Technology

Meeting the energy demands of our increasingly urbanised society while also cutting greenhouse gas emissions seems like an almost impossible task. It’s a formidable challenge that sees the energy sector at the crossroads. This month on Commentvisions.com we’re discussing the role that society can play in delivering a clean energy future. And we’re looking back, in this programme, at the last year in which we’ve discussed energy and the future with experts across Europe.

Discussion: What role does society have in delivering a sustainable energy future?

Related Content:

Live debate: De-carbonised transport: with or without biofuels?

Live Debate -- Not in my backyard? Can Europe win public acceptance for low-carbon infrastructure projects?

Discussion: Climate change threatens to overwhelm society this century, so how can we prepare?

Seymourpowell, in partnership with the Design & Technology Association and the James Dyson Foundation, have made their own film (see below) to promote the importance of design education in Britain's schools and universities, its contribution to successful business, and its fundamental role in supporting the UK Economy.Read more

The discussion of how to increase energy efficiency in Europe often turns to the building sector, where a great deal of energy is used for space and water heating, at least in Europe. However I recently travelled to Singapore to shoot a series on the development of cities and was able to see how the issue is dealt with from a completely different, equatorial perspective.Read more

Background
High oil prices and technological advances have turned oil sands into a commercially-viable source of fuel. A number of energy companies have invested heavily in expanding oil production from oil sands in Canada, which is home to close to half the world’s oil sands reserves. The European Union imports very little oil derived from Canada’s oil sands, but fuel from oil sands has recently become a point of contention.

The European Union’s fuel quality directive, which was agreed in 2009, requires oil companies operating in Europe to cut the greenhouse-gas emissions of their products by 6% between 2010 and 2020. The EU was supposed to adopt emission footprint values for all types of fossil fuels by 1 January 2011. But this technical decision has been postponed repeatedly.
The European Commission is considering whether to assign a higher emission footprint value to oil sands because of the energy-intensive techniques used in the extraction process.

Environment groups are opposed to production of oil from oil sands on the grounds that extraction takes place in untouched forest areas and can produce considerable amounts of toxic waste. They also argue that putting oil sands on an equal footing with conventional oil would send out a wrong signal about the EU’s commitment to de-carbonising its economy, and would encourage the exploitation of oil sands in other parts of the world, which are less democratic and regulated, instead of encouraging the world towards the use of cleaner energy sources.

The Canadian government and European energy companies investing in oil sands point out that CO2 emissions from oil-sands production have been reduced by nearly 40% since the 1990s. They argue that the carbon intensity of oil sands, taken along the entire production chain, is within the same range or lower than other crude oils and that technological innovation can deliver further reductions.

As worldwide oil-sands reserves are equivalent to more than twice the current reserves of conventional oil, the stakes are high. EU member states appear undecided. The European Commission is still pondering its final decision, and independent studies diverge on the actual carbon footprint of oil sands.

Is it justified for the EU to adopt specific measures on the oil sands? How should other high carbon crudes be treated? What is the actual carbon footprint of oil sands? How does this compare to other fossil fuels? Can technology help to mitigate it? What about other environmental impacts of oil sands development? How compatible is it with EU climate change policy? Would an EU decision to penalise oil sands affect the world’s use of fossil fuels?

—————————————————————————-

Timing

18.00-18.30 Welcome of participants and registration

18.30-18.35 Introduction of participants by Simon Taylor, news editor, European Voice

18.35-19.05 Panel discussion

- Satu Hassi MEP, co-ordinator for the greens in the environment committee, European Parliament

- Jeanette Patell, second secretary, economic and trade policy, Mission of Canada to the European Union

- Samantha Gross, director, integrated research, IHS CERA

- Nuša Urbančič, policy officer, fuels and electrification, Transport & Environment

- Pierre Noël, senior research associate, Cambridge University

19.05-19.55 Debate (audience participation strongly encouraged)

19.55-20.00 Conclusions by John Abbott, senior vice-president heavy oil, Shell

20.00 Networking reception

—————————————————————————-

Location

Museum of Natural Sciences
Rue Vautier 29
B-1000 Brussels

Related Content:

None...

Innovation is a leading theme in the energy world, as established players and startup companies strive to find the best route to sustainable, low-carbon development while still making sure that there is security of supply. In this edition of Comment Visions we examine the theme of innovation from several angles, examining the process of innovation, the barriers to rapid development and deployment of clean energy ideas, and how intelligent thinking can make the best of renewable energy resources.

Discussion: How can we speed up innovation in energy technology to ensure a secure and sustainable energy future?

Related Content:

Live Debate -- Not in my backyard? Can Europe win public acceptance for low-carbon infrastructure projects?

Programme -- Being smart with electricity

Programme -- Automation – can clever devices be the answer to saving energy?

Background

The European Commission published its new transport white paper, a strategic document that sets the tone of EU transport policy for the next decade. The main stated objective of the white paper is to make transport more sustainable, from an economic, social and environmental point of view.

Over the past decade, the environmental dimension of transport policy has grown in importance, as climate change mitigation has risen to the forefront of EU priorities.

