The World Sustainable Energy Trade Fair

Amsterdam Rai International Exhibition & Congress Centre

27-28-29 May 1997

The Congress

Programme & Speakers

European Media Marketing Ltd. gratefully acknowledges the support of the following conference sponsors:

Novem

Schelde Energy and Environmental Systems

Etsu

Electric Fuel Ltd.

The Congress

Addressing The Needs Of A Sustainable Future

John Glassey - Managing Director, European Media Marketing Ltd.

The common denominator of all social and economic infrasystems, from food and shelter to sewage and transport, to communication, education and finance, is electricity. The generation of energy is a prerequisite for all aspects of the socio-economic development that is so aspired to world-wide.

Technological advancement in renewables, and power transmission coupled with a greater knowledge and awareness of sustainable strategies has shifted the debate from renewable energy and sustainable transport being peripheral 'add-ons' to being core requirements essential to not only our survival but the entire balance of nature. This achievement in technology now necessitates a commitment to dismissing the trivialisation of sustainable development and a commitment from governments, industry and financiers to join in a level of awareness that is already acquired in the minds of those all present at the World Sustainable Energy Trade Fair.

As Hermann Scheer, President of Eurosolar, puts it:
"The term additive energies is ideological. It seeks to reject renewable energies by marginalizing them conceptually."
"The unhindered use of fossil and nuclear energy does have the potential to make life on earth unbearable."
Sustainable energy is not just about finding a roof to fit a solar panel on to nor building a specific community, unavailable to others. It is an entire programme of harnessing, generation, transmission and the final delivery of power that requires a globally unified strategy amongst the key players. The equation is further complicated with our demand to not only have power while stationary but while moving too. Above all, the car dominates in our transportation needs and with it provides us with one of the great challenges of the new millennium.
The Congress in Amsterdam is an expression of the international trade required to ensure that sustainable targets and strategies become reality; to ensure that renewable energy is provided with no cross-border limitations. Peter Meisen, a graduate of the University of California, founded the Global Energy Network International (GENI) in 1986 to conduct in the research and education of interconnecting electric power between countries and continents. Again, he emphasizes how technology can be the catalyst for cooperation:
"The efficient distance of ultra-high voltage (UHV) transmission is 7,00 km for direct current."
" The economic potential of UHV technology for the developing regions is immense. Some of the world's most abundant renewable energy potential exists in the developing continents of Latin America, Africa and Asia. Exports of this excess untapped potential could be purchased by the industrialized world, providing cheaper and cleaner power for the North and simultaneously sending needed cash to the developing world History shows that equitable trade engenders cooperation."
The challenge for the developed nations of the North is not just to provide such sustainability for themselves but, critically, for the ever increasing demands of over half the world's population in India, China and Southeast Asia. To cooperate successfully and allow the penetration of renewable energy industries."
John Bonda has been active in photovoltaics since 1982 and for the past 11 years has held the position of Secretary-General of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association:
"Prime penetration of renewables depends essentially on two factor. On policies whether at world, state, regional, city or municipal levels and on the willingness of banks and institutions to finance the product. The state of the technology is not a barrier per se."
For solar power: "A new dawn is opening up the vista for photovoltaics, essentially through a large number of actors prepared to place their bets on this inexhaustible source of energy. It is up to the industry not to disappoint them.."

Jeremy Leggett, took his Ph.D. in earth sciences at the University of Oxford and after an 11 year distinguished career in academia joined Greenpeace in 1989. He served as Greenpeace International's Climate Campaign (1990-1994) and Director of its Solar Initiative (1995-1996). At the end of 1996 he set up the Solar Century initiative to help bring solar energy to the world through obtaining support from financiers:
The Solar Century has two missions: to establish a global solar PV alliance, and to operate an investment forum brokering investments in solar companies by financial institutions. Dr. Leggett further emphasizes the strategic importance of solar PV and renewables:
"The ultimate imperative is of delivering sustainable energy for development to the developing world, where 2 billion people currently have no electricity, and where those who do have it will need more, no matter how much they improve their efficiency of use."

The congress of the World Sustainable Energy Trade Fair will include a host of top international speakers addressing the political, financial and commercial incentives required to create a long-term demand for sustainable energy and transport. Running through the Congress is the central theme that a strategic harmony is required between governments, industry and financiers to ensure consistency in sustainable targets and that those targets are met. Key speakers form Governments, international organizations, finance and industry are all present in an extensive and stimulating programme:

Dr. Bakthavatsalam: Managing Director
Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency

"We need to focus our efforts on replicable innovative institutional and financing models which are based on cost recovery principles, and fostering private partnerships to enable the developing countries to use these technologies."

Georges Dupont Roc: Head of Energy Strategy, Shell International Corporate Planning
Providing sustainable energy to fuel economic development is a significant long-term challenge. Starting from niche markets for stand alone applications, renewable energy could make a major contribution to future energy supplies as technology evolves and costs become more competitive.

Dr. Annemarie Goedmakers: Managing Director Renewable Energy.
NV NUON
"For NUON renewable energy means core business. There are a number of reasons why we think like this. Firstly, we consider it our social responsibility to help preserve our environment. Secondly, oil and gas will eventually run out."

Robert Lisney - European Energy From Waste Coalition

"Where re-use, recycling or composting are not possible, energy recovery provides a way of ensuring recovery and saving resources being wasted in landfill."

Dr. David Miles: Head of Unit - Optimization of the Energy System: European Commission - Directorate General XII

"Although road transport is the only area of growing energy demand, the issues are much wider than energy alone. The challenge is to provide the mobility needs of our citizens while reducing the negative externalities. We need a secure supply of energy including a longer-term substitution of fossil sources."

Dana Younger: International Finance Corporation GEF Coordinator and Climate Change Mitigation Specialist
"During fiscal 1996 IFC approved 33 projects for new investments of $715 million of which 27% were in the power sector. In recognition of the continuing demand growth for private power investments an expanded Power Department has been formed to handle IFC's investments in electric projects, transmission and distribution projects and energy efficiency investments."

Michel Zaffran: World Health organization, Expanded Programme on Immunization

"The Expanded Programme on Immunization of the World Health Organization believes that solar energy can play an increased role in strengthening rural health infrastructure, in helping to stabilize populations while contributing to an environmentally safe and sustainable development."

Dr. Gerrit Jon Zijlstra: Chairman Managing Board, Energy Noord West
"The market for renewables will, no doubt, heavily depend upon the boundary conditions that politics will impose on the liberalized energy market."