Brussels, Belgium

Conference - "emPOWER - The Energy Transition Summit"

emPOWER – the Energy Transition Summit was a collaborative conference to showcase innovative solutions to help deliver the European Green Deal and highlight the key policy measures needed to drive the necessary investments.

Up until now, the energy transition has borne many fruits. The aim of the emPOWER conference session was to take stock of the energy transition’s successes until now, examine the 'game changers' of the new energy system',  discuss the key features and challenges of a fully renewables-based system and identify concrete steps and processes necessary for ensuring a successful transition to a net zero-carbon economy.

13:30 - 14:00

Welcome of participants

14:00 - 14:30

Opening session: our common vision for the energy system

Moderator:

  • Antonella Battaglini | CEO, Renewables Grid Initiative

Opening remarks:

  • Cristian Bușoi | Chairman of ITRE committee, European Parliament

Keynote speech:

  • Bertrand Piccard | Initiator, Chairman and Pilot of the Solar Impulse Foundation

14:30 - 15:15

2020: State of play in the energy transition

This session brings together the leaders of energy companies, technology providers and consumers to debate where Europe stands on delivering the energy transition:

1st debate – Renewables and smart energy as drivers for Europe’s competitiveness 

2nd debate – Strengthening Europe’s industrial base to deliver on the energy transition

Moderator:

  • Giles Dickson | CEO, WindEurope

1st debate – Renewables and smart energy as drivers for Europe’s competitiveness

  • Rasmus Errboe | Senior Vice President Market Development Continental Europe, Ørsted
  • Marc Oman | Senior Lead, Energy & Infrastructure, Google
  • Vincent Minier | VP Global Energy Public Policy, Schneider Electric

2nd debate – Strengthening Europe’s industrial base to deliver on the energy transition

  • Raul Gil | Chairman, Energy Infrastructure Team, Europacable
  • Gunnar Groebler | Senior Vice President – Head of Business Area Wind, Vattenfall and Chairman of WindEurope
  • Leah Charpentier | Head of European Regulatory Affairs & Government Relations, First Solar
15:15 - 15:45

PechaKucha: Game changers of the new energy system

Which forces will be the ‘game changers’ of the new energy system? How will they interact with one another and the system to transform the status quo? This session will see industry leaders, innovators and start-ups take to the stage in turns for rapid ‘PechaKucha-style’ presentations, packing concrete information into dynamic sessions. Discussions will focus on the topics of:

  • Emerging prosumer business models;
  • Demand-Side Flexibility in industry and homes;
  • Innovative storage solutions;
  • Smart electrification of transport, heating and industry.

Speakers:

  • Anja van Niersen | Chairman of the board, Allego – Electric Vehicles as a cornerstone of a smart energy system
  • Richard Sarti | Director, Marketing and Sales, NODES – Leveraging decentralised flexibility on local markets
  • Rytis Kėvelaitis | Vice Minister for Energy, Republic of Lithuania – Regulation to enable “game-changers” in energy system
  • Florence Jacquemart | Innovative and low carbon solutions project leader, EDF – Innovative business models in a decentralising market

15:45 - 16:00

Coffee break

16:00 - 17:00

A 100% renewables-based energy system – key features and challenges*

In this moderated panel session, industry executives, policymakers and representatives from NGOs will come together to discuss the key features and challenges presented by a 100% renewables-based energy system. The session will focus specifically on:

  • Delivering on the Commission’s long-term decarbonisation strategy;
  • Renewables-based electrification as the key to efficiency and emissions reduction;
  • Priorities for Research & Innovation.

Moderator

  • Walburga Hemetsberger | CEO, SolarPower Europe

Setting the Scene

  • Nicolas Gonzalez Casares | Member of the European Parliament

Speakers

  • Philip Kavafyan | CEO – MHI Vestas
  • Aristotelis Chantavas | Head of Europe, Enel Green Power
  • Anne-Sophie Chamoy | General Secretary Energy Pool
  • Jeremy Leggett | Founder and Director, SolarCentury

17:00 - 18:00

Planning the transition to a net zero-carbon economy*

In the 2021-27 funding period, the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) will give priority to integrated and optimised infrastructure planning. The panel will focus on what that means for renewables, grids and electrification:

  • Delivering on the National Energy and Climate Plans;
  • Upgrading grid infrastructures and addressing public opposition to grids
  • Managing an energy system with very high shares of variable renewables

Moderator

  • Gerard Reid | Alexa Capital and Global Future Council on Advanced Energy Technologies at the World Economic Forum

Speakers

  • Manon van Beek | CEO – TenneT
  • Andrew McDowell|Vice President, European Investment Bank
  • Paula Abreu Marques | Head of Unit for Renewables and CCS policy - DG Energy, European Commission
  • Stephan Singer | Senior Advisor Global Climate Science & Energy Policies, CAN International
18:00 - 18:15

Closing remarks

  • Kadri Simson | European Commissioner for Energy
18:15 Cocktail reception

Relevant links

Event Video

Photo Gallery

Contact

Stephanie Bätjer
Director - Communication

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t: +49 30 2332 11017
stephanie@renewables-grid.eu

RGI gratefully acknowledges the EU LIFE funding support:

EU LIFE funding support Logo

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the LIFE Programme. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.