Transport accounts for 27% of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, a share that is set to grow. If current trends are left unchecked, growth in transport emissions could even offset reductions achieved in other sectors. If the EU is to de-carbonise its economy by 2050, this issue will have to be addressed.

Commissioner Kallas recently stated that the Commission would probably aim at a reduction of GHG emissions from 50% to 70% by 2050, compared to 1990 levels, by halving Europe’s transport sector’s reliance on oil. Linked objectives include a pledge to fully de-carbonise urban mobility, a shift of most long-distance inland freight to rail and inland waterways, and a shift of most medium-distance passenger transport to these same modes.

To achieve this, the Commission is betting heavily on technologies, with the hope that a shift to greener and smarter transport will help to establish a competitive low-carbon economy, deliver green jobs and change users’ habits.

Beyond research and development, the deployment of new technologies will depend on political will and financial resources. With investment in transport infrastructures at an all-time low, and in a context of shrinking public resources, how can this be achieved? Is the private sector ready to step in? Are national governments ready to commit? Will citizens follow?

Comment:Visions convened a high level panel of experts to debate the future of European tranport.

Related Content:

None...

Technological advances are making it possible to derive energy from greener sources. But wind turbines, solar panels, biofuels, biomass plants and carbon capture and storage (CCS) are not free of controversy. Should the governments develop a specific strategy to win public support for new technological infrastructure projects? How should industry get involved? Is public awareness sufficient?

Discussion: How can government and industry win public support for new low-carbon technologies?

Related Content:

Live Debate: Not in my backyard? Can Europe win public acceptance for low-carbon infrastructure projects?

Live Debate: Mutual dependence: securing Europe’s energy supply

Discussion: What would it take to really speed up the transition to a carbon neutral society?

The mainstream carmakers showed up at Geneva with a whole host of new energy efficient models, all vying for the title of 'most credible green innovation'. In the meantime Audi has been presenting it's vision of future cities, and Rinspeed presented a beach buggy callled Bamboo.Read more

NB – Online registration for this event is now closed. Registration is still possible for people with a permanent EP accreditation (permanent badge or express list) only. For more information please contact EVevents@economist.com.

Background

The European Commission is in the process of finalising its new transport white paper, a strategic document that will set the tone of EU transport policy for a decade. The main stated objective of the white paper is to make transport more sustainable, from an economic, social and environmental point of view.

Over the past decade, the environmental dimension of transport policy has grown in importance, as climate change mitigation has risen to the forefront of EU priorities.

Transport accounts for 27% of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, a share that is set to grow. If current trends are left unchecked, growth in transport emissions could even offset reductions achieved in other sectors. If the EU is to de-carbonise its economy by 2050, this issue will have to be addressed.

Commissioner Kallas recently stated that the Commission would probably aim at a reduction of GHG emissions from 50% to 70% by 2050, compared to 1990 levels, by halving Europe’s transport sector’s reliance on oil. Linked objectives should include a pledge to fully de-carbonise urban mobility, a shift of most long-distance inland freight to rail and inland waterways, and a shift of most medium-distance passenger transport to these same modes.

To achieve this, the Commission is betting heavily on technologies, with the hope that a shift to greener and smarter transport will help to establish a competitive low-carbon economy, deliver green jobs and change users’ habits.

Beyond research and development, the deployment of new technologies will depend on political will and financial resources. With investment in transport infrastructures at an all-time low, and in a context of shrinking public resources, how can this be achieved? Is the private sector ready to step in? Are national governments ready to commit? Will citizens follow?

Comment:Visions invites you to debate these issues with a panel of high-level decision makers and experts.

Provisional Timing

18.00-18.30 Welcome of participants and registration

18.30-18.35 Introduction of participants by Jennifer Rankin, energy and environment reporter, European Voice

 

18.35-19.05 Panel discussion

- Gesine Meissner, MEP, ALDE co-ordinator in the transport committee, European Parliament

- Keir Fitch, deputy head of cabinet of Siim Kallas, vice-president in charge of transport, European Commission – responsible for the white paper within the cabinet

- Martin Rocholl, policy director & programme director, transport, European Climate Foundation

- Richard Aumayer,  director, central division external affairs, governmental and political relations,  Robert Bosch GmbH

 

19.05-19.55 Debate (audience participation strongly encouraged)

19.55-20.00 Conclusions by Mark Gainsborough, executive vice-president strategy, portfolio & alternative energy, Shell

20.00 Networking reception

 

Discussion:

Related Content:

Users to pay more for greener transport

Commission to set out path to cleaner transport, but Green groups say plans delay action.

People should pay more to travel in future, according to a European Commission paper intended to pave the way to a greener and more competitive transport sector.

The Commission's transport white paper, scheduled for publication on 28 March, is meant to steer policy for the next decade and put transport on a path to reduce its carbon footprint.

Read more on europeanvoice.com

Just how much heat can you pump out of the earth? That’s one of the more unusual sounding questions that Professor Tony Day, a contributor to the January Comment:Visions programme, 'Energy and the City', is addressing in his daily research.Read more