The WindEurope Summit conference session on corporate renewable power purchase agreements in Europe explored the changing models in the energy business. Finance experts and non-industrial investors from Google, ING and BT exchanged views on the potential of corporate renewable PPAs, electricity procurement and the challenges that come with such transactions.

Europe today has over 1.2 GW of renewables capacity contracted through corporate PPAs, 90% of which is in wind energy. A number of notable corporate renewable PPAs structured in recent years indicate that certain markets – such as the UK, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands – have the potential for significant growth, with economic and sustainability motives driving demand.

Panellists included Marc Oman – EU Energy Lead and Global Infrastructure at Google, Tom Kiernan – CEO at the American Wind Energy Association, Robert Williams – General Manager for Procurement, Utilities, Power & Cooling at BT – British Telecommunications, Lucien Wiegers – Director and Head of Asset & Portfolio Management at Eneco, and Christian Schulz – Head of Utilities, Power & Renewables at ING Wholesale Banking in Germany. The session was moderated by Ruth Kent – CFO Europe & Head of Power Marketing at Brookfield Renewable.

Oman opened the session with a presentation on Google’s journey in the energy business. The panel then debated the importance of the additionality principle that corporates and industrial players must follow to ensure new renewable capacity comes online.

Panellists stressed the importance of harmonisation in the EU power procurement regulations while acknowledging the need for more grid interconnections to help the corporate PPA market fully take off in Europe. Contract flexibility is also needed to accommodate non-energy sectors signing the agreements. Standardisation in model contracts is key to opening up new markets and generating opportunities for large corporations, as well as small and medium size enterprises.

Looking forward, and drawing from the US experience, investors agreed on the need for greater dialogue and streamlined processes to encourage more partnerships like these in the renewable energy sector.

Technologies for transition

11:30 – 13:00, Tuesday, 27 September 2016

The energy internet takes the stage at the WindEurope Summit 2016. Join Ian Mays from RES when he explores the new energy paradigm with Envision, Senvion, Innogy, Adwen and Statoil.

The key to a competitive edge lies in solutions that are cost-effective and contribute to a secure and well-functioning power system. A number of leading European wind energy companies are already developing these solutions. But they are facing an ever stiffer global competition.

Driving down costs remains crucial – both on- and offshore. Discuss with Jürgen Geißinger and Philippe Kavafyan which innovations are on the radar of Senvion and Adwen. Digitisation might rank high but how (much) can it help? Lei Zhang heads one of China’s leading suppliers and he will present how the Energy Internet of Things creates synergies in power system management.

Stephen Bull, from Statoil, and Hans Bünting, from Innogy, complete the picture and explain the business consequences of an increase in electricity demand combined with decentralisation.

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Wind outside Europe – how far can it go?

14:30 – 16:00, Tuesday, 27 September 2016

195 countries adopted the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate deal at the Paris climate conference (COP21) last December. More than 70 countries highlighted wind power in their commitments. Join this Business Meets Policy session to hear from international policymakers and business leaders how the implementation of the Paris climate agreement will affect the industry.
The focus shifts to emerging countries. Klaus Töpfer has headed the United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) for almost a decade. Under his leadership, UNEP started reporting wind resources and domestic developments, which facilitated large-scale investments. State Secretary Pradeep Kumar Pujari certainly knows the latter well. India is already the fourth biggest market and the capacity should boom thanks to an onshore wind potential of over 100GW and a 60GW target for 2020.
Europe’s politicians and businesses remain active worldwide. Hear from Jos Delbeke about upcoming initiatives after Paris. The economist acted as EU chief negotiator at previous UN climate conferences and has been running the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Climate Action since its creation in 2010.
European turbine manufacturers have the lion’s share in today’s global market. Don’t miss out on updates from Xabier Etxeberria, Business CEO at Gamesa, and Morten Dyrholm, GWEC Chair and Vestas VP.

What future for wind in Europe?

11:30 – 13:00, Tuesday, 27 September 2016

“The future does not look like the past”. Find out what Michael Liebreich meant in this brand new Business Meets Policy session. You will have the opportunity to discuss with him how his company, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, sees the current state and future prospects of wind power in Europe.

A panel of captains of industry will deliberate on what keeps the ship moving. Markus Tacke heads Siemens Wind Power & Renewables, which thrived with developments in offshore wind. He and Michael Lewis, CEO of E.ON Climate & Renewables, will outline how to capitalise on this growing market.
You will glean further future insights from three more business leaders. Magnus Hall, CEO of Vattenfall, recently launched a €3m scientific fund to maximise the learning opportunities in the offshore industry. Luca Bettonte, Group CEO of ERG, and Jose Ángel Marra from Iberdrola will draw on their experience in often challenging European onshore wind markets.

Claude Turmes, one of the key authors of the existing European renewable energy legislation adds the policy angle to these distinguished business views. An influential Member of the European Parliament and President of the European Forum for Renewable Energy Sources, Mr Turmes will look ahead to the next decade for renewable energy policy.

Register today to see how wind will power Europe tomorrow.

Business meets Policy: Disruption on its way?

17:00 – 18:30, Tuesday, 27 September 2016

Your business model could be out-of-date. In this brand new Business Meets Policy session, US economist Jeremy Rifkin debates with entrepreneur Jeremy Leggett and Enel Green Power’s CEO Francesco Venturini on disruptions brought in by the energy transition.

