NZ Wind Energy Conference and Exhibition

NZ Wind Energy Conference and Exhibition
20-22 March, 2013, Wellington Town Hall

The Annual NZ Wind Energy Conference and Exhibition returns to Wellington in March 2013.

New Zealand’s premier renewable energy industry event has a lineup of over 60 international and New Zealand speakers, including the head of the Global Wind Energy Association, Steve Sawyer, Australian energy expert Hugh Outhred, Jeffery Skeer from the International Renewable Energy Agency, and the Energy Minister, the Hon Simon Bridges.

A key theme that will be explored at the conference is the opportunities for wind energy in New Zealand in light of strong industry growth overseas and on-going reductions in costs of wind energy.

Steve Sawyer and Jeffery Skeer will shed light on the ongoing international growth in wind energy, the trends in the costs of renewable energy, and what policy measures enable wind.

Hugh Outhred will provide insight into the potential for wind energy in New Zealand by sharing South Australia’s experience, where wind now provides over 25% of the state’s electricity.

These speakers will be joined by over 50 other nationally and internationally recognised speakers, including the Energy Minister, Hon Simon Bridges. The speakers will cover a broad range of topics including technology trends, wind in the electricity market, consenting and environmental effects, community engagement, health and safety, and research.

On the opening night of the conference, Wednesday 20 March, national and local politicians will discuss the respective roles of central and local government in supporting energy developments – a topical subject in light of the Environment Minister's recent announcements about reforming the RMA and the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into local government regulation.

Conference programme highlights

Forum: The role of local and central government in supporting energy development
• Wednesday 20 March, 6pm (follows the opening of the exhibition hall at 5pm)
• West Gallery, Old Town Hall

Chair: Graham Scott, Productivity Commissioner and former Secretary of The Treasury

Participants:
• Fran Wilde, Chair, Greater Wellington Regional Council
• Wayne Walker, Councillor, Auckland Council, Chair, Environment and Sustainability Forum
• Kerry Prendergast, Chair of the Environmental Protection Agency
• Roly Ellis, Mayor, Tararua District Council
• Grant Robertson, Labour Party Deputy Leader
• Gareth Hughes, Green Party Spokesperson for Energy
• Wyatt Creech, former Deputy Prime Minister, head of the review of the performance of Environment Canterbury

What are the respective roles of local government and central government in supporting energy development? Is guidance needed from central government? Does the Environmental Protection Agency need to be empowered to support councils through the consenting process? How can regional economic development be encouraged?
This forum provides the opportunity to explore what is needed from both central and local government to maximise New Zealand's energy potential.

Plenary sessions and keynote addresses
• Thursday 21 March 8.30am to 12.30pm
• Renouf Foyer, Michael Fowler Centre

Welcome: Her Worship the Mayor of Wellington, Celia Wade-Brown

Ministerial Address: Hon Simon Bridges, Minister for Energy and Resources, MP for Tauranga

Keynote addresses:
• Wind trends and policy: a global perspective, Steve Sawyer, Secretary General, Global Wind Energy Council
• Achieving 25% wind generation: lessons from South Australia, Hugh Outhred, University of New South Wales
• Wind’s role in a renewable future, Jeffrey Skeer, Senior Programme Officer - Technology Cooperation, International Renewable Energy Agency
• Health and safety in the wind industry: a global perspective, Claus Rose, Global Wind Organisation

About the conference keynote speakers

Steve Sawyer joined the Global Wind Energy Council as its first Secretary General in April 2007. The Global Wind Energy Council represents the major wind energy associations (China, India, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, Canada, USA, Europe, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Italy, Korea and UK) as well as the major companies involved in the global wind industry.

Steve has worked in the energy and environment field since 1978, with a particular focus on climate change and renewable energy since 1988. He spent many years working for Greenpeace International, representing the organization at intergovernmental and industry forums primarily on energy and climate issues. At GWEC he is focused on working with intergovernmental organisations such as the UNFCCC, IPCC, IRENA, IEA IFC and Asian Development Bank to ensure that wind power takes its rightful place in the energy options for the future; and with opening up new markets for the industry in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

Steve is also a founding member of both the REN21 Renewable Energy Policy Network and the IEA’s Renewable Industry Advisory Board. He advised the Chinese government on the formulation of its renewable energy legislation, as well as providing expert reviewing for the IPCC’s Working Group III.

Hugh Outhred is a Professorial Visiting Fellow at the University of New South Wales, an Adjunct Professor at Murdoch University, Guru Besar Luar Biasa (Visiting Professor) at STTNAS Jogjakarta, Indonesia and Managing Director of Ipen Pty Ltd, which provides advisory and educational services on energy, society and the environment.

In 2002-2003, Hugh provided advice to the Australian Greenhouse Office and the Electricity Supply Industry Planning Council of South Australia on wind energy integration. From 2005 to 2009, Hugh led a UNSW research project for the Australian Greenhouse Office on facilitating the uptake of wind energy in the Australian electricity industry and in 2010 he lead a project for the Australian Electricity Market Operator to develop a prototype tool to predict large, rapid changes in the aggregated power output of wind farms in the National Electricity Market.

Hugh holds the degrees of BSc, BE (Hons 1) and PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Sydney and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Energy. Hugh retired in 2007 after a 35-year career at UNSW.

Jeffery Skeer is the Senior Programme Officer - Technology Cooperation at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). In this post, within IRENA's Directorate for Country Support and Partnerships, Jeff is working to establish networks of experts and centers of excellence to accelerate market deployment of renewable energy technologies. He is coordinating IRENA's Global Renewable Energy Islands Network (GREIN) to share best practices and build capacities for expanded use of renewable energy on islands and virtual islands, where renewables displace high-cost fossil fuels from distant sources. He is also working with IRENA colleagues and stakeholders to develop an Africa Clean Energy Corridor through better understanding of renewable resources, the potential for renewable power to reduce electricity costs, and the transmission system enhancements and capacity building required to run power grids with a greater share of renewables. Jeff will present on research IRENA has recently completed that examines the current and future costs of renewable electricity.

IRENA is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to renewable energy. Its objective is to "promote the widespread and increased adoption and the sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy", including bioenergy, geothermal energy, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy.

Claus Rose is the chair of the Global Wind Organisation, a not-for-profit group of wind turbine owners and manufacturers that focuses on health and safety in the wind industry. GWO was established in 2009 by turbine manufactures and developers. Today, members of the group include Vestas, Siemens, Suzlon, REpower, Gamesa, DONG Energy, Staoil, Vattenfall, Fred Olsen, Acciona, AES and E.ON. GWO works very closely with RenewableUK, G9, EWEA and Crown Estate for alignment. Its objective is to support an injury-free work environment for the construction and operation of wind farms on- and offshore. Claus is also currently the Divisional EHS Officer for Siemens Wind Power and part of the organisation’s top management.

About the NZ Wind Energy Conference and Exhibition
The annual NZ Wind Energy Conference is organised by the New Zealand Wind Energy Association. It is accompanied by a trade exhibition.

Around 250 delegates are expected to attend the conference, coming from across New Zealand, Australia and overseas. Over 25 companies are sponsoring or exhibiting at the conference, including wind turbine suppliers Vestas, Siemens and Goldwind, along with electricity generators Meridian Energy, Trustpower and Mighty River Power.

When and where
• 20-22 March
• Wellington Town Hall, Wakefield Street, Wellington

© Scoop Media