Renewable Energy Business Leaders to Convene at European Future Energy Forum

The foremost renewable energy gathering in Europe has announced a star line up of experts to appear in London, Oct. 19/21, 2010. A world-class debate will take place for three days, with how to fund the future of energy as the leading issue.

The forum will kick-off on Tuesday 19 October with keynote presentations from international leaders from around the world including Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, CEO, Masdar, Christine Lins, Secretary-General, EREC (European Renewable Energy Council), Chris Huhne, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, UK, Lykke Friis, Minister for Climate and Energy, Denmark, Pedro Marin, Secretary of State for Energy, Spain, and Carlos Zorrinho, Vice Minister for Energy and Innovation, Portugal; before engaging in a debate including government ministers, industry leaders and key influencers such as Kumi Naidoo, Executive Director, Greenpeace International.

This fast-paced and exciting debate chaired by Steve Sedgwick, CNBC Anchor will ask ‘Where is the money coming from to fund the new energy revolution?’ What kind of regulatory environment is truly commercially relevant? How can government and industry work together to develop the low carbon energy supply we need? How do we identify sources for the new energy needs of the world’s fastest growing economies? What are the environmental and cost implications?’

A dedicated renewable and alternative energy conference stream will then run on both days 2 and 3 of the Forum to cover the specific challenges facing off-shore wind, nuclear, biomass, solar PV, Solar CSP, wave and tidal energy.

Twenty-nine industry experts from the international renewable industry community will present and discuss solutions and case studies, while other streams include infrastructure, finance, clean transport and green cities.

Confirmed speaker Jeremy Leggett, Chairman, Solarcentury says: “Energy-security drivers from renewables deployment are stronger than ever before in 2010: with peak oil looming according to the UK's Industry Taskforce on Peak Oil and Energy Security, and with the lights threatening to go out not far in the future according to the UK's gas and electricity regulator Ofgem, the UK is the perfect place to hold a global renewables conference. And with a new government in London promising to be the greenest ever, the time is right to dream big”

Wind energy looks to be hotly debated with industry heavy-weights showcasing the advancements that have been made both in the UK and across Europe. Plenary speaker, Matthew Chinn, Managing Director Energy Sector UK and Sector Lead NW Europe, Siemens says: “Wind power represents the greatest opportunity for the UK to meet its targets by 2020. We have already established ourselves as the UK’s largest provider of wind turbines and offshore grid connections with our technology generating more than 40% of the UK's wind energy, which amounts to over 2GW of electricity generation.”

Another highly anticipated plenary speaker, Thomas Dalsgaard, Vice President, DONG Energy, commented: “The UK is one of DONG Energy’s primary markets for offshore wind. We have invested £ 2.6 bn. in offshore wind projects, and with our 20 years’ experience in building offshore wind power we are helping shape Britain’s renewable energy future. One third of the 1GW generated off the coasts of the UK today have been deployed by DONG Energy, and our new offshore wind power projects at London Array, Walney and Lincs will lead to an expansion of more than 650 MW.”

As the last major meeting of ministers and business leaders before this years UN climate negotiations in Cancun, the forum presents the most current technological advances and the business climate that exists to achieve drastic emissions reductions.

According to Steve Sawyer, Secretary General, Global Wind Energy Council, who will be speaking about the challenges and opportunities session on Oct 20th: “As Europe considers moving towards a 30% emissions reduction target in the run-up to COP 16 in Cancun, this timely conference highlights the key role that offshore wind energy can and must play in order for Europe to meet its energy security, economic development and emission reduction objectives.”

Alongside the conference, EFEF 2010 will feature a prestigious exhibition that will accommodate thousands of visitors and offer up to 200 of the region’s leading renewable energy suppliers, space to demonstrate solutions and business opportunities for the environmental technology market.

The exhibition hall is also the meeting place for round table sessions, networking lunches, refreshment breaks and private business meetings. There are limited stands still available. See www.EuropeanFutureEnergyForum.com for further details and the full conference programme or contact the team on info@EuropeanFutureEnergyForum.com

The European Future Energy Forum is an initiative developed with Masdar (Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted, multi-billion dollar investment in the development and commercialisation of innovative technologies in renewable, alternative and sustainable energies) and part of the Future Energy Event series of events that includes the World Future Energy Summit held annually in Abu Dhabi.

The first European Future Energy Forum was launched with great success in 2009 in Bilbao, Spain and saw 3,638 attendees from 43 countries worldwide attend. The format of the event is based on creating a vibrant environment where high-level debate can take place on through a large conference platform, as well as knowledge exchanging workshops, small round table discussions and international networking and business meetings.

The content of EFEF2010 will cover:

  • European Policy

  • Investment and funding

  • Green buildings

  • Clean transport

  • Solar photovoltaic

  • Solar thermal

  • Wind

  • Biofuels

  • Ocean power

  • Geothermal

  • Waste to energy

  • Fuel cells

  • Carbon management

  • Environment strategy

  • Nuclear

  • Hydroelectric Power

This event brings together businesses and organisations that have solutions and opportunities for the global renewable energy and environmental technology market with large international investors and government decision makers. For further information see www.EuropeanFutureEnergyForum.com

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is the government organisation that helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy. We also help overseas companies bring their high quality investment to the UK’s economy – acknowledged as Europe’s best place from which to succeed in global business. UKTI offers expertise and contacts through its extensive network of specialists in the UK, and in British embassies and other diplomatic offices around the world. We provide companies with the tools they require to be competitive on the world stage.

For more information visit: www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk; www.youtube.com/UKTIWeb; http://blog.ukti.gov.uk; www.flickr.com/ukti; http://twitter.com/ukti

The Masdar Initiative is Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted, multi-billion dollar investment in the development and commercialisation of innovative technologies in renewable, alternative and sustainable energies as well as sustainable design.

Masdar is driven by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (ADFEC), a wholly owned company of the government of Abu Dhabi through the Mubadala Development Company. In January 2008, Abu Dhabi announced it will invest $15 billion in Masdar, the largest single government investment of its kind.

For more information about the Masdar Initiative, please visit www.masdaruae.com

The European Future Energy Forum is a joint venture between Turret Middle East and Bilbao Exhibition Centre. Turret Middle East a leading organiser of events and foundation partner of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, launched the World Future Energy Summit and series of events with Masdar in 2007, before selling a share of the portfolio to Reed Exhibitions. For more information see www.turretme.com

Bilbao Exhibition Centre was host to the first European Future Energy Forum and continues to be a major stakeholder in the organisation of the event. As well as being one of the most modern trade fair and congress venues in Europe, they also organise a number of leading events of international profile in various sectors. For more information see www.bec.eu

Source: European Future Energy Forum