February 2021
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This conference focuses on the future of energy policy in Wales, and also takes place in the context of the recently-published UK government Energy White Paper.
Key areas for discussion include:
- renewable energy projects in Wales
- cross-sector partnerships
- reaching net-zero targets
- UK policy and implications for the energy sector in Wales
- a low-carbon economic recovery
The discussion is bringing together stakeholders with a range of key policy officials who are due to attend from the Welsh Government; CADW; the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO); BEIS; the ONS; and the Planning Inspectorate.
The agenda:
- Energy policy in Wales and priorities moving forward
- A low carbon recovery from COVID-19 - linking economic growth with green jobs and infrastructure development
- Developing renewable energy projects in Wales
- Renewables in Wales - the current state of play
- Next steps for hydrogen energy in Wales
- Tapping into the potential for Welsh marine energy
- Securing the conservation of natural habitats whilst increasing the use of renewable energy
- Legal issues for the implementation of renewable energy in Wales
- Implementing a flexible grid network and supporting the decarbonisation of transport
- Cross-sector partnerships and collaboration in fostering green choices and smart energy consumption - the role of businesses, local authorities and individuals
- Next steps for developing regional approaches to reaching Net Zero targets
Areas for discussion:
- UK policy - the Energy White Paper, the green energy and economic recovery policy agenda, and the implication for Wales
- the Carbon Budget - looking at:
- progress - on the first carbon budget and emissions targets, and lessons learned
- looking ahead - with the announcement of the Welsh Government’s second statutory decarbonisation plan this autumn
- renewables - progress on policy and implementation in Wales, and key challenges:
- emerging renewable energy sources - the potential for Wales to tap into marine, hydrogen and offshore wind and next steps for developing these projects
- enablers - navigating the legal landscape around implementation and strategies for securing funding for emerging technologies
- environmental impact - with concerns about offshore wind and marine life, discussing priorities for ensuring that implementation does not compromise biodiversity and natural habitats
- transport and smart energy - priorities for supporting the decarbonisation of transport and grid network flexibility:
- challenges around decarbonising transport whilst ensuring efficiency and supporting local business
- the relationship between energy and transport in Wales, interdisciplinary thinking, and infrastructure
- Team Wales - the way forward for collaboration to further decarbonisation in Wales, and developing partnership strategies for supporting green choices across society:
- public-private approaches - the way forward for joint working between businesses, local authorities and individuals in promoting smart energy consumption and decarbonisation
- Welsh R&D - policy priorities for supporting continued development of innovative solutions to tackle climate change through partnerships
- regionally-specific plans - examining more locally-focused approaches to achieving net-zero targets, with the emphasis on regional development in the draft National Development Framework
- low-carbon economic recovery - in the wake of COVID-19:
- the pandemic’s impact - the widespread fall of emissions during the lockdown and as sectors across the economy plan for recovery from its effects
- practicalities of building back greener - how Wales can secure economic recovery building both green jobs and infrastructure
The policy context:
- North Wales Growth Deal - signed by the Welsh and UK governments, with one of the first projects being the Morlais renewable energy scheme
- Wales Draft Budget 2021 to 2022 - including £20m investment for fuel poverty and renewable energy programmes, and £6m further capital funding for improving energy efficiency across NHS Wales
- the UK Government’s Energy White Paper - including plans for investment in carbon capture, usage and storage in Wales
- new Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge funding - including for the South Wales Industrial Cluster, and North East Wales pairing with industry in the North West of England
- Renewable energy in Wales - inquiry launched by the Welsh Affairs Committee, focusing on the development and deployment of renewables, cooperation between the UK and Welsh Governments, and the implications for Wales of COP26 and the Year of Climate Action
- National Development Framework 2020-2040 - the Welsh Government draft plan charting the way forward for policy in areas including energy supply, all in the context of tackling climate change
- Building a low-carbon economy in Wales - Carbon Budget 2021-2025 - the second statutory decarbonisation plan from the Committee on Climate Change
- Energising Wales: A Plan for Wales: government response - following the Institute of Welsh Affairs study laying out a plan for the future of renewable energy in Wales by 2035
- Build Back Greener - the PM’s plan to make the UK a green energy leader, which included £160m to upgrade ports, infrastructure and capacity for offshore wind around the UK, including in Wales
- PM’S Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution - with Wales being identified among industrial heartlands which will build green jobs and industries of the future - and investment across the UK in carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) technology, hydrogen production, nuclear R&D, and developing nuclear plants
- Team Wales approach to tackle climate change - aimed at fostering effective partnerships across the public sector working towards net zero goals, under the by the Partnership Council for Wales
- Coal policy in Wales - recent consultation as a part of the Welsh Government’s shift away from the use of fossil fuels
- Kick-start for new Welsh schemes to heat homes and businesses using city centre heat networks - starting in Cardiff and Bridgend, moving forward heat decarbonisation in Wales’ urban areas
- Welsh Government makes climate emergency declaration - to signal the Government’s determination that exit from EU should not be allowed to detract from addressing climate change challenges
- the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 - with commitments to reduce Welsh greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050 through a set of carbon budgets and interim emissions targets
Policy officials attending:
Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved by officials from the Welsh Government; Cadw; the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO); BEIS; the Office for National Statistics; and The Planning Inspectorate. Also due to attend are representatives from British Heart Foundation; Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW); Cardiff University School of Engineering; Clarke Willmott; Coastal Housing Group; Eco2 Management Services; Energy Saving Trust; Gwres Glas - Green Heat; Infinite Renewables; Isle of Anglesey County Council; Lightsource BP; Linc-Cymru Housing Association; LUC; Marine Energy Wales; Natural Resources Wales; Newport City Council; Penarth Town Council; Prima Foods UK; RWE Renewables UK; Smart Energy GB; The Coal Authority; The Earth Project 2050; UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC); Vattenfall; Vattenfall Wind Power and Welsh School of Architecture - Cardiff University.
Press passes have been reserved by representatives from the ICIS and Materials World.
This is a full-scale conference taking place online***
- full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording and transcript to refer back to
- information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
- conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
- speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
- opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
- a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
- delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
- networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!
Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference
