January 2020
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
This conference will assess key current issues and next steps for the development of the UK renewable energy sector.
This seminar takes place as the new government begins its work and during a period of increased policy focus on meeting clean energy objectives.
Government plans are based on commitments to:
- Support the expansion of the renewable energy industry,
- Reach 40GW of offshore wind by 2030, and
- Double research and development funding by 2040
Further areas for discussion include:
- Positioning - renewables in the energy market;
- Implementation - expanding clean generation at scale, developing low-carbon infrastructure, and tackling issues for deployment;
- Business growth - for the renewable energy sector at a local and regional level; and
- The regulatory system for renewables.
Engagement with policy officials at this conference
This Westminster Energy, Environment & Transport Forum conference has attracted particularly strong interest from policymakers. It will be an opportunity for stakeholders to engage with officials who have already reserved places representing: BEIS; Defra; the Department for the Economy NI; DIT; the Government Office for Science; POST; HMRC; HSE; MHCLG; Ofwat; The Planning Inspectorate; The Scottish Government and the Welsh Government.
Speakers
There will be keynote contributions from:
- Matthew Taylor, Head, Carbon Capture & Renewables Sectors, Clean Electricity, BEIS;
- John Robertson, Head, Energy and Infrastructure, Crown Estate Scotland;
- David Hall, Head of Code Governance, Consumers and Markets, Ofgem;
- Julian Leslie, Head of National Control, National Grid ESO; and
- Nathan Wyatt, Senior Policy Advisor, National Infrastructure Commission.
Further speakers include: David Bird, Senior Investment Manager, Octopus Renewables; Rebecca Williams, Head of Policy and Regulation, RenewableUK - as well as Simon Brett, Port of Tyne; Andrew Clark, North East Local Enterprise Partnership; and Dr Jeremy Leggett, Solarcentury and SolarAid.
The agenda
- The policy roadmap for renewable energy support and development;
- Sector growth - innovation, skills development, market access and developing regional renewables businesses;
- Renewables in the energy market - business cases, funding, the Capacity Market, support for established technologies, and retail market opportunities;
- Infrastructure development - renewables integration, smart grids, and flexible networks;
- Regulation - code reform, planning, and reducing market barriers; and
- Large-scale renewables deployment, contribution to the 2050 emissions target, and next steps for offshore wind power.
The context
The conference will be an opportunity to discuss key issues in the context of:
- The Five-Year Review of the Capacity Market and its technical amendments report - confirming that barriers are to be reduced for renewable technologies in future auctions;
- The Spending Round with commitments for publishing a net-zero emissions roadmap in the forthcoming National Infrastructure Strategy;
- Launch of the Net Zero Review being led by the Treasury, assessing choices and opportunities for funding the transition;
- Prospects for an Energy White Paper and UK policy for energy development, security, and decarbonisation; and
- Following the BEIS announcement that 12 new renewable energy projects - including Offshore wind, Advanced Conversion Technologies, and Remote Island Wind - have been allocated Contracts for Difference.
