European Workshop Week 2026

The 10th EPRI European Workshop Week 2026 March 23-26 concluded in Prague after four days of high‑energy discussion among nearly 200 system operators, researchers, utilities, and industry experts. 

The event once again demonstrated the strength of EPRI’s collaborative model: bringing people together not only for technical sessions, but also for side meetings, peer exchanges, and informal conversations that often spark the most practical ideas.

This year’s program reflected the full breadth of Europe’s evolving power‑system needs, covering transmission operations, DER integration, renewables performance, modelling and model validation, AI, data centers, HVDC, emerging fuels, and long‑term planning. From the opening Technology Innovation and Modelling sessions, participants emphasized the importance of shared learning and co‑development as grids become more digital, distributed, and dynamic.

The Day 2 plenary reinforced this theme, with leaders from ČEZ, ČEPS, E.DSO, ETIP SNET, and EPRI Europe stressing that system reliability in the energy transition will depend on coordinated action across utilities, operators, and innovators. EPRI’s work, including DCFlex, RADAR, and FlexIt, was highlighted as an example of how collaborative research can deliver practical, scalable solutions.

Across the week, different sessions showcased deep technical exchange and allowed participants to explore emerging issues such as AI safety, predictive maintenance, cybersecurity, HVDC resilience, and pathways for renewable and low‑carbon fuels. These discussions provided space to compare operational experience, refine project ideas, and identify shared research needs. In addition, lobby‑based mini demos offered quick insights into ongoing EPRI projects.

Equally valuable were the informal networking moments: hallway conversations, working breakfasts, and evening meetups where operators compared challenges, researchers debated new approaches, and utilities connected around common priorities.

EPRI European Workshop Week 2026 demonstrated once again that EPRI’s convening power — and the willingness of the European community to openly exchange ideas — remains one of the sector’s greatest strengths.