Microgrid & Energy Storage Innovation Forum 2026 in Chicago

The Microgrid & Energy Storage Innovation Forum returns to Chicago for its 21st edition on December 1-2, 2026, bringing together utilities, energy providers, project developers, and technology innovators from across North America and beyond. This edition focuses on the structural shift rewriting the global energy landscape: microgrids and energy storage as the backbone of a more resilient and decentralized grid. Sessions cover hybrid energy systems at scale, long-duration storage technologies, AI-driven energy management, grid edge intelligence, and the policy and market design shaping investment. The forum is designed for those navigating real-world challenges around energy availability and reliability, grid resiliency, and rising costs. Attendees include microgrid project owners, energy managers at municipal and C&I organizations, power control and software vendors, battery suppliers, regulators, researchers, and financial professionals. With a mix of tech, policy, regulatory and market perspectives, the program is built for focused networking between decision makers, customers and technology thought leaders across the microgrid and energy storage sector.