Energy Ireland 2024 Conference Programme
Accelerating Ireland’s energy transition
Day 1 Wednesday 22nd May 2024
08.30 REGISTRATION AND MORNING COFFEE
09.00
Chair's welcome and introduction:
09.05 IRELAND’S ENERGY FUTURE
-
J Owen Lewis, Chair
IIEA Working Group on Climate and Energy
09.05 IRELAND’S ENERGY FUTURE
- MINISTERIAL ADDRESS: Ireland’s energy policy priorities
Eamon Ryan, TD, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications
- MINISTERIAL ADDRESS: The road to net zero
Conor Murphy, MLA, Minister for the Economy
-
Energy priorities of the European Commission
Commissioner Kadri Simson,Commissioner for Energy
European Commission -
A regulatory framework for a secure, decarbonised energy system
Aoife MacEvilly, Commissioner
Commission for Regulation of Utilities -
Timing is everything – targeting the right solutions for best impact
William Walsh, Chief Executive Officer
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland -
Question & answer session / Panel discussion
10.45 COFFEE/ EXHIBITION NETWORKING BREAK
11.15 ACCELERATING IRELAND’S ENERGY TRANSITION
Energy security in an all-Ireland context
Brian Ó Gallachóir, Associate Vice-President of Sustainability
University College Cork
Question & answer session
PANEL DISCUSSION: ACCELERATING IRELAND'S ENERGY TRANSITION
Brian Ó Gallachóir, Associate Vice-President of Sustainability
University College Cork
- Dave Kirwan, Managing Director, Bord Gáis Energy
- Cathal Marley, Chief Executive Officer, Gas Networks Ireland
- Klair Neenan, Managing Director, SSE Airtricity
- John Reilly, Head of Renewable Energy, Bord na Móna
- Marguerite Sayers, Deputy Chief Executive, ESB
13:00 CONFERENCE LUNCH
14:00 MEETING THE CHALLENGES IN DELIVERING IRELAND’S ENERGY TRANSITION
- CHAIR:
Úna Nic Giolla Choille
-
Accelerating Ireland's energy transition: What we need to focus on
John FitzGerald, Research Affiliate
Economic and Social Research Institute (ERSI) -
Meeting the challenges in delivering Ireland’s energy transition
Colm O’Neill, Partner
KPMG -
Financing energy projects: Managing the key risks
Tara Reale, Director, Corporate Finance
Goodbody -
Question & answer session / Panel discussion
15.15 COFFEE/ EXHIBITION NETWORKING BREAK
15:45 MEETING THE CHALLENGES IN DELIVERING IRELAND’S ENERGY TRANSITION
-
Regulatory challenges in delivering the energy transition
Niamh McGovern, Partner
Arthur Cox -
Planning and energy infrastructure
Claragh Mulhern, Acting Principal Planning Adviser
Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage -
What is an appropriate policy framework for green hydrogen in Ireland?
Niall Farrell, Senior Research Officer
Economic & Social Research Institute
-
Question & answer session / Panel discussion
17.00 ENERGY IRELAND DRINKS RECEPTION
Day 2: Thursday 23rd May 2024
08.30 REGISTRATION AND MORNING COFFEE
09:00 SUSTAINABLE HEAT
- CHAIR:
John O' Shea, Senior Energy Systems Analyst / Heat & Electricity Lead
Codema - Dublin's Energy Agency -
Decarbonising Ireland’s heat demand
Barry Quinlan, Assistant Secretary
Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications -
Transforming Ireland's heating sector through low-carbon district heating schemes
Donna Gartland, Chief Executive Officer
Codema -
Geothermal: a pathway to decarbonising the heating sector
Marie Cowan, Director
Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) -
The role of the National District Heating Centre of Excellence in decarbonising the heating sector
Peter Kehoe, Programme Manager
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland -
Question & answer session / Panel discussion
09:00 DEVELOPING IRELAND’S OFFSHORE WIND RESOURCES
- CHAIR:
Séamus McCabe, Senior Development Director, Origination & Development
Corio Generation -
Scaling up offshore wind energy in Europe
Professor Catherine Banet, Scandinavian Institute of Maritime Law
University of Oslo -
A regulatory framework for developing Ireland’s offshore energy resources
Laura Brien, CEO
Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) -
Plan-led offshore energy development
Andy Kelly, Director
AFRY -
Meeting the challenges in delivering offshore wind projects
Richard Murphy, Partner
Pinsent Masons -
Question & answer session / Panel discussion
11.00 COFFEE/ EXHIBITION NETWORKING BREAK
11.30 ELECTRICITY NETWORK AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT
CHAIR:
Stacy Feldmann, Senior Regulatory Manager SSE
The electricity grid of the future
David Noronha,Head of Future Networks and Strategic Offshore Planning
EirGrid
Electricity markets: secure, low carbon and affordable
Chris Harris, Visting Senior Industrial Fellow
Bath University
PANEL DISCUSSION: GETTING TO 100% RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY ON THE SYSTEM
Stacy Feldmann, Senior Regulatory Manager SSE
David Noronha,Head of Future Networks and Strategic Offshore Planning
EirGrid
Chris Harris, Visting Senior Industrial Fellow
Bath University
- Simon Ludlam, Chief Executive Officer, MaresConnect Interconnector
- David Minnis, Huawei Solution Director ESS, EU Region, Huawei
-
David Noronha,Head of Future Networks and Strategic Offshore Planning
EirGrid - Martin Reilly, COO, Kyte Powertech
- Gerry Shannon, Director, Obton Ireland
- Chris Harris, Visiting Senior Industrial Fellow, University of Bath
-
Question & answer session / Panel discussion
13.00 LUNCH AND EXHIBITION NETWORKING BREAK
14.00 RENEWABLE GAS AND GREEN HYDROGEN
CHAIR:
Rory Monaghan, Professor of Energy Systems EngineeringUniversity of Galway
Decarbonising Ireland’s gas network with renewable gas
Padraig Fleming, Biomethane Programme Manager
Gas Networks Ireland
The challenges and opportunities in developing biomethane projects
Tony Yates, Managing Director
Nephin Renewable Gas
Hydrogen: Supporting clean growth and energy security
Katie Petherbridge, Innovation Delivery Manager
National Gas UK
Power-to-X: Green methanol for the maritime sector
David Surplus, Managing Director
B9 Energy Storage
Case study: Niedersachsen: Making the energy transition a reality
Dr Alexander Bedrunka, Managing Director
Niedersachsen Hydrogen Network
Question & answer session / Panel discussion
Rory Monaghan, Professor of Energy Systems EngineeringUniversity of Galway
Padraig Fleming, Biomethane Programme Manager
Gas Networks Ireland
Tony Yates, Managing Director
Nephin Renewable Gas
Katie Petherbridge, Innovation Delivery Manager
National Gas UK
David Surplus, Managing Director
B9 Energy Storage
Dr Alexander Bedrunka, Managing Director
Niedersachsen Hydrogen Network