The Premier Solar and Energy Storage Event for the Region
IESNA Midwest is the definitive regional conference and tradeshow for solar, energy storage, and clean energy professionals operating in the central United States, particularly within the MISO and PJM grid territories. Organized as part of the Intersolar & Energy Storage North America (IESNA) series, the event offers a targeted program of market intelligence, networking, and hands-on training.
Key 2027 Event Details
The 2027 edition of IESNA Midwest is scheduled to take place from June 14–16, 2027, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. This follows the successful 2026 event, which took place June 15-17 at the same venue and brought together over 700 developers, EPCs, installers, distributors, utilities, and investors.
Registration for the event offers various pass options, including a Full Conference Pass for access to keynotes, sessions, and workshops, and an Exhibit Hall Only Pass for accessing the show floor. Special rates are available for groups of five or more, government and nonprofit employees, students, and working media professionals.
Who Should Attend
IESNA Midwest is designed for professionals across the entire solar and storage ecosystem. Key attendees include:
- Project developers and EPCs (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction firms)
- Installers and asset owners
- Clean energy investors and financiers
- Distributors and manufacturers
- Utility executives and regulators
- Clean energy executives focused on workforce strategy
Conference Program and Key Themes
The conference program is designed to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities in the Midwest market. The 2026 program, which serves as a strong indicator for future events, featured a conference program with 13 sessions and six workshops. Major focus areas included:
- Grid Transformation and Utility Adaptation: Sessions addressed how utilities are navigating unprecedented levels of solar and storage integration, maintaining reliability, and managing interconnection at scale across MISO.
- Policy and Finance: The program tackled shifting federal policies, the impact of tariffs, state-level initiatives, and strategies for closing deals in a changing financial landscape, including sessions on structuring viable projects after the ITC phase-down.
- AI-Driven Demand: A key theme was the impact of growing data center demand on Midwest grid planning and renewable procurement, exploring flexible load strategies and innovative interconnection approaches.
- Supply Chain and Workforce: Sessions addressed the realities of onshoring, component bottlenecks, cost pressures, and strategies for workforce recruitment and retention amid a volatile market.
2026 Keynote Highlights
The 2026 keynote lineup featured senior voices from major utilities and leading developers, which is expected to be a hallmark of future events:
- “Rewiring the Midwest”: A session with utility executives from ComEd, Xcel Energy, and Ameren Illinois discussing grid modernization.
- “From Backlog to Energization”: A panel with top developers like SOLV Energy and Arevon on execution strategies for utility-scale projects.
- “Risk, Return, and the Road Ahead”: A finance-focused conversation with leaders from HASI and Madison Energy Infrastructure.
Exhibition and Networking
Beyond the conference, the tradeshow floor serves as a marketplace for the latest technologies and solutions in solar, storage, and EV infrastructure. IESNA Midwest also provides numerous networking opportunities, including:
- An Opening Reception on the first evening of the event.
- Daily Happy Hours in the exhibit hall.
- An off-site networking event, Renewables UnWind Chicago.
- Solar Drinks on the Roof, hosted with the Illinois Solar Education Association.
- A Networking Lounge for scheduled meetings with new contacts.