P R E S S  I N F O R M A T I O N

RECENT PRESS RELEASES

Panel debates future of European Energy Supply

Fiera Milano City, Milan, 8^th June 2011 – Today the POWER-GEN Europe Conference and Exhibition, co-located with Nuclear Power Europe and Renewable Energy World Europe hosted a joint plenary panel discussion on whether Europe’s current energy policy can deliver the legally binding targets it faces.

Moderated by international journalist and broadcaster Steven Sackur, the much anticipated debate featured five leading members of the power and energy industry.  The panel examined the range of strategic and technical solutions open to the European power industry in order to comply with the European Union’s energy policy. 

The panel included: Niels Bergh - Hansen Executive Vice President, Dong Energy, Silvio Bosetti, General Manager, EnergyLab Foundation, Adrian Bull, Media & Stakeholder Relations Manager, Westinghouse, Magued Eldaiet, Executive Director, Energy Account, GE Energy and Carlo Luzzatto, Co-General Manager, Ansaldo Energia.

As well as assessing the ability of the European power industry to meet EU targets on energy consumption and climate change, the expert panel analysed a number of major European energy issues relating to gas and nuclear power, grid infrastructure, and the prospects for carbon capture and storage. Key issues discussed included; security of supply, the impact of renewable on energy prices, the consequences of the recent Fukushima power plant disaster and the reliance on fossil fuels for future energy supply.

The joint plenary panel discussion is always a great forum for industry leaders to get to the heart of the issues facing the European power industry is currently facing and today’s lively and thought-provoking debate was no exception,” said Nigel Blackaby, conference director, POWER-GEN Europe. “It was great to see some of the leading figures in the industry discuss the strategic and technical solutions needed to achieve the outcomes demanded by energy policies emanating  from Brussels in frank and open debate.”

The debate was also broadcast across the show’s websites with a twitter feed providing another route for the power industry to keep in touch. Sackur led the debate with some searching questions, and took questions from the auditorium, as well as working in questions from the online viewers as far afield as South Africa, Singapore, Russia and Australia.

 -ENDS-

Innovation drives a new era for European Power Generation

POWER-GEN Europe opens with keynote speeches from leading power industry experts

Fiera Milano City, Milan, 8^th June, 2011 – The POWER-GEN Europe Conference and Exhibition and its co-located shows Nuclear Power Europe and Renewable Energy World Europe opened in spectacular fashion yesterday with keynote sessions from leading figures in the power industry. All three speakers were united in their belief that power generation is undergoing a period of unparalleled change, driven by innovation and energy policies.

Conference Director, Nigel Blackaby, welcomed delegates and opened the conference with a speech on the current position of Europe’s energy supply. “The energy market is becoming increasingly converged for suppliers and consumers, as the need for flexible power generation grows.” 

Gianfilippo Mancini, Director of the Generation and Energy Management Division and Market Division at Enel, Italy explained that a new era has dawned across the European energy market and a deep transformation is underway. Renewable energy technologies such as smart grids have proven to significantly increase energy efficiency and companies on a global scale are beginning to invest heavily in their development.

During the keynote session Paul Browning, CEO of Thermal Products at GE Power & Water addressed the serious challenges of energy scarcity and discussed some of the actions being taken to create a more balanced global energy supply. Browning also touched on European energy policies and added that whilst the EU’s 202020 targets should be commended, the industry’s sights now need to be set even further.

Giuseppe Zampini, CEO, Ansaldo Energia closed the keynote session with his views and predictions for the energy sector, focussing on the future of the nuclear power industry.  This was discussed in the context of the recent events at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in Japan and the impact these have had on the wider industry.

This year’s event has seen a record number of exhibitors, topping 600 for the first time. Advanced visitor registrations have also superseded those of last year with attendance from utilities rising especially fast.