Energy Leaders Gather for Conference in Texas
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – Energy leaders and researchers from around the world convened in College Station this week for the 10th Annual Texas A&M Conference on Energy. The focus of the conference is transforming laboratory breakthroughs into real-world industrial applications.
Organized by the Texas A&M Energy Research Society, the multi-day event emphasizes scaling emerging technologies. A key highlight was the keynote address from Elbert van der Bijl of Yokogawa Electric Corporation, who discussed the increasing role of artificial intelligence in managing large-scale industrial operations.
Van der Bijl’s presentation revolved around autonomous process control, particularly the implementation of “Explainable AI” in facilities like power plants and refineries. This approach aims to automate operations safely while maintaining essential human oversight, thereby ensuring transparency and building trust in AI-generated decisions.
Hosting the conference not only enhances Texas A&M’s academic standing but also provides significant economic benefits to the Brazos Valley. Direct interactions between corporate executives and engineering students offer valuable networking opportunities and potential job prospects, along with increased research funding.
The event includes ongoing discussions, technical panels, and poster sessions covering critical issues such as grid reliability, renewable energy, and carbon management. The conference will run until September 24th, and further details on sessions and speakers can be found on the event’s official program page.
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