Registration is now open

Energy Transition 2019

– 26 March at Clarion Hotel & Congress, Trondheim

Changing the energy system to build a sustainable society

We know that we need to keep the global temperature rise well below 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels, but how do we change the energy system to support transition to a sustainable society?

What role will the energy system play in the transition of the rest of society?
How can the different energy technologies work together in a new low carbon energy system?
What are the missing pieces of the puzzle – in technology, regulations and business models?
And how can we as citizens take part in the transformation of society?

The main focus of the conference is the role of the energy system in transition towards a sustainable society while continuing to be a driver for economic growth. European and international cooperation will be central to the conference. The conference is a blend of keynotes, panel debates and plenary discussions, and participants will be international experts from academia, industry, government and NGOs.

Energy Transition 2019

Kjell-Børge Freiberg
Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy

Maroš Šefčovič
Vice President of the European Commission

Jørgen Kildahl
Chairman eSmartSystems

Jenny Larfeldt
Senior Combustion Expert Siemens

Stephen Bull
SVP New Energy Solutions Equinor

Henrik Solgaard Andersen
R&D Manager Equinor

Charlie Wilson
Researcher Tyndall Centre for Climate Research

1. Well below 2 degrees – From ambition to action
This theme addresses the strategies needed to meet the objectives of the Paris agreement, discussing the current status and what will be needed in terms of increased effort: policies, technologies, behavior, and transformation of society. The theme will have a special focus on how to deal with uncertainty: climate risk, financial risk and policy risk.

How does industry make investments under uncertainty?
How does political uncertainty affect the choices made by the industry?
How can policy makers reduce this uncertainty
Are there financial barriers preventing capital to be spent on the transition?
International cooperation – what is needed?
The gap between the actions that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and climate researchers say are necessary and the goals of political climate plans and the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) of the Paris Agreement.

2. The transformation of society – the role of citizens
This theme addresses the transformation of society focusing on the role of citizens in the energy transition.

How will we live our lives in the future, and what are the major changes of lifestyle that will come?
How do we travel in the future, what kind of buildings do we live in, and what do we eat?
What is the approach of developing countries to the transition?
Regulation and policy – how far can we go? Which groups demand more regulation?
The role of energy citizens
Success stories and challenges

3. The integrated energy system
Key factors in the transition are renewables, distributed energy generation, storage technologies, digitalization and active market participation by the consumer side. Some central topics and questions for this theme could be:

Integration of heat and electricity
Integration across sectors like waste, heat, power, industry and transport
How can markets incentivize both the short-term allocations and long-term investments?
Pricing of energy versus pricing of flexibility.
Digitalization and new business models
Examples from specific countries: India, China, Japan, brazil

4. New technologies: solutions, gaps and needs
This theme will focus on technological solutions that we are implementing or demonstrating today. In addition, we will discuss which solutions we do not currently have, but that we need to develop.

Are these technologies drivers in a new economic growth as well as drivers towards a zero emission society?
What are the possibilities and barriers in this transition, and how can we stimulate accelerated transition?
New opportunities: how can we get new business and new investments? Innovative areas with huge potential.
“Magic technologies” – what are realistic technologies?

Success stories and challenges: transport, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage (CCS).

The International advisory board for the Energy Transition Initiative: