On 9 June the Cambridge University Energy Network (CUEN) hosted its annual Energy Conference 2016: Renewable Energy – The Holy Grail of Future Energy?Energy@Cambridge was pleased to be a sponsor of the event. Invited speakers covered the challenges lying ahead of the energy industry transitioning from fossil fuels to a CO2-free generation.
Speakers:
Anne Richter, SUSI Partners
Daniel Gallaher, Cambridge Energy Partners (CEP)
Dr. Johannes Boeske, RWE
Gunnar Herzig, University of Cambridge
Arnab Chatterjee, Shell
Adrian Ross, Ofgem E-Serve
Cameron Rae, Ofgem E-Serve
Dr. David Reiner, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge
Anne Richter presented SUSI's strategy of low risk and long term renewable investments, currently within onshore wind, solar PV and energy storage.
Daniel Gallaher introduced how CEP, a Cambridge-based energy start-up, provides solar power solutions for off-grid energy supply to mining or agriculture industrial operations, reducing dependence on diesel-generators.
The Head of RWE Onshore Wind Controlling, Dr Boeske discussed assessment of renewable generation types by dimensions of physical abundance, technical feasibility, economic viability and public acceptability.
Gunnar Herzig, drawing on his industrial work covered the progress and challenges of offshore wind. Gunnar explained how offshore wind will achieve considerable cost reductions by development in market design, wind turbines, foundations as well as operation and maintenance.
Arnab Chatterjee, Shell, gave an outlook into different energy markets likely to be fundamentally transformed over the next few years.
Adrian Ross and Cameron Rae, Ofgem E-Serve, focussed on the renewable energy support mechanisms introduced by the UK government and what it will mean for UK consumers. These included Feed-in-Tariffs for smaller scale generation, Renewable Obligation Certificates and Contacts for Difference.
Dr Reiner focussed on synthetic biofuels and their role in de-carbonising the transport sector. He highlighted that light-weight vehicles can be powered electrically, and that heavy weight vehicles, planes and ships have a greater likelihood to run on biofuels.
Click here to read Gunnar Herzig's conference article.
Image credit: Gunnar Herzig, University of Cambridge