Program Overview

CampusEnergy2027 brings together the broad campus district energy community—including campus leaders, operators and engineers, along with business partners, policymakers and innovators from across North America and around the world—to share practical experience, exchange ideas, and explore the technologies and strategies shaping the future of district energy.

There’s a lot waiting for you in San Diego, including:

  • A two-day comprehensive technical program with up to six concurrent sessions featuring industry experts, real-world case studies and practical solutions you can bring back to your campus or organization. We're finalizing the educational program now and will announce it in the coming weeks.
  • Three full-day preconference workshops taking deeper dives into Thermal Distribution & Operations; District Energy, Data Centers & Heat Re-Use; and Geothermal.
  • The IDEA Exhibit Hall, bringing together more than 140 leading technology providers and service partners from across the district energy industry. If you're interested in exhibiting, reserve your spot now.
  • Technical tours of the Solar Turbines manufacturing plant and Cordia San Diego (please be advised that space is limited!)
  • Collegial networking events and countless opportunities to connect during sessions and after hours with engaged industry peers, many tackling the same challenges you are.
  • Access to session recordings and slide decks from most sessions in the IDEA Learning Center, available soon after the conference, so you can revisit the sessions you attended—and catch up on those you couldn’t.

Read on for details!

CampusEnergy2027 Main Conference Program

Wednesday, February 17-Thursday, February 18

With so many critical issues facing campus energy systems, we’ve continued to expand our educational offerings at CampusEnergy2027.

Attendees can choose from up to six concurrent sessions covering a wide variety of timely, high-impact topics—all led by industry experts ready to share practical experience, proven strategies, and forward-looking solutions.

With a program this comprehensive, you can't go to every session. That's why all registrants will have access to recordings of the sessions they missed so you can immerse yourself in a wealth of information. 

View Program

Preconference Workshops

This year, IDEA is expanding its preconference workshop offerings to three full-day, deep-dive sessions, each focused on a single topic. These workshops bring together experts from across the industry and provide ample opportunity for meaningful dialogue and discussion.

Thermal Distribution & Operations Workshop

Tuesday, February 16, 2027, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Take a deeper look at the operation and maintenance of steam, hot water, chilled water, and ambient loop networks serving campuses, communities, and cities. Through real-world case studies and discussion with experienced industry professionals, this workshop will explore the practices and innovations that improve system reliability, safety, and performance. Topics will include system modeling, emerging technologies, cost optimization, decarbonization, and workforce development. Attendees will leave with practical ideas for strengthening both existing systems and future operations.

District Energy, Data Centers & Heat Re-Use Workshop

Tuesday, February 16, 2027, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
 

As data center demand grows, so does the opportunity to put excess heat to work. This workshop will explore how campuses and data centers can work together to capture, move, and use recovered heat through district energy systems. Participants will examine the technical, economic, and partnership considerations that shape successful projects, from matching heat sources with campus needs to planning infrastructure and building a viable business case. Join campus leaders, data center operators, and industry experts for practical examples and a discussion of what it takes to turn heat recovery into a scalable energy solution.

 

Geothermal Workshop

Tuesday, February 16, 2027, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Explore how geothermal and geoexchange systems can help campuses meet heating and cooling needs while reducing emissions. This workshop will examine approaches to integrating geothermal with district energy, thermal energy storage, and campus microgrids, along with practical considerations such as site conditions, system design, financing, and phased implementation. Attendees will hear how campuses and communities are bringing these technologies together to build more flexible and resilient energy systems.