Northern Ireland Energy Forum 2017 Northern Ireland s major annual energy conference... Tuesday 17th October 2017 Stormont Hotel, Belfast Media partner Sponsored by
Northern Ireland Energy Forum 2017 Northern Ireland Energy Forum 2017 The Northern Ireland Energy Forum, now in its 15th year, has firmly established itself as the annual conference for Northern Ireland s energy sector and is a not-to-be missed event for anyone with an eye on the local energy industry. The 2017 Forum will once again bring together all the key players, both from within Northern Ireland and further afield, to focus on the most important aspects of energy policy and latest developments from across the sector. It provides a unique opportunity for all those operating within the sector to come together for networking and discussion. Energy in transition There has never been a more critical time for the key players in the Northern Ireland energy sector to take stock of the fast-changing landscape. The sector is coming under pressure from a changing political context, with Brexit and the fall of devolved administration, and the wider drive towards an energy system that has lower emissions and that has to deliver secure and affordable energy. Like many industries the energy sector is now seeing digital disruption and consumers now expect to interact with companies digitally. It is almost the perfect storm for energy companies, with many challenges but also opportunities. Not-to-be-missed conference 2017 themes This year s Northern Ireland Energy Forum will look at some of the changes coming down the track, including: The impact of Brexit on energy markets; The outlook for natural gas in a changing energy mix; The transition to low carbon economy and how it will impact on Northern Ireland; Energy infrastructure investment in an increasingly chaotic world; Future outlook for renewable energy in Northern Ireland; The Northern Ireland Energy Forum is Northern Ireland s most established annual energy conference. The conference is the major annual event in the local energy calendar and one not to be missed. Key features of the event include: 4 Update from energy regulator 4 In-depth examination of key policy issues 4 Overview of Northern Ireland s major energy projects 4 Attended by all the key players in the Northern Ireland energy sector 4 Major networking opportunity 4 Structured to provide opportunities to engage with speakers in the Q&A sessions and informally The move towards the digital energy company and what managers need to do to thrive in an increasingly digital world. The forum will bring together a mix of local industry leaders and visiting experts to look at these issues in detail. Visiting speakers Howard Rogers Howard Rogers is the Director of the Natural Gas Research Programme at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, having retired from BP in 2008 after 29 years. In 2011 Howard co-authored a paper on the transition to hub-based pricing in Continental Europe with Professor Jonathan Stern and also published a paper on the long term gas supply and seasonal flexibility needs of the UK gas market and the impact of wind intermittency. He also published Shale Gas The Unfolding Story in the Oxford Review of Economic Policy in 2011. In February 2014, Howard published another paper with Jonathan Stern addressing the challenges to JCC pricing in Asian LNG Markets. Fiona Kinsman Fiona Kinsman has worked for nearly 20 years at the European Commission, the last five years in the energy efficiency unit of DG ENERGY, where she is the legal officer. By training an English barrister, she works on the implementation of the Energy Efficiency and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directives and advises the team working on Ecodesign and energy labelling of products. Since 2016 she has worked on the proposal to amend the Energy Efficiency Directive. Fergal McNamara Dr Fergal McNamara is presently the Coordinator for electricity Distribution System Operators at EURELECTRIC with responsibility to represent over 2,700 in public affairs matters at Brussels and lately with respect to the European Commissions Clean Energy legislative Package. Prior to that, he was Senior Energy Advisor in the Irish Government s energy Department working on energy policy. Previously he was Head of Capacity Market Design at the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change, and that market was introduced in 2014. He was formerly Group Regulation Manager at ESB, the first Secretary General of the Electricity Association of Ireland and on the Board of EURELECTRIC. Georgina Wright Georgina Wright is a research assistant and coordinator of the Europe Programme at Chatham House. Before joining Chatham House in 2014, she worked in the Directorate for Central and West Africa in DG DEVCO at the European Commission and as a summer researcher at NATO. Her research interests include the UK s relationship with the EU, EU foreign and security policy and the future of the European Union. She read Politics at the University of Edinburgh and holds an MA in EU International Relations and Diplomacy Studies from the College of Europe (Bruges).
