Northern Ireland Energy Forum 2008

Bringing Northern Ireland's energy players together...

Date: Thursday 13th November 2008
Venue: Stormont Hotel, Belfast

Conference programme

08.30

Registration & coffee

09:00

Conference Chairman’s Introduction: Alan Bissett, Partner, Carson McDowell

09.05

Implementing the Northern Ireland energy policy framework

OPENING ADDRESS: Northern Ireland’s energy policy priorities
Senior representative, Department of Enterprise, Trade & Investment

INTERVIEW WITH THE REGULATOR:

Jamie Delargy discusses some of the key issues facing the sector with electricity and gas regulator Iain Osborne.

10.15

Questions & answers followed by morning coffee / networking break

10:45

Plenary session: Developing energy markets

Workshop: Maximising the role of renewable energy

Barnett Suite: 10.45am-12.00pm

Global energy outlook: prices and drivers
Paul Whitehead, Managing Editor
European Policy & International Newsletters, Platts

Evaluating the challenges for introducing nuclear energy in the Irish electricity market
Laura Malaguzzi Valeri, Economic and Social
Research Institute (ESRI)

Stimulating competition in energy markets
David Thorne, Commercial Manager, Gemserv

Chair: Noel Williams, Head of Energy Saving Trust, Northern Ireland

The Strangford Lough tidal energy project
Martin Wright, Managing Director, Marine Current Turbines

Exploring the future prospects for wind energy in
Northern Ireland
Michael Walsh, Chief Executive, Irish Wind Energy Association

Encompassing renewable technology: Using agricultural biomass in sustainable electricity generation
Osvaldo Mauro-Hun, Chief Executive, Rose Energy

12:00

Discussion forum: Stimulating competition in the domestic electricity market
	Chair: Jamie Delargy, Business Editor, UTV		Allan Asher former Chief Executive energywatch
	Dermot MacCann Deputy Chief Executive Utility Regulator	John McMullan Chair, Northern Ireland Fuel Poverty Advisory Group	Stephen McCully Managing Director NIE Supply

12:45

Conference lunch sponsored by Northgate

14.00

Strategic issues for the Northern Ireland energy sector

Taking a cross-party approach to tackling energy issues
Dr Alasdair McDonnell, MLA, Chairperson, All Party Assembly Group on Energy

Planning issues in the energy sector: Renewable energy, interconnectors and other infrastructure projects
Andrew Ryan, Associate, Carson McDowell

Lowering the carbon footprint of the energy sector
Venkie Shantaram, Partner, McKinsey & Company

15:00

Questions & answers followed by afternoon coffee / networking break

15:30

Discussion forum: How can Northern Ireland move towards a lower carbon energy sector?
	Chair: Geoff Smyth Northern Ireland Manager The Carbon Trust	Philip Wolfe Executive Director Renewable Energy Association	Declan Billington Vice Chairman CBI Northern Ireland
	Dr David McIlveen-Wright University of Ulster	Iain Osborne Chief Executive Utility Regulator	Henry Coolidge Chief Executive Premier Power

16.30

Chairman’s summary and conference close followed by drinks reception