Panel Discussion
Sima Tawakoli, Renee Borg, and Todd Judd, sixteen5hundred
Wednesday
April 15, 2026
9:30 am - 11:00 am ET
April 15, 2026
9:30 am - 11:00 am ET
Credits LU | HSW TBD
Intermediate
This presentation explores the critical role of advanced battery technologies in addressing energy needs for remote, off-grid, and extreme environments. It highlights California’s leadership in clean energy and its goal of 100% clean electricity by 2045.
Key focus areas include:
- Limitations of traditional energy systems in remote applications.
- Innovations in battery design, including geothermal-cooled and rugged, safe systems.
- Real-world use cases: military bases, disaster relief, remote communities, and off-grid industry.
- California’s rapid battery storage expansion and supportive policy landscape.
- Broader implications for global energy resilience and decarbonization, with a look at emerging technologies like solid-state batteries.
This session invites discussion on cross-sector collaboration and scalable innovation in energy storage. No prior technical knowledge is required. This session is suitable for professionals and enthusiasts interested in energy storage, battery innovations, and clean energy applications in remote environments.
Learning Objectives
- Identify the limitations of traditional energy systems in remote, off-grid, and extreme environments
- Explain innovations in battery design, including geothermal-cooled, rugged, and safe systems
- Analyze real-world applications of advanced battery technologies in military, disaster relief, and off-grid settings
- Evaluate California’s battery storage expansion and policy landscape, and its implications for global energy resilience and decarbonization
Speakers
Sima Tawakoli
Application Engineer and Educator
sixteen5hundred
Sima Tawakoli, architect, Application Engineer, designer, and educator, and a former President of the Illuminating Engineering Society San Francisco. Her work focuses on integration of technology and aesthetics, and lighting retrofits for variety of applications. She has taught across multiple design disciplines and has chaired the jury for the SF-LUX Award since 2018. Sima holds master’s degrees in Architecture and Urbanism and in Design and Industry. A consultant on international architectural and urban projects, her research and designs have been published in IASTE 2024 and 2025, LightFair New York 2023, Lightshow 2018, and LD+A 2017.
Renee Borg
Principal
sixteen5hundred
Renee Borg is Principal at sixteen5hundred, where she leads innovative projects in sustainable energy, microgrids, and advanced electrical systems. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, she brings expertise in integrating cutting-edge technologies with practical design solutions. Renee earned her degree from the University of Colorado Boulder and has built a reputation for guiding complex projects from concept through implementation while fostering collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.
Todd Judd
Renewable Energy Specialist
sixteen5hundred
Todd Judd combines hands-on expertise in construction and electrical contracting with a passion for innovation and lifelong learning. After earning his degree from UC Santa Cruz, he founded Green Lantern Electric LLC, specializing in residential and small-scale projects. During the pandemic, he pivoted to teaching pickleball before returning to the energy field. Today, as part of sixteen5hundred, Todd focuses on renewable energy and microgrid solutions, bringing together his entrepreneurial experience and technical knowledge to advance sustainable energy practices.