pROGRAMME
Room 1
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87817208564?pwd=cCcEAfu2yAEjPhKoLA3cebabRREnbv.1
Meeting ID: 878 1720 8564
Passcode: 712092
Room 2
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89567227072?pwd=cHBdoNFpv4uNDVI7MDijb4bhPRbpij.1
Meeting ID: 895 6722 7072
Passcode: 474887
9.00 - 9.30
Registration
9.30 - 10.00
Official high-level opening (room 1)
Attila Steiner, State Secretary, Ministry of Energy of Hungary
Mechthild Wörsdörfer, Deputy Director-General, DG ENER, European
Commission
10.00 - 11.00
High level plenary session (room 1)
From lab to market: How to accelerate the development, manufacturing and commercialisation of innovative technologies?
Show Event Description
This high-level plenary session will delve into the crucial journey of transforming scientific breakthroughs into commercially viable products, focusing on the manufacturing and commercialization of innovative technologies. As the European Union seeks to strengthen its position as a global leader in technology and sustainability, this session will provide a comprehensive exploration of the strategies and support mechanisms essential for bridging the gap between laboratory research and market success.
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Session chaired by Mechthild Wörsdörfer, Deputy Director-General, DG ENER, European Commission
Speakers:
− Susana Alejandro, President & CEO, Saica Group
− Ferenc Nagy-Rébék, Head of Department, Ministry of Culture and Innovation
− Henk-Jan Vink, President, European Energy Research Alliance
− Elizabeth Connelly, Senior Analyst, IEA
− Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO, Hydrogen Europe (video message)
11.00 - 11.30
Coffee break
11.30 - 12.30
High level plenary session (room 1)
Inclusive and competitive skills for societal needs
Show Event Description
The SET Plan will improve the inclusion of cross-cutting policies, like skills or societal needs, into its workstream. One of the means used will be the creation of dedicated Task Forces to gather some external insights. In the meantime, while waiting for their interim reports by 2026, this panel aims at discussing both the needs of the Energy R&I sector in matters of Skills & Society, and the needs of the society & skills sectors with regards of the Energy’s sector evolution.
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Session chaired by Rosalinde van der Vlies, Director for Clean Planet, DG RTD, European Commission
Speakers:
− Jessica Johnson, Communication & Advocacy Director, NuclearEurope
− Silvia Bodoardo, Professor, Politecnico di Torino
− Oana Penu, Director of the InnoEnergy Skills Institute
− Csaba Janáky, Project Technical Director, National Laboratory for Renewable Energy
12.30 - 14.00
Lunch break
14.00 - 15.00
Parallel sessions:
Empowering Climate-Neutral and more Competitive Industries through Electrification and Flexibility (room 1)
Show Event Description
Direct or indirect electrification is an essential pathway in the transition to climate neutrality in most industrial sectors. While the electricity demand is expected to significantly increase and require grid reinforcement, the high share of variable renewable sources will require more flexibility in the industrial electricity demand, which has traditionally been a baseload demand. Making industrial electricity demand more flexible will require more investment, either in storage or in production overcapacity. There is a need to assess the value of flexibility on the electricity market in the future, in order to develop a business model for flexible industrial process investments.
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Session chaired by Eric Lecomte, Senior expert, DG ENER, European Commission
Speakers:
− Frederik Neuwahl, Project Officer, DG JRC, European Commission,
− Marco Forteleoni , Vice Chair of the Research, Development and Innovation Committee, ENTSO-E
− Nicolai Romanowski, Energy Manager, European Chemical Industry Council
− Annika Boldrini, Junior Assistant Professor and PhD researcher, Utrecht University
14.00 - 15.00
Parallel sessions
Advancing Emerging Energy Technologies: Barriers and Solutions (room 2)
Show Event Description
This session will identify actions to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative technologies, from research prototypes to large-scale deployment - from lab to fab - while ensuring the efficient use of raw materials and the development of robust recycling systems. It will provide a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas and best practices on areas which are key for scaling up production, such as access to finance, regulatory hurdles and market demand.
