Tuesday 26 March, 2024
Oxford
Aurora
Spring Forum
Navigating Rising Geopolitical Instability: Enabling the Next Wave of Decarbonisation
- 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.
2024 Speakers
![Graham Stuart](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Graham-Stuart-500x500-1.png)
Graham Stuart
![John Pettigrew](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/John-Pettigrew-500x500-1.png)
John Pettigrew
![Francesco Starace](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Francesco-Starace-500x500-1.png)
Francesco Starace
![Olivia Breese](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Olivia-breese-500x500-1.png)
Olivia Breese
![Sam Laidlaw](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Sam-Laidlaw-500X500.png)
Sam Laidlaw
![Bruno Bensasson](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Bruno-BENSASSON-500x500-1.png)
Bruno Bensasson
![Miguel Stilwell d’Andrade](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Miguel-Stilwell-500x500-1.png)
Miguel Stilwell d’Andrade
![As Tempelman](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/As-Tempelman-500x500-1.png)
As Tempelman
![Dorothy Thompson](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/dorothy-500x500-1.png)
Dorothy Thompson
![Greg Jackson](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Greg-Jackson-square1.jpg)
Greg Jackson
![Ana Paula Marques](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Ana-Paula-Marques-500x500-1.png)
Ana Paula Marques
![Hunter Hunt](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Hunter-Hunt-500X500.png)
Hunter Hunt
![Guy Newey](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GuyNewey-500x500-1.png)
Guy Newey
![Jonathan Brearley](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Jonathan-headshot-NEW-500x500-1.png)
Jonathan Brearley
![Judith Hartmann](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Judith-Hartmann-500x500-1.png)
Judith Hartmann
![Fintan Slye](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Fintan-Slye-500x500-1.png)
Fintan Slye
![Laurie Fitch](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Laurie-new-500X500.jpg)
Laurie Fitch
![Pat Wood III](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Pat-Wood-500x500-v2.png)
Pat Wood III
![Keith Anderson](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Keith-Anderson-square1.jpg)
Keith Anderson
![Rosheen McGuckian](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Rosheen-McGuckian-500x500-1.png)
Rosheen McGuckian
![Alexander Voigt](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Alexander-Voigt-500X500.jpg)
Alexander Voigt
![Alice Delahunty](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alice-Delahunty-500x500-1.png)
Alice Delahunty
![Andrew Doyle](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Andrew-Doyle-500x500-1.png)
Andrew Doyle
![Giorgia Carchitto](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Giorgia-500x500-1.png)
Giorgia Carchitto
![Christoph Torwegge](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/christoph-torwegge-500x500-1.png)
Christoph Torwegge
![Charlotte Johnson](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Charlotte_Johnson-500x500-1.png)
Charlotte Johnson
![Robert Todd](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Robert-Todd_500x500.png)
Robert Todd
![Sopna Sury](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Sopna-Sury-500x500-2.png)
Sopna Sury
![Robert Llewellyn](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/0002_Robert-L3.png)
Robert Llewellyn
![Karin Kaiser](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Karin-Kaiser-500x500-1.png)
Karin Kaiser
![Tony Cocker](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Tony-Cocker-500X500.jpg)
Tony Cocker
![Adam Podgorski](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Adam-500x500-1.png)
Adam Podgorski
![Ramya Swaminathan](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Swaminathan-500x500-1.png)
Ramya Swaminathan
![Andreas Regnell](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Andreas-Regnell-500x500-1.png)
Andreas Regnell
![Gayatri Desai](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Guy-500x500-1.png)
Gayatri Desai
![Ingmar Wilhelm](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Ingmar-Wilhelm-500x500-1.png)
Ingmar Wilhelm
![Sandra Grauers Nilsson](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Sandra-Grauers-500x500-1.png)
Sandra Grauers Nilsson
![Nick Winser](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Nick-Winser-500x500-1.png)
Nick Winser
![Emeline Spire](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Emeline_Spire-500X500.png)
Emeline Spire
![Richard Butland](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Richard-Butland-500x500-1.png)
Richard Butland
![Simon Maine](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Simon-Maine-500x500-1.png)
Simon Maine
![Axel Thiemann](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Axel-Thiemann-500x500-1.png)
Axel Thiemann
![Jon Norman](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Jon-Norman-500x500-1.png)
Jon Norman
![Theodora Forbes](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Theodora_Forbes-500x500-1.png)
Theodora Forbes
![Duncan Clark](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Duncan-Clark-500x500-1.png)
Duncan Clark
![Özer Ergül](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Ergul-500x500-1.png)
Özer Ergül
![Emma Woodward](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Emma-500X500.png)
Emma Woodward
![John Feddersen](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/John-Feddersen-500x500-1.png)
John Feddersen
![Dan Monzani](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Dan-Monzani-1-scaled.jpg)
Dan Monzani
![Ana Barillas](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/MicrosoftTeams-image-49.png)
Ana Barillas
![Richard Howard](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Richard-Howard-500X500.png)
Richard Howard
![Evangelos Gazis](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Evangelos-500x500-1.png)
Evangelos Gazis
![Pierre Dennery](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/pierre-500x500-1.png)
Pierre Dennery
![Kora Stycz](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Kora-Stycz-500x500-1.png)
Kora Stycz
![Marc Hedin](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Marc-Hedin-new-500x500-1.png)
Marc Hedin
![Rebecca McManus](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Rebecca-McManus-500x500-Pic.jpg)
Rebecca McManus
![Brian Potskowski](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Brian-500x500-1.png)
Brian Potskowski
![Alexander Esser](https://auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Alexander-Esser-500x500-1.png)
Alexander Esser
Previous Years
To download materials and view the agenda and speakers from previous Spring Forum events, please browse our event archive.