Over 4, 000 visitors from around the world will gather in London this week for the biggest energy debate to take place in UK history. Thousands of industry professionals are expected to attend over three days of the European Future Energy Forum at London ExCel Convention Centre.
‘Where is the money coming from in Europe to pay for renewable energy’ will be the question posed to energy ministers, engineering giants and leading bankers of our time.
Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Chris Huhne said
“I welcome the leadership role the UAE has played in pulling together this event and look forward to future collaborations between both countries on realising a global low carbon economy.”
Going him in delivering Government keynotes will be Pedro Marin, Secretary of State for Energy, Spain, Carlos Zorrinho, Vice Minister for Energy and Innovation, Portugal, David Howell, Baron Howell of Guildford, Minister of State for Commonwealth Affairs, UK and Lykke Friis, Minister for Climate and Energy, Denmark.
“Today wind alone makes up 20 percent of the total amount of electricity generated in Denmark and we know we can go a lot higher after years of practicing” says Lykke Friis, Minister for Climate and Energy, Denmark.
The Forum will also host a panel debate, chaired by CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick, will be a fast-paced and exciting debate, looking at key regulatory areas and commercialising clean energy. Gilles Vermot-Desroches, Senior Vice President of Sustainable Development, Schneider Electric, Thomas Dalsgaard, Vice President, DONG Energy, Matthew Chinn, Managing Director Energy Sector, UK and North West Europe, Siemens are amongst those representing the highest level of European energy executives.
“The London Array will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm.” said Thomas Dalsgaard, Vice President, DONG Energy. “Once completed it will be London’s new green landmark and supply enough power for around 750,000 homes, or a quarter of all Greater London homes.”
Another panelist, Matthew Chinn, Managing Director, Siemens Energy UK and NW Europe, said: “The growth of Renewables, especially wind power, is critical to our success".
Rounding up Oct 19 will be a dedicated session on Technology, Research & Development: delivering a low carbon future, this session will focus on accelerating the development and deployment of low- carbon technologies and bridging the gap between laboratory proven technologies and full scale commercially tested systems.
A dedicated energy infrastructure conference stream on day 2 will look at smart grids, super grids and the challenges of integrating renewables in the grid. Exciting speakers who will be presenting showcases include Dr Chuang Zhang of The Crown Estate and Rachel Flether of OFGEM.
When asked about the smart grid, another high-anticipated speaker, Philippe Delorme, Strategy & Innovation Executive VP, Schneider Electric said "The deployment of the smart grid and intelligent electrical distribution network should be done quickly.”
Dedicated sessions will look at clean technologies on both Oct 20/21. Offshore wind, Biomass, Nuclear Power, CCS, Solar PV and CS will be explored by panel discussion discussing regulatory issues, financing and the future. Leading experts involved include Jose Luis Blanco, Offshore Director, Gamesa, Jules Kortenhorst, Chief Executive, European Climate Foundation and Lady Barbara Thomas Judge, Chairman Emeritus, UK Atomic Energy Authority.
The finance stream will look at core issues of investment into the sector, a critical issue in 2010 and beyond. A case study on London Array by Tushita Ranchan of Masdar will be followed by panel discussions on ‘The state of play in low carbon financing’, ‘EU policy, regulation and finance’ and ‘Assessing private institutional capital for low carbon investments’. Speakers include Gregory Barker, Minister of Energy, DECC, Nick Gardiner, Director Renewables, BNP Paribas Fortis and Alexander O’ Cinneide, Director Masdar Clean Tech Fund.
A special addition to this year’s programme is the transport stream which looks at sustainable fuels and facilitating the roll out of eMobility across Europe. Speakers include Angus Gillespie, VP CO2 Strategy, Shell and Steve Nichols, Jaguar-Land Rover.
Winding up Oct 21 and the 2nd European Future Energy Forum will be an exclusive, high-lever discussion on Green Cities. This year in London we will explore the role the strategic role of cities, how they are currently being transformed to meet the challenges of global climate change and how this will affect the way in which they are powered in the future. Sessions will include ‘The Strategic Role of Cities’, ‘Transforming our Cities’ and ‘Powering our Cities’.
A highly anticipated speaker in final session on powering our cities said:
‘We believe that decentralised energy – literally, “power from the people” – can deliver a vastly more efficient way of powering our cities, and make every home a part of the new Smart Grid’ commented Bob Flint, Commercial Director, Ceres Power.
Visitors can still register to attend when they arrive. See www.europeanfutureenergyforum.com for details.
Editor's Note: I had hoped to be able to attend this event but due to problems with the British transport system and some other issues this was not and is not to be, which is rather regrettable. The railways and TfL have let this writer down.
