National and international speakers addressed over 250 delegates gathered at Titanic Hotel, Belfast, yesterday, for Phoenix Energy’s third annual NI Renewable Gas Conference. The event, which has grown momentum over the past 3 years, brought together local policy makers, industry leaders, and energy experts that share a common goal of progressing a decarbonised NI economy. This year’s conference theme was market delivery; how the region can advance established, market ready solutions that will create ‘learning by doing’, support 2030 carbon targets and, attract investment into the region.
Over 250 delegates gather in Belfast to hear from local and international speakers at the Annual NI Renewable Gas Conference
Speakers at the conference included Noyona Chundur, CEO of Consumer Council NI and Simon Fitzpatrick from the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association, representing the views of business and domestic energy users and the importance of the timely delivery of affordable, resilient low carbon energy solutions locally. Founder of Econic Energy, Christoph Grossbaier highlighted the important role that emerging technologies ware playing across other countries, whilst European Biogas Association’s CEO Harmen Dekker gave delegates an insight into the successful role out of the biomethane economy across Europe and provided lessons learned that can be applied to NI’s emerging biomethane sector.
Kailash Chada, Chief Executive of Phoenix Energy said, “We are delighted that the annual Renewable Gas Conference continues to provide industry, academia, policy makers and third sector organisations with a platform to shape and pursue shared objectives. Whilst many delegates that attended the conference have been involved in the NI energy sector for many years, it is great to see new faces, from a breadth of industries which demonstrates the increasing value that a decarbonised energy system provides across the environmental, economic, biodiversity and social agenda.
“I am pleased that 12 months after launching a series of gas industry 2030 commitments, the industry has made remarkable strides across a number of key research and demonstration projects. The NI Gas Network Operators Biomethane Request for Information process in late spring this year further reinforced the market readiness that exists across the region to develop a high performing biomethane sector locally, with sufficient potential biomethane feedstock identified to decarbonise over 290,000 homes.”
Speaking at the event, Noyona Chunder, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council NI said, “As we evolve our local energy system, the role of consumers must be central to both the shaping and delivery of secure, reliable, low carbon solutions that are affordable to all. This can best be achieved by establishing trusted, accessible platforms that enable customers to actively participate and shape the pathways to decarbonisation.
“If we deliver this level of consumer participation, the pace at which we can deliver high quality outcomes will be greatly enhanced.”
Christoph Grossbaier, Founder of Econic Energy added, “It was great to spend time with organisations who are passionate about enabling change across the energy sector in NI. At Econic, we have seen how hybrid heating systems are driving positive consumer change across parts of Europe and believe this technology can complement Northern Ireland’s sizeable potential for indigenous production of renewable gas solutions.”