10.00-10.45 Plenary: Challenges for Powering a Decarbonized Smart Grid

In the coming decade, integrating more volatile renewables into the electrical grid will present challenges. Nothing less than creative thinking and transformative ideas from innovators, incumbents and governments will get us to our goals. This plenary session will outline what a future smart grid will look like and assess the technical, market and regulatory challenges in decarbonizing the electrical grid.

Moderator:

• Molly Webb, Founder, Energy Unlocked

Featuring:

• James Johnston, CEO, Piclo
• David Shipworth, Professor, UCL
• Craig Douglas, Partner, World Fund
• Yvonne Ruwaida, Business strategist, Vattenfall

10:45-11:05 Randomized Networking

Meet experts, entrepreneurs, investors and corporates during a fast-paced session.

11.10-12.00 Showcase: Meet the Smart Grid Innovators Transforming our Planet

The innovation showcase will feature  start-up and growth-stage companies poised to address the major challenges presented by electricity grids today. Expect Q&A from investors and corporates.

Featuring:

• Louis Brasington, Lead Analyst, Energy & Power, Cleantech Group

Investor Reviewers:

• Beverly Gower-Jones, Clean Growth Fund
• Pippa Gawley, Founder & Director, Zero Carbon Capital

Companies Presenting:

• John Prime, Head of External and Regulatory Affairs, AmpX
• Jürgen Mayerhofer, CEO and Co-Founder, enspired
• Clarke Simmons, Managing Director, Neuville Grid Data
• Ulfert Höhne, CEO, OurPower Coop
• Fredrik Akke, CTO & Founder, dlaboratory

12.05-12.45 Roundtable 1: Managing Data Integration and Accessibility within Smart Grids

How can we manage increasing volumes of data to maximise value within the smart grid? From security to monitoring, we’ll explore the challenges associated with smart grid data and how stakeholders can best approach data handling as we transition to decentralised energy networks.

12.05-12.45 Roundtable 2: From Local to National, What are the Emerging Business Models for Energy Flexibility?

This discussion will dive into the grid flexibility business models arising from the transition away from a siloed energy model. From local flexibility models including community microgrids and peer-to-peer trading to national flexibility marketplaces, which models are likely to take center stage, and what is the role of traditional grid stakeholder in these new frameworks?

12.05-12.45 Roundtable 3: How do We Solve for an Increasingly Volatile Grid?

We’ll assess the solutions for dealing with the volatility, harmonization and system strain issues electricity grids with high renewable penetration will face this decade. From seasonal storage to virtual power plants, how can new technology assist with this transition and what challenges need to be overcome if countries wish to reach their renewable integration targets?

12.50-1.50 Speed Networking

Ready to meet the people who can help you take the next step? Speed networking gives you plenty of opportunities to get to know a range of different experts.

1.50-2.00 Closing

Join us for final remarks and bring any questions you might have,

Clarke V. Simmons BSc MSc — Founder & Managing Director of Neuville Grid Data

With over 30-years of experience relevant to smart grids and renewable energy, Clarke is a veteran leader with the demonstrated ability to assemble, grow and lead high-performance teams. He successfully started, built and sold two data-driven information service companies in the USA. US Government service as a White House research analyst.

Jürgen Mayerhofer — CEO & CO-Founder, enspired

Jürgen Mayerhofer is the CEO and co-founder of enspired, a fully digital energy trading company. He was CEO of VisoTech, a leading algorithmic trading software provider for European power and natural gas spot markets.

David Shipworth — Professor at UCL Energy Institute and Chair of User-Centred Energy Systems

David Shipworth is Professor of Energy and the Built Environment at the UCL Energy Institute and Chair of the User-Centred Energy SystemsTechnology Collaboration Programme by the International Energy Agency. He is also the UK Government’s Industry and Academic representative to this TCP.

James Johnston — CEO & Co-Founder, Piclo

James Johnston is the CEO and Co-founder of Piclo, the UK’s leading online marketplace for local flexibility trading. Prior to Piclo, James spent 3 years researching microgrids at University of Strathclyde. James is also the founder of Solar Sketch, a design company for the solar industry and worked at international engineering firm Arup.

Ulfert Höhne, Co-Founder & CEO, OurPower SCE

Ulfert Höhne is co-founder and CEO of OurPower SCE, a European Cooperative (Sociatas Cooperativa Europaea) based in Vienna. OurPower is developing and operating ourpower.coop, an innovative peer-to-peer marketplace for green power, and an engagement platform for citizen energy. Ulfert is an experienced serial entrepreneur in the field of energy and environment.

Beverley Gower-Jones, Founder & Managing Partner, Clean Growth Fund

Beverley has a proven track record and is a thought leader in early stage cleantech investments and commercialisation, she has over 30 years’ experience in the international energy sector. She specialises in accelerating innovation to market and scaling companies by providing strategic insights, developing industry partnerships and identifying novel ways to overcome barriers to entry.

Pippa Gawley, Founder & Director, Zero Carbon Capital

Pippa is the founder and managing director of Zero Carbon Capital, th​e home of the Zero Carbon Fund. This is a new EIS fund to invest in early-stage companies that are on a mission to fix climate change through scientific innovation. We can accelerate the zero carbon transition if we create technologies that are better and cheaper than fossil incumbents.​

John Prime, Head of External & Regulatory Affairs, Amp X

John has over 20 years’ experience in the energy sector in a range of roles including trading, commercial, regulation, policy and public affairs. He spent most of his career at the National Grid, where he enjoyed a variety of senior management roles, including 3 years in Brussels managing EU regulation activities, where he also led the ENTSO-E Work Group on System Adequacy & Market Modelling.  In 2019, he join the digital energy sector and has been working for Amp X.

Craig Douglas, Partner, World Fund

Sustainability investor Craig Douglas has worked in climate investing for over 10 years, primarily at SET Ventures, with notable investments including Sonnen, the world leader in home energy storage, and Limejump; and Christian Kroll as a venture partner, the founder and CEO of Ecosia.

Yvonne Ruwaida, Business strategist, Vattenfall

Molly Webb, Founder, Energy Unlocked

Fredrik Akke, CTO & Founder, dlaboratory