Opening and Keynote

“Today’s event is a small practical example of our contribution to a better future. This is EURELECTRIC's first carbon-neutral event”, said EURELECTRIC President Lars G. Josefsson as he welcomed some 500 delegates to the Annual Convention , entitled New Energy World taking place in Dublin on 14 and 15 June. The conference, focusing on three distinct themes - clean energy paradigm, wholesale and retail markets, and renewables - will “provide new impetus and ideas on how to shape our energy future and proactively build a more efficient, carbon-neutral, secure and competitive energy economy – one in which the electricity industry plays a valuable and leading role”, he added. A CEO executive forum rounds off the conference and focus on the challenges of building a new energy world: smart, clean and secure.

“Local authorities, EU institutions and electricity sector should work in partnership to define sustainable policies”, stated Councillor Emer Costello, Lord Mayor of Dublin, in her keynote speech. Focussing on the city’s sustainable development actions, the Lord Mayor presented Dublin City's progress since signing up to the Covenant of Mayors in March 2009. The Covenant of Mayors is a commitment by signatory cities to go beyond the objectives of EU energy policy in terms of reduction in CO2 emissions through enhanced energy efficiency and cleaner energy production and use. Dublin city is already ploughing ahead by working with its energy agency Codema to achieve a reduction of 33% by 2020 and is thus on track to becoming one of Europe’s first energy-smart cities. The opening of the world’s first carbon neutral convention centre in September this year in Dublin is one of the many achievements in areas such as planning, transport and residential and commercial buildings.

Welcoming the Convention’s participants in his country, the Prime Minister of Ireland, Mr Brian Cowen, focused on the importance of market integration: “Cooperation between Government and regulators provides a template for regional implementation of a single EU electricity market". On climate change and energy, he noted that “climate change is a very clear illustration of the challenges posed by the "growing interdependence" of our world. We know that a meaningful response to climate change cannot happen in isolation and consequently there must be a well-coordinated and well-led global response”. He continued: “Deploying the most modern technologies is very important in controlling future energy supply and demand and integrating wind onto the electricity grid”.

Gunther Oettinger, the EU Commissioner for Energy, addressing the audience in a video message, recalled the importance of market integration and the need for a proper transposition of the 3rd energy package. He stressed that "secure and sustainable energy supplies can only be achieved within large integrated markets". As integration necessitates interconnection, Mr. Oettinger emphasized the need for EU-wide harmonized rules for network access, coordination among DSOs and strong and independent network operators.Talking about networks, the Commissioner mentioned the launch of an Energy Infrastructure Package in November. This opportunity shall be used "to invest in the networks of our future and not to lock ourselves into yesterday’s technology".