Conference programme 0900 Energy policy and future outlook Chairman: Ian McCarlie, Partner, Pinsent Masons LLP An effective regulatory framework for energy in Northern Ireland Bill Emery, Chairman, Utility Regulator Investing in Northern Ireland s electric future Nicholas Tarrant, Managing Director, NIE Networks The future outlook for UK-EU energy cooperation post-brexit Georgina Wright, European Programme Co-ordinator, Chatham House Future of energy markets: Renewables and Brexit Richard Murphy, Head of Energy & Natural Resources Northern Ireland Pinsent Masons LLP Questions & answers / Panel discussion 1030 Morning coffee / networking break 1100 Future energy investment Global gas developments and their impact on the Irish market Howard Rogers, Chairman, Natural Gas Programme, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies The forgotten fuel? Making energy efficiency a priority Fiona Kinsman, Legal Officer, DG Energy, European Commission Investing in energy infrastructure: North/South interconnector Rosemary Steen, Director, External Affairs, EirGrid The future role of natural gas in the energy mix Michael McKinstry, Chief Executive, Phoenix Natural Gas Energy storage and its role in energy markets Claire Addison, Government & Regulatory Affairs Manager, AES UK & Ireland Questions & answers / Panel discussion 1300 Conference lunch / networking break 1400 Energy markets outlook The Winter Package and implications for the electricity sector Dr Fergal McNamara, Head of DSO Unit, EURELECTRIC The impact of Brexit on the Irish energy sector Dr Muireann Lynch, Research Fellow, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) Community energy: Shared ownership of renewable energy projects Laura Nicolson, Shared Ownership Manager, Local Energy Scotland Outlook for solar energy in Northern Ireland David Maguire, Chairman, Irish Solar Energy Association Future of onshore wind in Northern Ireland Meabh Cormacain, Manager, Northern Ireland Renewables Industry Group Questions & answers / Panel discussion 1630 Conference close followed by drinks reception
Key themes for this year s event Energy policy & regulation Brexit and energy markets Future of renewables Energy storage Community energy Role of natural gas Speaker panel Claire Addison is Government & Regulatory Affairs Manager for AES UK & Ireland. Claire leads the AES Corporation s work on policy, regulations and stakeholder affairs in the UK and Ireland. She is currently primarily engaged in the acceleration of energy storage in GB and the island of Ireland, working with AES global Advancion energy storage division. Claire initially joined AES onshore wind development team, and moved into her current role in 2015. Prior to joining AES, Claire spent eight years working for environmental NGOs in a range of policy and strategy roles. Meabh Cormacain has six years experience in the renewable energy sector in Northern Ireland, managing key relationships and policy development on behalf of NIRIG. She has considerable expertise in strategic renewable energy issues and works closely with both RenewableUK and IWEA in delivering appropriate policy frameworks for the sector in Northern Ireland. As NIRIG Manager she has led the association towards representing new technologies and developed the membership alongside new communication channels for the sector. Her background includes long-term experience in project management with international development agencies in South America and southeast Asia. Muireann Á. Lynch is Research Fellow at the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) in Dublin. She holds a BA in Mathematics and Economics from Trinity College Dublin and a PhD from the Department of Communications, Electronic and Electrical Engineering in UCD. Prior to her current role she has been employed as a PostDoctoral Research Fellow. Her research interests are in power system economics, risk and uncertainty in electricity generation portfolios, electricity market design and regulation and energy systems integration. Her research methodologies include simulation, optimisation, equilibrium modelling and game theory. David Maguire is a Founder of the Irish Solar Energy Association (ISEA) and has acted as Chairman since 2013. He is a Founder and Director of the BNRG Group. The core business of the Group is the development, construction and operation of utility scale solar PV Parks. David is an environmental scientist by profession and prior to renewable energy development held positions with the Environmental Protection Agency. He has over 22 years in the environmental and renewable energy sectors. David is a Founder of Alliance for Affordable Solar Energy AFASE representing over 800 companies with a combined annual turnover of 25 billion and employing over 86,000 people. Ian McCarlie is a Partner at Pinsent Masons LLP who has extensive experience of acting for developers, stakeholders and funders in the renewables and alternative energy sectors across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Ian s expertise includes advising on joint ventures, project acquisitions and development, fund raising and project construction, procurement and financing (onshore and offshore wind, solar, biomass, AD, wave and tidal technologies). Michael McKinstry has been CEO of Phoenix Energy Holdings since September 2014. He joined the company in 1996 as Finance Director and took up a position on the Group Board in January 2006 following the acquisition of Phoenix by Terra Firma. Prior to joining Phoenix, Michael gained extensive financial management experience across a broad range of business sectors including GEC, Ulster Weavers and Premier Power following its purchase by British Gas. Richard Murphy is a Partner at Pinsent Masons LLP and specialises in energy projects. His energy expertise and experience includes advising clients on a range of regulatory, advisory and transactional matters. Richard is rated as a leading individual for energy work across Ireland and the UK in both Chambers UK and the Legal 500. Richard sits on the Northern Ireland Renewables Industry Group Committee (NIRIG) and is a regular speaker at energy industry events and conferences. Rosemary Steen was appointed Director of External Affairs of EirGrid Group in July 2015, having previously held the position of Director of Public Affairs. At SONI (System Operator for Northern Ireland), Rosemary oversees Connections and Charging, as well as Customer Relations and is also responsible for Regulation. Rosemary also leads SONI s public engagement strategy, which includes working with developers, the business community and other stakeholders to build support for grid development projects. Nicholas Tarrant was appointed Managing Director, NIE Networks in December 2014. He joined ESB in 1993 and has held a number of senior management positions including Generation Manager with overall responsibility for ESB s 4,800MW power generation and ESB s lead manager of its Novusmodus Clean Technology Fund. He is a Chartered Engineer, Institute of Engineers of Ireland.
