In December 2012 the Renewables Grid Initiative (RGI) and the Smart Energy for Europe Platform (SEFEP) invited you to be our guest at the 2nd European Grid Conference "Beyond Public Opposition". During the Conference, the European Grid Report and the second part of the European Grid Declaration on Transparency and Public Participation were launched.
The European Grid Declaration on Electricity Network Expansion and Nature Conservation, publicly signed by over 25 CEOs and high-level representatives of European TSOs and NGOs and handed over to Commissioner Oettinger at the first European Grid Conference, sends a strong signal: The unlocking of Europe's full potential for renewable energy via the modernisation and expansion of its power grids should go hand in hand with nature conservation efforts.
At this year's Conference, the Renewables Grid Initiative launched the European Grid Report - Lessons Learned across Europe. The report of over 80 practical experiences explores the current state of art in harmonizing grid expansion with environmental protection principles and improving public participation in planning procedures. Selected case studies, the extended European Grid Declaration, specifying transparency and public participation aspects, as well as the SEFEP's implementation monitoring mechanism were presented and discussed at the event.
15:30 Welcome
MEPs Sir Graham Watson and Antonio Correia de Campos
15:50 Introduction
Kristina Steenbock, SEFEP
Antonella Battaglini, RGI
16:10 Presentation of the second part of the "European Grid Declaration on Transparency and Public Participation"
Ariel Brunner, Birdlife Europe and Bern Voorhorst, TenneT
16:20 Introduction of the "European Grid Report"
Antonella Battaglini, RGI
16:30 A changing world - challenges and lessons learned
Duet by Stephan Singer, WWF and Boris Schucht, 50Hertz
16:40 Short presentations of key experiences by various high-level representations of RGI partner organisations:
- Ben Voorhorst, COO TenneT
- Bente Hagem, Executive Vice President Statnett
- Jean Verseille, Director European Affairs RTE
- Klaus Milke, Chairman of the Board Germanwatch
- Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO Elia
17:15 Hand-over of the "European Grid Report" to Commissioners Günther H. Oettinger and Janez Potočnik
17:30 Keynote by Günther H. Oettinger, Commissioner for Energy
17:45 Keynote by Janez Potočnik, Commissioner for the Environment
18:00 Panel discussion on outlook with:
- Konstantin Staschus, ENTSO-E
- Jean-Arnold Vinois, DG Energy
- Frédéric Thoma, Greenpeace
- Jason Anderson, WWF
18:30 Closing words by Antonella Battaglini
18:40 Poster session and networking
19:30 End
During the Conference, we recorded statements of our participants on their opinion about RGI, the European Grid Declaration and the European Grid Report. All recordings are available on our youtube channel.