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."
|