Energy in Ireland is at a crossroads in 2015, with the choices that are made now impacting on the industry – and indeed the country – for decades to come. We look forward to the new Energy White Paper to be published later in the year, which will firmly set out the policy direction for the future centred on the transformation to a more indigenous low-carbon economy achieved through energy efficiency, renewable energy and smart networks.
With the EU looking towards 2030, and indeed 2050, it is vital that the decisions being taken at this pivotal moment by Ireland’s energy policy-makers and industry players are similarly long-sighted.
A key factor in all this will be ensuring the needs of Ireland’s citizens are at the centre of Ireland’s energy transformation. Communities need to be able to realise the benefits from investments in energy infrastructure and consumers in their homes should be given more control over their own energy choices.
Major energy conference
All these developments will be examined at this year’s Energy Ireland conference, which takes place in Croke Park, Dublin on 17 and 18 June. Energy Ireland, now in its 19th year, is Ireland’s largest and most long-established energy conference, attended every year by all the key players in the Irish energy sector, as well as many from further afield who maintain an interest in how the energy sector in Ireland is developing.
This year’s conference will examine important themes including investment in infrastructure, energy market reform, developing renewables, oil and gas exploration and production and smart grids by way of an expert panel of speakers, including local industry leaders, policy-makers and regulators.
In addition, the conference regularly attracts high-level international speakers who look at major energy issues in the wider European or global context. It’s a one-stop shop for information gathering, networking and business development.
Day 1 of the conference will include an opening address from Energy Minister Alex White. With the publication of the new Energy White Paper imminent, there will be much interest in what the Minister has to say in terms of outlining future energy policy. This opening address will be supported by a session detailing the strategic outlook for Irish energy.
Delegates will hear from the key players in the sector, including ESB, Bord Gáis Energy and Ervia. The European Commission will provide a summary of its priorities looking ahead to 2030.
Other sessions in Day 1 will look to address the energy infrastructure challenge, whilst a parallel session will discuss the future of energy storage. The day will conclude with a timely political panel discussion, which is an opportunity to hear directly from the leading political parties on their key energy priorities.
Day 2 will split into two main sessions – one session will be dedicated to oil and gas and will hear presentations from leading E&P companies, whilst the other session will explore the future of renewable energy beyond 2020. It will also look at Ireland’s changing electricity market and the challenges that lie ahead. The conference will close with a number of technology foresight workshops, which will look to examine offshore wind, energy research and innovation and smart grids.
Speakers at the event
This year’s conference will have a panel of visiting international experts including:
- Energy and climate in the lead up to COP21
Dr Fatih Birol, chief economist & director of global energy economics, International Energy Agency
Kilian Gross, acting head of unit, Energy Policy, European Commission
Howard V Rogers, director – natural gas research programme, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies
Pierre Bernard, chief executive, Friends of the Supergrid
Peter Jørgensen, vice president, energinet.dk
Paul Ekins, professor of energy & environment policy, University College London
Local energy sector leaders addressing the conference include:
- Energy Minister Alex White, TD
- Pat O’Doherty, chief executive, ESB
- Aoife MacEvilly, commissioner, Commission for Energy Regulation
- Brian Motherway, chief executive, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
- Michael McNicholas, chief executive officer, Ervia
- Dave Kirwan, chief operating officer, Bord Gáis Energy
- Ronan Deasy, managing director, Shell E&P Ireland
- Jenny Pyper, chief executive, Utility Regulator Northern Ireland
A breakfast session at the conference will focus on issues around planning and stakeholder engagement for energy infrastructure projects, something that has been attracting a lot of attention in recent months.
Societal acceptance is now a major issue for those developing energy infrastructure assets and the conference will bring together leading thinkers in the area of stakeholder engagement around energy issues to discuss the best approach to tackling this issue.
Exhibition and networking opportunities
While there will be much knowledge disseminated in the formal conference sessions, Energy Ireland is about more than just policy discussion. The conference brings together the key movers and shakers in Irish energy affording them the opportunity to network and socialise as well as engage in the informal discussions that can ultimately lead to real business development.
As a two day, multi-stream conference, Energy Ireland is an excellent platform for companies wishing to profile their goods and services to a key audience of energy sector decision-makers. A physical presence by way of exhibition at the conference provides a valuable opportunity for making contacts, networking and lobbying. There are a limited number of high-quality exhibition spaces still available at this year’s conference.
If you only attend one energy conference this year, make sure it’s Energy Ireland.
- The major annual Irish energy conference
- Plenary and workshop sessions
- 40+ speakers over two days
- Connect with over 300 key industry stakeholders
- All sectors of energy industry attend
- Exhibition and networking
- Hear presentations from local industry leaders and visiting experts
For more information on Energy Ireland or to view the full conference programme, go to the website www.energyireland.ie. To book a place at the conference, call us on +353 (0)1 661 3755.