The country’s leading renewable energy event for farmers and landowners has unveiled the new speakers, who will be debating the shifts in the industry and what this means for rural professionals.
The Energy Now Expo multi-streamed conference format has changed for the 2016 event, and will include keynote conference sessions on each renewable energy type, taking place right inside the exhibition.
Three provocative topics will be proposed by a chair, and then discussed by three leading industry professionals who will have half an hour each to state their case, and the audience will be invited to contribute.
At the start of each day the conference will be kicked off by three keynote presentations, from leading figures in the renewables and farming industries.
Taking place at Telford International Centre, Shropshire, on February 10 and 11 2016, new headline speakers and topics include:
• Guy Smith, NFU vice-president, who will open the conference;
• Dr Doug Parr, the chief scientist from Greenpeace, presenting on the real costs associated with nuclear verses renewable energy;
• Amy Mount, senior policy advisor from Green Alliance presenting on how to get UK Energy and climate Change policy back on track;
• Merlin Hyman, chief executive from RegenSW, giving insight into the continued shift from centralised fossil fuels to renewables and the opportunities available;
• Tom Beeley, CLA renewables advisor giving his perspective on the solar opportunities available and energy performance certificates;
• Gemma Grimes, director of onshore renewables, Renewable UK will be chairing the wind session;
• Andrew Burgess, associate partner, Electricity Distribution, Ofgem, focusing on what's changing to allow greater connection flexibility when investing in distribution networks;
• Gwenllian Roberts, head of energy wales unit, Welsh Government, making the case for why renewable energy is important to Wales;
• Simon Gerard, senior business development manager at Lightsource Energy, discussing the future of large scale solar and decentralised energy;
• James Miles-Hobbs, director of JMH Farming & Renewables, identifying where the opportunities are in light of subsidy change;
• Lucy Hopwood, from the NNFCC, examining the feedstock options for a plant and the sustainability of energy crops;
• Darren Edwards, partner at Fisher German, will be discussing the large scale storage options available in the UK.
Each will be tackling the issues facing different energy sectors, as an increasing number of farmers seek alternative ways to reduce bills, lower carbon emissions and boost incomes.
New features for Energy Now Expo 2016 include:
• New Energy Now Awards to reward farmers and landowners for their achievement within the sector;
• An extended exhibition hall, that’s double the size of the last year’s event, accommodating 200 exhibitors;
• Three new zones; featuring an educational sector, a new product development area and re-structured advice clinic.
