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Aurora
Spring Forum

Tuesday 26 March, 2024
Oxford

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Navigating Rising Geopolitical Instability: Enabling the Next Wave of Decarbonisation

Key topics will include:

  • Global Net Zero by 2050 – feasibility and financial implications
  • The role of the utilities in achieving Net Zero and the policies needed in this parliament
  • The role of hydrogen in Net Zero as one of the most promising decarbonisation options
  • Financial implications of Coronavirus on energy companies
  • Net Zero technologies: the role of nuclear and Government support for the next wave of emerging technologies
  • Renewables investment – strategies in an increasingly competitive sector
  • The role of the company board during the transition
  • The European Green Deal and what it means for the power sector

Deep into the second year of Europe’s largest war since World War II, global geopolitical tensions continue to rise.

Tension has spread well beyond Eastern Europe, with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which risks spilling further into the Middle East. China’s military build-up and aggressive rhetoric threatens Taiwan, the South China sea, and the region more widely.

Globally, divisions broaden as nations align themselves within various conflicts. Russia’s allies provide steadfast support in their war through the means of arms, munitions, and sanction evasion support. BRICS countries emphasise the need to “de-dollarise” the global economy and call for the evolution—and often revolution—of the Bretton Woods institutions and more extensive systems of international governance and dispute resolution.

Energy prices remind us yet again that geopolitical instability, particularly with Russian and Middle Eastern involvement, disproportionately impacts the energy sector.

Political, and private sector, responses are predictable.

The US and, to a lesser extent, European Governments are taking major steps to bring key energy supply chains home, reshoring production.

Renewables—the lowest-cost substitute for these globally traded fossil fuels in many applications—are being deployed at unprecedented pace on both sides of the Atlantic and globally, despite CAPEX and grid access challenges.

In OECD countries, much of the low-hanging fruit in renewables buildout is rapidly being harvested. We’re building cheap renewables in desirable locations and utilising existing grid infrastructure.

The hard work of deep decarbonisation of the power sector remains to be done. This will include massive grid expansion, market reform to encourage efficient investment and operational decisions, and supportive policy that can encourage the next wave of fledging technologies.

There remains a vast amount of renewable potential to be unlocked in rapidly developing countries like India and Brazil.

Facing this uncertainty, the Aurora Spring Forum 2024 aimed to deliver a comprehensive stocktake of the current situation and provided a detailed evaluation of future implications.

Returning for its 10th edition in Oxford on Tuesday 26 March 2024, the Aurora Spring Forum continued to be the most senior and exclusive gathering within the energy industry in Europe, bringing together the biggest utilities, policy makers, investors, and other players in the energy space.

Crucial insights were gained from speakers including Graham Stuart, UK Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; Francesco Starace, Former CEO, Enel; Partner, EQT Infrastructure; Ana Paula Marques, CEO, EDP Spain; As Tempelman, CEO, Eneco; Greg Jackson, Founder & CEO, Octopus Energy; Hunter Hunt, Chairman & CEO, Hunt Energy; and many more.

The day was filled with premium debates and discussions as well as unparalleled networking opportunities, including a networking lunch, a drinks reception, a networking dinner in the evening, and an after-dinner drinks reception.

To discuss partnership opportunities please get in touch.

Access the 2024 Highlights Pack!

2024 Speakers

Graham Stuart

UK Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

John Pettigrew

Chief Executive Officer, National Grid

Francesco Starace

Partner, EQT Infrastructure

Olivia Breese

Senior Vice President, CEO Region Europe and Power2X, Ørsted

Sam Laidlaw

Chairman, Neptune Energy

Bruno Bensasson

Chairman & CEO, EDF Renewables

Miguel Stilwell d’Andrade

Chief Executive Officer, EDP

As Tempelman

Chief Executive Officer, Eneco

Dorothy Thompson

Non-Executive Chair, Statera Energy

Greg Jackson

Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Octopus Energy

Ana Paula Marques

Chief Executive Officer, EDP Spain

Hunter Hunt

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Hunt Energy

Guy Newey

CEO, Energy Systems Catapult

Jonathan Brearley

Chief Executive Officer, Ofgem

Judith Hartmann

Operating Partner, Sandbrook Capital

Fintan Slye

Executive Director, Electricity System Operator, National Grid

Laurie Fitch

PJT Partners

Pat Wood III

Chief Executive Officer, Hunt Energy Network

Keith Anderson

Chief Executive, ScottishPower

Rosheen McGuckian

Chief Executive Officer, NTR

Alexander Voigt

Co-founder & Board Member, HH2E AG

Alice Delahunty

President, National Grid Electricity Transmission

Andrew Doyle

Executive Director, MUFG

Giorgia Carchitto

SVP Low Carbon Commercial Assets and Portfolio Analysis, bp

Christoph Torwegge

Partner, International Sector Leader - Energy & Utilities, Osborne Clarke

Charlotte Johnson

Global Director of Markets, Kraken

Robert Todd

Managing Director, CIBC Capital Markets

Sopna Sury

Chief Operating Officer Hydrogen, RWE Generation SE

Robert Llewellyn

Presenter, The Fully Charged Show

Karin Kaiser

Head of Private Markets Europe, Schroders Greencoat

Tony Cocker

Senior Independent Director, SSE & Chair, Infinis Energy Management

Adam Podgorski

Founder & CEO, GREEN14

Ramya Swaminathan

CEO, Malta

Andreas Regnell

Head of Strategic Development, Vattenfall

Gayatri Desai

Managing Director & Head of the Energy Transition & Natural Resources team, CIBC Capital Markets

Ingmar Wilhelm

Co-founder & CEO Galileo Green Energy

Sandra Grauers Nilsson

Chief Executive Officer, Eku Energy

Nick Winser

Chair, Energy Systems Catapult

Emeline Spire

Director Power System Transformation, Agora Energiewende

Richard Butland

Chief Executive Officer, Highview Power

Simon Maine

Managing Director, Corporate Communications Brookfield

Axel Thiemann

Chief Executive Officer, Sonnedix

Jon Norman

President, Hydrostor

Theodora Forbes

Vice President, CIP

Duncan Clark

Managing Director, Offshore and Country Chair UK & Ireland, Ørsted

Özer Ergül

Group Head of Procurement | CPO, Aquila Capital

Emma Woodward

European Hydrogen Market Lead, Aurora

John Feddersen

Founder & CEO, Aurora

Dan Monzani

Managing Director, UK & Ireland, and European Hydrogen, Aurora

Ana Barillas

Managing Director, Iberia & LATAM, Aurora

Richard Howard

Global Research Director, Aurora

Evangelos Gazis

Head of South Eastern Europe, Aurora

Pierre Dennery

Head of France, Aurora

Kora Stycz

Research Lead, Aurora

Marc Hedin

Head of Research, UK & Ireland, Aurora

Rebecca McManus

Senior Associate, Aurora

Brian Potskowski

Head of Advisory, UK & Ireland, Aurora

Alexander Esser

Head of Nordics & Baltics, Aurora

Previous Years

To download materials and view the agenda and speakers from previous Spring Forum events, please browse our event archive.