I wish to: Registration form Attend the Northern Ireland Energy Forum 2017 235 + VAT @ 20% = 282 Fee includes documentation, lunch and other refreshments served during the conference and is payable in advance. Fee does not include accommodation or travel. Receive details of sponsorship opportunities at the Forum Receive details of exhibition opportunities at the Forum Personal details Name (Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms/Dr): _ Job title: Organisation: _ Address: Postcode: _ Contact telephone: Email: Payment options I enclose a cheque for Payable to bmf Business Services. Please invoice me Please debit my Visa / Mastercard / AMEX Card number Name of card holder Signature Security code: Expiry date: _ (Please provide card billing address if different from company address) Acknowledgement of registration Confirmation of registration will be sent to all delegates, following receipt of registration details. If you have not received your acknowledgement seven days prior to the start of the conference, please contact Michelle Davidson at agendani (registration@agendani.com) to confirm your booking. Terms and conditions *For those unable to attend, a substitute participant may be sent at any time for no additional charge. Alternatively for cancellations received in writing, by fax or email, the following charges will apply: More than 14 days before the conference: 25% fee Less than 14 days before the conference: 100% fee Failure to attend: 100% fee. How to register By telephone +44 (0)28 9261 9933 Online www.agendani.com/events By email registration@agendani.com By fax +44 (0)28 9261 9951 Scan QR code Who should attend? The Annual Northern Ireland Energy Forum is the major annual conference for the Northern Ireland energy sector and is a not-to-be-missed event for all those working within, or interacting with, the energy industry in Northern Ireland, including: Energy policy-makers Regulatory authorities Government departments / agencies Energy sector executives Renewable energy developers Technical and environmental advisors Project developers Planning consultants and advisors Legal and financial professionals Energy consultants Local government officers and elected representatives Energy academics and researchers NGOs / voluntary / community sector Benefits of attending Delegates attending the Northern Ireland Energy Forum will: 3 Gain an in-depth understanding of the issues facing the Northern Ireland energy sector 3 Understand the latest energy policy developments 3 Have an opportunity to meet senior representatives from organisations across the sector 3 Hear updates on local energy projects 3 Consider electricity and gas market outlooks 3 Examine energy policy in the European Union and GB contexts Conference accommodation The Northern Ireland Energy Forum takes place in the Stormont Hotel, which is conveniently located opposite Parliament Buildings and within easy reach of Belfast city centre and the George Best Belfast City Airport. Delegates attending the conference can avail of a special rate of 80 single or 100 double, bed and breakfast. To book, contact reservations at the hotel directly on: +44 (0) 28 9065 1066. www.hastingshotels.com/stormont-hotel
Getting involved: Sponsorship and exhibition Sponsorship opportunities There are still a small number of available sponsorship opportunities at this year s Forum. Sponsorship of the annual Northern Ireland Energy Forum is an excellent way for organisations to raise their profile with a key audience of energy sector policy-makers and business leaders. For further details or to discuss how your organisation can benefit from close association with Northern Ireland s leading annual energy conference, contact Lynda Millar on +44 (0)28 9261 9933 or email lynda.millar@agendani.com Exhibition opportunities Stormont Hotel, Belfast Exhibition layout Reserved Reserved Reserved There are a number of excellent opportunities to exhibit at the 2017 Northern Ireland Energy Forum. The exhibition area is in the concourse outside the main conference area where delegates will assemble and mingle throughout the day. The attendance at the conference includes many senior policy makers and decisiontakers, so the opportunity to make an impression is clear. See www.agendani.com/events for details or contact Laura O Neill on +44 (0)28 9261 9933 or email laura.oneill@agendani.com www.agendani.com/events