Programme

Registration, refreshments and networking

Opening remarks from the Chair

An energy gap to bridge? A study of supply, demand and potential solutions in the short-term

• Assessing current availability and requirement to identify which forms of power generation the country will need to adopt by 2016
• Is current policy damaging our capacity to build a secure, low-carbon energy mix? How should it change?
• Determining where investment is most needed

Question and answer session

Outlining the Conservative Party’s vision

• What incentives would a Conservative government provide and where would funding come from?
• Confirming commitment to improving the planning process
• Balancing short term energy requirements with longer term economic and environmental considerations

Question and answer session

Morning refreshments

NEW COAL: THE ENERGY COMPANY PERSPECTIVE No new coal without CCS? Assessing the progress of coal-fired power in the UK

• Charting the timeline of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology: When can we expect large-scale, commercial adoption?
• What are the practicalities of building new coal-fired power stations, and how will they be retrofitted with CCS technology?
• Is there potential to extend the life of existing power stations?
• What regulations will new coal-fired stations be subject to?
• Managing the public’s reaction to the prospect of new coal

GAS: A LIKELY ALTERNATIVE?

• What is the likelihood of a second ‘dash for gas’?
• Ensuring environmental and economic stability of gas as a potential method of bridging the energy gap
• What work would be needed to store and transport gas and who would foot the bill?

Delivering a sustainable energy system which responds to urgent power demands

• Predicting possible outcomes of the COP15 (Copenhagen 2009) conference: What further environmental targets could be set?
• Taking a long-term view of short-term solutions:Ensuring today’s choices do not negatively impact the future energy mix

Question and answer session

Lunch and networking

Renewable energy – will we meet our energy targets?

• The Renewable Energy Strategy
• What are our targets and how are we expected to get there?
• How are we performing?
• How is the UK comparing with the rest of Europe?
• Will the new planning reforms make any difference?

Achieving the optimum mix of renewables, nuclear and thermal energy

• Has the focus on nuclear and renewables really harmed energy security?
• Will the UK have to hastily construct fossil-fuel power plants to meet energy demands? How can this be avoided?
• Successfully balancing carbon targets with the obligation to meet the Renewables Directive
• What steps could be taken to secure cross-party consensus on energy policy?
  

Afternoon refreshments

SPOTLIGHT ON: Combined Heat and Power (CHP)

• Can CHP schemes provide a cost-effective alternative to conventional energy generation?
• How are projects being taken up across the country? Can CHP be adopted on a large scale?
• Will district heating networks feature more heavily in the future energy picture?

Building grid connectivity: National Grid’s perspective

• How will the grid need to change to meet energy demands in the short term?
  • Electricity
  • Gas
• Estimating the value of reinforcement and expansion works
• Profiling the sources of funding and assessing their stability
• Overcoming environmental and planning challenges of infrastructure works
• How close are we to a Pan-European grid?

Question and answer session

Chair’s closing remarks and end of conference