Gathering makes a world of difference
Renewable energy experts from around the world will arrive in Glasgow next month for the prestigious All-energy and Dcarbonise conference – a two-day extravaganza that will be also attended by political leaders and top academics
All-energy is renowned for attracting superb speakers, and this year’s line-up carries on that tradition. All, no doubt, stressing the importance of delivering net zero
IN just over a month, the renewables and low carbon energy community from home and overseas will be making a beeline for Glasgow’s SEC for Allenergy 2024 and the co-located Dcarbonise for two packed days on May 15 and 16. The UK’S largest renewable and low carbon energy exhibition and conference will be packed to the proverbial gunwales by 270 exhibiting organisations, some 600 conference and show floor theatre speakers and thousands of visitors.
Last year total attendance was 9,706; already over 3,000 have registered to attend, you can too at www.all-energy. co.uk/newsquest
All-energy has provided knowledge, connections and opportunity for over two decades helping the UK to decarbonise its power supply and engineer a net zero future.
Dcarbonise was introduced to run alongside to ensure that private and public sector energy end-users could gain the same access to advice and technology to assist them in their plans to decarbonise their buildings, business and transportation, and even entire cities and industries.
All elements of the duo of events – the exhibition, the 11-stream conference and nine show floor theatres, and the Civic Reception and Giant Networking Evening – are free to attend for all with relevant business or academic interests.
All-energy embraces all forms of renewable energy (on and offshore wind, wave and tidal stream, hydropower, tidal range has a session too; solar; bioenergy, and naturally includes the three-session ‘The Hydrogen Transition: Now, Next and Future’ and energy storage; investment; PPAS; the supply chain; skills; training; community and local energy, REMA (Review of Electricity Market Arrangements) and much more besides.
“All-energy is renowned for attracting superb conference speakers, and this year’s line-up certainly carries on that tradition,” explained Jonathan Heastie, Portfolio Director, Energy & Marine at RX Global, owners and organisers of the duo of shows.
“The plenary sessions launching each day set the scene. The first morning’s will be chaired by Dame Susan Rice DBE, FRSE, Chair of Forth Green Ports.
“The Rt Hon The Lord Provost of Glasgow, Councillor Jacqueline Mclaren, has been invited to give the Civil Welcome and will be followed by the First Minister of Scotland, The Rt Hon Humza Yousaf MSP.
“Attention then turns to industry speakers – Louise Kingham CBE, FEI, Senior Vice President, Europe and Head of Country at bp; Husain Al Meer, Director, Global Offshore Wind & UK, Masdar; and Emma Pinchbeck, Chief Executive, Energy UK; and the dynamic Leader of Glasgow City Council, Councillor Susan Aitken.
“All, no doubt, stressing the importance of delivering net zero at speed and scale.
“Two invited guests unable to join in-person will be sending video messages – Professor Jim Skea, CBE FRSE, President, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); and The Rt Hon Claire Coutinho MP, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
He added: “Our Day Two plenary session is chaired by an old friend of All-energy, Professor Sir Jim Mcdonald, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde who will first introduce Scotland’s Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work, Gillian Morrison MSP.
“A panel discussion on the topical issue of ‘Delivering a net zero electricity system – how do we build a supply chain?’ then follows. Both the Government and opposition are committed to delivering a net zero electricity system by 2035 or sooner. Renewables, grid, storage, CCS, and hydrogen must all be built at a rate no one in our industry has seen in their working lives.
“Meanwhile other countries need to build energy infrastructure for their own transitions. Our panellists will discuss how and where we will grow the supply chain to deliver. And how we make the best use of whatever capacity we can muster.
“Speakers tasked with those discussions are Matthew Knight, Head of Market and Government Affairs, Siemens Energy and Chair of the UK Government Hydrogen Production Working Group; Dervilla Mitchell CBE, Deputy Chair, Arup Group; Charlotte Middleton, Deputy Director, Electricity Networks Policy & Offshore, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; Jude Knight, Head of Low Carbon Skills, Cogent Skills; and Julie Taylor, Director - Commercial, Regulation and Supply Chain of National Grid.”
This year with grid modernisation and expansion a hot topic more conference space than ever before has been devoted to it.
There are five sessions in a large, dedicated conference room.
Professor Keith Bell of Strathclyde University will chair the first scene-setting one ‘The keys to the energy transition’ with Eleanor Warburton, Director of Energy Systems Management & Security Ofgem and Chris Burchell, Managing Director SSEN Distribution amongst the speakers. Next comes a look at ‘The new National Energy System Operator (NESO)’ with its COO, Kayte O’neill, speaking.
Day One finishes with ‘Connections, connections, connections’ with a stellar line-up largely drawn from the panel that discussed this key issue so compellingly in 2023. Day Two sees attention turn to offshore wind network design, and a supply chain session especially geared to grid and networks.
During the course of planning the conference, more grid infrastructure topics emerged that made for ideal sessions. Ofgem is working on one dedicated to ‘Strengthening cyber resilience’ and another looks at ‘Community benefit for transmission infrastructure’ reflecting Recommendation 13 in the Winser Review.
At lunchtime on Day Two, Sir Jim will return to the stage for a ‘fireside chat’ with another great name from the offshore sector, Sir Ian Wood.
“Focussing attention on grid and networks does not mean that we are in any way, shape or form ignoring renewable energy. Far from it!” explained Heastie.
“In the offshore wind stream we turn the spotlight on ‘Delivering our offshore ambitions’, ‘Unlocking investment in our future energies: Maximising the UK supply chain potential; ‘A global view to navigating a floating offshore wind pathway through commercialisation and realising social and economic benefits’; ’Working together to deliver net zero’ (bringing two Scottish Government Directorates together); and ‘Port infrastructure and investment: Gateways to growth’.
“Implementing the Scottish Onshore Wind Sector Deal: Where we are and where we’re going’ and ‘Delivering nature positive development’ take pride of place.
“Solar sessions look at skills and at the supply chain. ‘Marine energy: Where, when and why is the UK leading our ocean energy future’, ‘Accelerating offshore renewables to 2040: Tackling the key challenges; and ‘Watts in the water in Scotland’ will provide a superb update.
“Our three-session bioenergy overview covers biomass, energy from waste and bioenergy in heat and transport; and the oldest form of renewables’ title speaks for itself ‘Hydropower: Getting ready for the renaissance’ and leads into our first-ever complete session on Tidal Range.
“A browse through the conference programme at www.all-energy.co.uk/ en-gb/conference.html and clicking on ‘Add to plan’ will help build a personalised programme,” said Heastie.