UK: Nextgen Announces Headline Speakers

UK: Nextgen Announces Headline Speakers

Some of the leading companies, entrepreneurs and policy makers in the cleantech sector are among the headline speakers at nextgen, Britain’s fastest growing event showcasing emerging renewable energy technologies. Held at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire on 10-11 October, the speaker programme will feature dozens of presentations and topical panel discussions in six seminar theatres at various locations across the show floor.

With more than over 3,000 visitors and 200 exhibitors at last year’s conference and expo, nextgen also encompasses ebec, the UK’s largest bioenergy show which has shown steady growth since being founded in 2006, and microgen, a show serving small-scale (sub-50kW) power producers.

On the opening day of the conference, there’s a policy update on the Green Deal by Dr Ute Collier at the Committee on Climate Change. This keynote paper is followed by a comprehensive review of progress made so far in the field of renewable energy, presented by John Sharpe, a director at Innovas. Good Energy founder Juliet Davenport assesses the impact of The Green Deal while Adrian Judge of the Green Investment Bank describes how the UK’s green infrastructure will be boosted by £3 billion of government spending on waste management, offshore wind and energy efficiency schemes.

Later on the 10th October within the Keynote Theatre, there are presentations on the current uptake and Phase 2 of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme presented by Ofgem and an analysis of different funding vehicles for renewable projects by National Grid. The following day, there is a look at how the RHI is influencing the biomass market, WRAP’s loan fund for anaerobic digestion (AD), ways to purchase renewable energy from a customer’s perspective and the potential of energy from waste AD and landfill diversion.

Presentations will be made simultaneously at five other seminar theatres, including the Micropower Council Theatre, which plans to run a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) seminar programme providing information on earning accreditation as well as vital updates for existing installers and registered companies. There will also be an important status update on how the Feed-in-Tariff scheme is shaping up prior to the November review while a dedicated microgen Theatre covers all aspects of the fast-growing microgeneration sector.

The Biogas Theatre presents a packed programme of anaerobic digestion and biogas sessions addressing all of the key issues from feedstock and sustainability through to power generation or gas to grid options. Practical case studies will help inform new entrants about tackling challenges such as obtaining planning consent through to specifying equipment, building and operating biogas plants. There are dedicated plant operator sessions covering optimisation and ongoing maintenance, monitoring and control of existing plants.

The Biomass and Energy from Waste Theatre boasts a compelling line-up of the industry’s most highly regarded speakers. This conference stream includes expert analysis from the Biomass Energy Centre, bioeconomy consultants NNFCC, and Wrap, the UK’s leading body on resource efficiency. Sessions will cover supply chain issues, sustainability and practical advice on implementing RHI projects. Waste segregation, landfill gas and conversion of food waste to biogas will also be discussed.

 “nextgen features a multi-stream conference and a major international exhibition to allow industry professionals to network, learn about the latest innovations and generate leads,” explains Lucy Pitt, group marketing manager of nextgen media.

“Bringing all the renewable energy solutions in one place at one time is a unique advantage for the show. For those undecided about which renewable energy source to select, nextgen provides essential information, guidance and support. For those ready to make an investment in a specific renewable energy project, nextgen is the perfect place to compare all of the options available from different suppliers, side by side.”

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Offshore WIND staff, August 21, 2012; Image: publitek