The 2025 7F Users Group Annual Conference brings together the largest gathering of 7F gas turbine owner/operators in the world. This year’s event promises a comprehensive and collaborative forum focused on technical knowledge-sharing, hands-on solutions, and the evolving role of the 7F fleet in the energy landscape. Access the latest official conference details at the Power Users website.
2025 Steering Committee
Chair: Clinton Lafferty, TVA
Vice-chair: Brian Richardson, FPL
Luis Barrera, Calpine
Alex Fortman PE, Xcel Energy
Sam Graham, Tenaska
Carroll Gunter, ExxonMobil
Dennis Long, Duke Energy
Justin McDonald, Southern Company
Dan McQuade, Vistra Corp
Edwin Rivera, Dominion Energy
John Rogers, SRP
Here’s a look at what attendees can expect throughout the week:
Monday – Technical kickoff and vendor networking
The conference opens with a strong user-focused agenda. The day kicks off with a general session featuring welcome remarks from the 2025 Steering Committee Chair, followed by a powerful user presentation recounting a remarkable generator fan blade liberation and outage execution over the Christmas break. A “Generator 101” overview from TECO Energy rounds out the morning.
A series of Vendor Solution Sessions follow, with industry experts discussing key topics like compressor vane looseness, HGP repair developments, varnish contamination, instrument calibration, flange leak detection, and more. These sessions provide a deep dive into evolving technologies and practical improvements. The day concludes with the first of two lively Vendor Fairs, offering users a chance to connect one-on-one with solution providers.
Tuesday – Upgrades, extensions, and user insights
Tuesday begins with remarks from the steering committee followed by a dedicated session from PSM, which will feature special sessions on rotor life extension and the company’s growing experience with their suite of gas turbine upgrades F-class users: GTOP™, FlameSheet™, and FlameTop™. The afternoon centers on upgrades and life extensions, including presentations from KOSPO, FPL, and Southern Co. These sessions explore unit lifetime extension strategies, user experiences with the 7FA.04-200 upgrade, and real-world rotor findings.
Later, the Turbine Session takes center stage, featuring a technical discussion focused on component durability and field solutions. The day again wraps with a Vendor Fair, continuing opportunities for peer and partner engagement.
Wednesday – Deep dives into systems and root cause analysis
A jam-packed Wednesday opens with sessions on auxiliaries and controls, including a case study on a lube-oil loss event during start-up. Generator-related discussions follow, with insights into H2 vent line relocation and the retrofit of tilting-pad bearings.
The afternoon shifts into detailed Compressor and Combustion sessions. Users explore findings from major inspections, compressor retention key improvements, and recent combustion incidents—including a burn-through event tied to TIL 2552 and challenges surrounding black smoke emissions during liquid-fuel operation. A special evening outing at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, hosted by MD&A, adds a social break after an intensive technical day.
Thursday – GE Vernova takes the stage
Thursday is entirely dedicated to collaboration with GE Vernova, beginning with the 2025 keynote address, “Our Time Has Arrived.” GE leaders will share market outlooks, operational shifts, and strategies for reliability, revenue, and risk management. Key sessions include a 2024 recap and updates from Commercial Operations, Quality, Parts Fulfillment, and Repairs, followed by a forward-looking presentation on 2025 supply chain strategies and field services.
The afternoon features three rounds of simultaneous breakout sessions with targeted technical content. Topics range from combustion fundamentals and compressor/turbine performance to emerging AI/ML solutions, auxiliary system reliability, and root cause analysis strategies. The day ends with closing comments, a user feedback session, and a GE-hosted social event at Dread River Distilling Co.
Friday – Masterclasses and closing reflections
The final day begins with a synchronous condenser breakout, offering two sessions exploring conventional and clutchless approaches, featuring use cases from Dominion and FPL. The Combustion Turbine 401 masterclass follows—designed for seasoned professionals seeking advanced strategies and deep technical insights.
To close the week, the CT Outage Windows panel shares lessons learned from recent outage cycles and offers expert strategies for planning and executing work in volatile environments. The event concludes with final thoughts and the highly anticipated grand prize drawing.
The 2025 7F Users Group Conference offers unmatched access to practical knowledge, fleet data, vendor innovations, and peer collaboration—all in service of keeping the 7F fleet at the forefront of reliable and flexible energy generation.