Jeremy Rifkin advises the European Union and triggered historic shifts in the world’s biggest economies. He wrote the blueprint for the German “Energiewende” and inspired China to embrace a third industrial revolution in its latest five-year-plan. He believes that both ubiquitous connectivity by 2030 and a system of zero marginal cost energy will be reality. But utilities will have to explore new business models to thrive in this new paradigm.

Francesco Venturini will chime in with a perspective rooted in his experience as the CEO of one of the world’s largest renewables developers alongside futurist Jeremy Leggett. Jeremy Leggett, Chairman of Solarcentury and one of the world’s leading chronicler of the energy transition, has seen disruptions in the making with the global solar boom. Mastering the technological challenges might be as important as triumphing in the political arena to win – what he calls in his bestseller – “the carbon war”.

By learning about the hurdles and hopes to the energy transition, you make your business fit for the future.

Register online today and save up to 135 euros* off the onsite rate.

BREXIT: What implications for the wind industry?

14:30 – 16:00, Thursday, 29 September 2016

On 23 June, the UK voted to leave the European Union. The decision rocked global markets, sent the pound tumbling and plunged Europe’s economic and political future into a wave of uncertainty. As the dust settles, the WindEurope Summit looks at what a UK outside the EU will mean for the deployment of wind energy and the prospects for the industry at-large.

So many questions remain unanswered: Will renewables die a death in the UK? Is the UK set to become the “dirty man” of Europe? Can a marginalised UK renege and extract itself from the EU’s climate and energy commitments?

This WindEurope Brexit session will bring together industry, lawmakers and experts to discuss the implications of the Brexit vote for onshore and offshore wind in the UK. Voices from both camps – remain and leave – will debate the challenges and opportunities for the UK in the years ahead.

In May, Michael Liebreich set out his case for why the UK would fare better outside of the EU. He wrote in the Guardian: “For a brief decade, Europe led the world in renewable energy investment, but not anymore – that would be China. EU nations promoted clean energy at vastly inflated costs through imposed renewable energy targets, tariffs and subsidies… The UK is facing a historic opportunity to loosen the ties.”

Hugh McNeal, CEO of RenewableUK, warned of turbulent times ahead:
“It is tempting in these unprecedented times, in the period of uncertainty and market volatility since the vote, to focus only on the challenges ahead. The fears are very real. The stakes very high, in terms of investment, jobs and consumer bills if we lose access to the European Energy Market.”

Join us for the WindEurope Summit 2016 in Hamburg. The Brexit session will take place on 29 September at 14:30 in Hall D.

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Global energy is in transition over the last decade. This represents both opportunities and challenges for the wind industry.

The theme of the WindEurope Summit 2016 is “Making transition work”. The summit will feature over 45 conference sessions tailored to improve the understanding of the megatrends that are shaping the sector in Europe and beyond.

The programme offers something for all industry players and unparalleled business and networking opportunities. Whether the topic is changing market dynamics in Europe, emerging market developments or game-changing technologies, conference delegates will be offered unique insights and top-level speakers.

Michael Liebreich, Jeremy Rifkin, Fatih Birol, Sigmar Gabriel, Jeremy Legget, Klaus Töpfer – the world’s most prominent new energy thought leaders and politicians will come together with key figures from the industry to share their insights on the opportunities and challenges the sector is facing.

Visit the programme page for more details and register today

Jeremy Rifkin, president of the Foundation on Economic Trends and advisor to the European Union on issues related to the economy, climate change, and energy security will give a keynote address at WindEurope Summit 2016.

The theme of the WindEurope Summit 2016 is “Making transition work”. The summit will feature over 45 conference sessions tailored to improve the understanding of the megatrends that are shaping the sector in Europe and beyond. Rifkin will be delivering his speech during the session “Business meets policy: disruption on its way?” taking place on the opening day of WindEurope Summit. The session will address the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies and the impact on and for economies, societies, people and the environment.

The WindEurope Summit programme offers something for all industry players and unparalleled business and networking opportunities. Whether the topic is changing market dynamics in Europe, emerging market developments or game-changing technologies, conference delegates will be offered unique insights and top-level speakers.

The event is supported by some of the wind energy industry’s biggest names including the official event ambassadors Enel Green Power, DONG Energy, ENERCON and Nordex.

Details of the summit sessions are available online.

WindEurope is teaming up with WindEnergy Hamburg to bring you the world’s largest wind energy conference & expo.

The event will give delegates the opportunity to engage directly with wind energy experts from industry, finance, academia and government. The Summit sessions cover a wide range of issues from the impact of digitisation in wind power to developments in storage technology and changes in finance and business models. This is one event you cannot afford to miss.

A delegate pass grants you full access to 40+ summit sessions, the WindEnergy Hamburg Expo and includes lunch.

Take a look at the key features for 2016:

• NEW! Business meets policy sessions: These brand new visionary sessions bring business and politics together with the aim to stimulate thinking on key issues that span policy, industry and environmental challenges.
• The summit programme will incorporate increasingly relevant topics such as storage, electrification and sector coupling strategies.

Details of many summit sessions are already available with more information being added regularly.

Use the following discount code when you register:  GWD2016