us in three ways.

Plug Power booth

Booth 203 was where show floor visitors were able to talk with Plug Power representatives about turnkey solutions for their backup power needs.  We enjoyed talking with telecom professionals about our full GenSure fuel cell suite, GenFuel hydrogen solutions and GenCare services.  We highlighted the power and communications cabinet currently being used by SouthernLINC as a robust, cost-saving component to their new LTE network.

Showcase booth: Smart Systems for Smarter Communities – Utility Operations”

In an effort to highlight our continued interconnected society, UTC organizers placed booths in each corner of the show floor, focused on four themes:  1. Substation;  2.  Smart Home technologies; 3.  Utility Operations; 4.  Renewables Energy technologies.

The utility industry is tasked with providing power to millions of homes and businesses, providing the means for critical transactions every day. When power fails, processes literally stop. For that reason, Plug Power joined two other companies in the Utility Operations booth with a focus on current technology that can help businesses move into the future.  Plug Power’s GenSure fuel cells are currently working in utility sites to increase reliability and runtime for substation control (SCADA) and communications networks (utility telecom) – the keys to maintaining control of the electrical grid.

Plug Power presentation

Conference attendees were invited to attend our presentation in the “Emerging Technologies for the Future Utility” track where Sales Director, Darin Painter spoke on the topic, “5 Evolutions in Fuel cells for Utility Telecom that can Move Your Business into the Future.”

For more detail on this topic, read our October blog on the same subject.  Following presentations by Mr. Painter and the other presenter, the Q&A session was dominated by interest in fuel cells, with all questions going to Plug Power.

It was a good week in the home of NASCAR.  With a conference theme of “Racing to Utility Excellence,” we were not surprised that the people we interacted with had their minds and eyes focused on moving their utilities forward.  Like these professionals, this is something Plug Power does every day.  #InfiniteDrive