Event Details

Key Speakers

	Lord Redesdale, Vice-Chair, All Party Parliamentary Group on Climate Change
	Hywel Lloyd, Former Specialist Advisor, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
	Mike Landy, Senior Policy Analyst, Renewable Energy Association
	James Ryle, Head of Local & Community Empowerment, Centre for Sustainable Energy
	Ian Bright, Managing Director, Totnes Renewable Energy Society

Overview

Between April 2011 and February 2012, the Government announced investments to the value of £4.7 billion in UK renewable projects, providing support for 15,000 jobs across a wide range of sectors, including onshore and offshore wind, bioenergy and marine, and throughout their supply chains.

At the Clean Energy Ministerial in April 2012, the Prime Minister declared that the UK Government had achieved its aim of being the ‘greenest ever’, however, much more can still be done to achieve the UK Renewable Energy Roadmap (2011) vision of unlocking our renewable energy potential. The Roadmap builds on actions already underway (Green Investment Bank and the Green Deal) and focuses on eight technologies which have the greatest potential to help the UK meet the 2020 target of ensuring that 15% of our energy demand is met from renewable sources in a cost effective and sustainable way. Alongside the Roadmap, the Electricity Market Reform White Paper (2011) includes steps to improve the market’s ability to finance investment in low carbon industries, thus generating jobs.

More renewable energy across the UK can give us more security and a greater degree of energy independence. The planning system is essential in delivering the infrastructure required to reduce carbon emissions, ensure continued security of energy supply and help the economy to grow. The UK aims to make the transition to a low carbon economy while maintaining energy security, and minimising costs to consumers, particularly those in poorer households.

With the recent launch of the Bioenergy Strategy (April 2012), this timely symposium offers an invaluable opportunity to analyse the latest policy developments and assess the progress made thus far in meeting the renewables and carbon reduction targets. The symposium provides an essential platform to share best practice and discuss how the latest measures on renewable energy can be implemented in order to achieve the goals set by Government.

Delegates will:

• Analyse the impact of national and local green energy strategies and discuss how best to work in partnership to face future challenges
• Evaluate the role of the new Green Deal in making properties more energy efficient and helping to cut energy costs
• Explore how to bolster collaboration between Government and business to minimise costs, attract new investment and create jobs
• Share best practice and explore further actions to achieve a secure low carbon economy

Programme

Who Should Attend?

• Energy Firms and Utilities Providers
• Oil and Gas Industry
• Housing Builders, Designers and Providers
• Planning Officers and Regional Planning Groups
• Energy Efficiency Officers
• Sustainability Advisers
• Climate Change Officers
• Strategic Policy Directors
• Trade Associations
• Heavy Industry
• Green Groups
• Consumer Groups
• Environment Agencies
• Carbon Capture and Storage Organisations
• Energy Generation and Supply Companies
• Business Development Managers
• Renewable Energy Providers
• Waste Management Teams
• Waste Prevention Teams
• Water Industry Teams
• Local Authorities Officers and Councillors
• Central Government and Agencies
• Conservationists
• Environment Engineers and Architects
• Building Services
• Forestry Industry
• Social Enterprises and Community Groups
• Legal Sector
• Consultants
• Emergency Planning Officers
• Transport Professionals
• Technology Providers
• Regulatory Bodies
• Academics, Analysts and Researchers
• Third Sector Practitioners
• Community and Voluntary Organisations

“ There are huge challenges facing governments across the world today, and one of the most important of all is how we meet our growing energy demands in a way that protects our planet for our children and grandchildren… I am proud that Britain has played a leading role at the forefront of this green energy revolution… Our commitment and investment in renewable energy has helped to make renewable energy possible. Now we have a different challenge. We need to make it financially sustainable. ”
— Prime Minister, April 2012

“ Across the United Kingdom, renewables are providing jobs, investment and growth…To hit our EU renewable energy target, we must generate 30% of our electricity from renewables by 2020…Growth on that kind of scale will not be easy. It will require tough decisions, clear thinking, and tightly focused support. And everyone has a part to play. ”
— Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, October 2011