Why Attend the 2025 Steam Turbine Users Group?
From casing cracks to L-0 erosion, D-11 valve rebuilds to titanium blade retrofits—Steam Turbine Users Group (STUG) sessions at the 2025 Power Users Combined Conference are designed to confront the real-world issues facing today’s steam turbine fleets. Whether you run a legacy baseload machine or support peaking assets in a combined cycle fleet, STUG delivers field-tested insights, RCA-backed repair strategies, and open discussion forums shaped by users—not OEMs.
Held August 25–28 in Washington, D.C., this year’s agenda is packed with detailed content and sharp vendor/user dialogue on asset life extension, outage planning, inspection techniques, parts sourcing, and modernization efforts.
Monday, August 25 – Damage Mechanisms, Alignment, and Blade Integrity
The conference kicks off strong with a three-part series from EPRI:
- Casing Cracking in CrMoV and 9Cr alloys
- Last Stage Blade (LSB) erosion, ECT detection, and trending
- Alignment shifts and what field data reveal about root causes
After lunch, Jake English (Duke Energy) welcomes the group, followed by a DHS sector update and GE Vernova’s take on “The 3rd Energy Bubble.”
Afternoon user-driven sessions:
- STUG Conference Overview from Chairman Brandon Stewart
- Outage debrief discussion (The Good, the Bad, the Ugly)
- D-11 control valve lessons (MD&A + Southern Company)
Evening: A very fun off-site event for Users, GE Vernova, and MD&A.
Tuesday, August 26 – Steam Path Efficiency and Practical Upgrades
The day begins with vendor-led technical insights:
- Packing ring and seal retrofits to boost turbine efficiency (STAR Turbine)
- Remaining life assessments, oil filtration, and HVTS™ cladding
- D-11 replacement strategies and steam path audits (MD&A)
- Audience Q&A on open ST issues
Afternoon focus:
- Electrical troubleshooting with Cutsforth
- Titanium-to-steel blade retrofits and steam path modernization (Siemens)
- BOP influences on ST behavior
- Brownfield synchronous condenser conversions (Siemens)
Evening wraps with Vendor Fair and enhanced networking opportunities.
Wednesday, August 27 – OEM Insights, Rotor Work, and Outage Scopes
GE Vernova anchors the morning:
- Top TILs and fleet issues (Matt Foreman)
- ST101: Major vs. minor outage planning (Paul Roche)
- Operability & optimization tips, bolting updates, and Alstom L-0/L-1 inspection guidance
Key user sessions:
- ST rotor crack repair case study (Dominion + Power Services Group)
- Diaphragm repair work (SRP + Sulzer)
- Outage lessons learned (Tampa Electric)
Thursday, August 28 – AI, ASP, and Future Planning
Thursday opens with a forward-looking session from EPRI on AI for steam turbines—covering diagnostics, ML, and control optimization.
Other highlights:
- Next-gen valves and ASP updates
- Front standard maintenance tips
- GE’s global parts & repair network overview
- Final Q&A and user-led roundtable on 2026 priorities
Why You Need to Be There
STUG has become the go-to forum for all steam turbine operators, rotating equipment specialists, and outage planners who want more than theoretical advice. You’ll hear directly from users who’ve tackled erosion, leaks, cracks, and outages under time pressure—with the scars and solutions to show for it. From OEM guidance to crowd-sourced fixes, STUG blends the technical depth you expect from Power Users with the candid exchange you can’t get from webinars or one-off calls.
Register now at www.powerusers.org. Download 2024 slides, review vendor offerings, and make plans to attend. The knowledge shared at STUG 2025 will save you time, money—and the next forced outage.
