2026 Workshop

About the Workshop

The 3^rd Annual International Net-Zero Workshop on Energy & Carbon Nexus (INZW26) will be held August 31 – September 1, 2026, at the I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center in Champaign, Illinois, USA. This invitation-only forum brings together researchers, industry leaders, project developers, and policymakers to examine emerging technologies and strategies shaping the future of energy systems and carbon management. The program will highlight advances in coal and thermal energy systems, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), industrial innovation, waste-to-fuel technologies, and the growing impact of AI-driven energy demand. Discussions will also address carbon market evolution and capital structuring strategies required to advance complex energy–carbon projects toward bankability and Final Investment Decision. Through technical presentations, panel discussions, and strategic dialogue, participants will share research findings, technology developments, and project perspectives that support reliable energy production while advancing practical approaches to managing carbon across the energy and industrial sectors.

Tentative Agenda

The INZW26 agenda is subject to change up until the day of the conference. All times are USA central time.

Day 1 | August 31, 2026 | I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center

Time	Activity
7:30 am	Networking Breakfast & Check-in
8:30 am	Welcome
9:00 am	Keynote presentation
10:00 am	Break
10:30 am	Session 1
12:00 pm	Lunch
1:00 pm	Session 2
2:30 pm	Break
3:00 pm	Session 3
4:30 pm	Poster Session

Day 2 | September 1, 2026 | I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center

Time	Activity
7:30 am	Networking Breakfast & Check-in
8:30 am	Session 4
10:00 am	Break
10:30 am	Session 5
12:00 pm	Lunch
1:00 pm	Session 6
2:30 pm	Break
3:00 pm	Session 7
4:30 pm	Logistics for dinner
4:45 pm	Keynote Dinner Shuttle busses will run between the I Hotel and the keynote dinner location. Networking and cash bar available from 5-9 pm. The keynote presentation will start at 6 pm and dinner will start at 7 pm.

Day 3 | September 2, 2026 | Illinois Sustainable Technology Center

Time	Activity
7:30 am	Breakfast and Check-in
8:30 am	Field, Lab, and Technology Tours
12:00 pm	Lunch
1:00 pm	Field, Lab, and Technology Tours
4:00 pm	Conference concludes

Registration

Registration will open in mid-June and will close August 12, 2026. Registration price is subject to change until registration opens. Full in-person conference registration includes all access to all oral presentations on days 1 and 2, keynote dinner on day 1, poster session on day 2, and field trips on day 3. Virtual conference registration includes webinar access to the oral presentations on day 1 and 2.

Registration type	Price
Full in-person conference registration	$600
Student full in-person conference registration	$450
Virtual conference registration	$150

Logistics

The conference will take place in the Illinois Ballroom at the Illinois Conference Center. There is free parking at the I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center. There is a block of rooms reserved at the I Hotel for a rate of $149 plus tax for the nights of August 30 to September 2 and a rate of $199 plus tax for the night of September 3. Book online using the conference code Group/Block Code: 2026INZC and Guest Password: ZQ3%h or call 217-819-5620 and give the group/block code by July 29, 2026.

Alternative Hotels Nearby

Other hotels within walking distance to the conference include:

• Hilton Garden Inn
• Homewood Suites by Hilton Champaign-Urbana
• Holiday Inn Champaign

About the cover photo

The conference’s cover picture was created to inspire us to strive towards a net-zero future. The net-zero city of the future has more green space, locally grown food, walkable neighborhoods, reliable mass transit, and sustainable energy production (including thermal/nuclear generation and carbon capture). The image was created by Elizabeth Meschewski using Gemini’s Nano Banana 2 with creative input by Hafiz Salih and Ben Leitschuh.