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:
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 Engineering
    University 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

16.00 Conference close