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Session chaired by Vangelis Tzimas, Head of Unit “Energy Transition Insights for Policy”, DG JRC, European Commission
Speakers:
− Edel Sheridan, Advisor, Batteries Europe
− Nikos Nikolakakos, Environment & Resources Manager, CEMBUREAU
− Sandro Starita, Director Sustainability, European Aluminium
− Péter Kaderják Managing Director, Hungarian Battery Association
− Patrick Clerens, Secretary General, European Association for Storage of Energy
15.00 - 16.00
Parallel sessions
Fostering Sustainability in Onshore wind and offshore renewables: Insights on Recyclability, Circularity, and Innovation (room 1)
Show Event Description
Onshore wind and offshore renewables, a cornerstone of Europe's renewable energy strategy, offer a powerful solution for decarbonisation. However, true sustainability requires continuous improvement. This panel discussion will explore two key areas relevant not only for the wind and ocean industry but also in line with the SET Plan's commitment to sustainability principles: Recyclability and Circularity: Device components can pose a future waste challenge. The session will address ways to recycle existing materials, design devices with future disassembly in mind, and increase circularity measures across the whole value chain. Innovative Solutions: Sustainability extends beyond materials. The discussion will explore cutting-edge solutions that can further reduce environmental impact, optimise efficiency, and ensure a truly sustainable future for this vital energy source.
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Session chaired by Evdokia Tapoglou, Project officer, European Commission
Speakers
− John Korsgaard, Senior Director
– Product Validation and Sustainability, LM Wind Power Blades
− Alexander Vandenberghe, Head of Innovation, WindEurope
− Sandra Pfeiffer, Director Sustainability, Nordex
− Lotta Pirttimaa, Senior Policy Officer, ETIP Ocean
15.00 - 16.00
Parallel sessions
Energy systems, including grids and digitalisation (room 2)
Show Event Description
The session will discuss the central role of innovation in advancing the development of smart energy systems. Decarbonisation, decentralisation of supply, digitalisation, electrification of end-uses, affordability and consumer benefits are key features of modern energy systems that drive the energy transition. The panel discussion will bring up the challenges and transformation needs brought by the energy transition, and link those with the research priorities that should identify and pilot innovative solutions to the challenges.
Show Speakers
Session chaired by Natalie Samovich, Head of Research and Innovation, Enercoutim
Speakers
− Vincent Berrutto, Head of Unit for Innovation, Research, Digitalisation and Competitiveness, DG ENER, European Commission
− Luis Vale Cunha, Director of European Policies and Projects – EDP Distribuição
− Pál Ságvári, Vice-President for Strategic and International Affairs, MEKH
− Susanne Windischberger, Research Engineer, Austrian Institute of Technology
16.00 - 16.30
Coffee break
16.30 - 17.30
Parallel sessions
The solar energy joint research and innovation agenda (room 1)
Show Event Description
The session will present the Staff Working Document ‘Solar energy joint research and innovation agenda’, which is based on the work of the IWG solar PV and the IWG solar thermal. The panellists will share their views on the agenda and on solar energy R&I.
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Session chaired by Davide Amato, Deputy Head of Unit for Clean Energy Transitions, DG RTD, European Commission
Speakers:
− Valérie Séjourné Managing Director, Solar Heat Europe
− Thomas Ven, Secretary General, ESTELA
− Luisa Revilla, IWG Co-Chair, Concentrated Solar Thermal Technologies Implementation Working Group
− Christoph Hünnekes, IWG Chair, Implementation Working Group On Photovoltaics
− Attila Chikán Jr., CEO, ALTEO Energy Services Plc.
16.30 - 17.30
Parallel sessions
Driving forward the urban energy transition: decarbonising the building stock through Positive Energy Buildings and Positive Energy Districts (room 2)
Show Event Description
This session aims to bring to light the importance of the urban energy transition with a focus on decarbonising the building stock through Positive Energy Buildings (PEBs) and Positive Energy Districts (PEDs). Main question will be how energy transitions in cities and communities can be achieved through actions in the built environment, i.e. on buildings, neighbourhoods and city-wide measures. Specifically, the session will concentrate on the clean heating, cooling and thermal storage technologies for buildings and neighborhoods as well as on the digital planning and operational optimization in buildings, and finally on the integrating PEDs into urban energy planning.
Show Speakers
Session chaired by Vincent Berrutto, Head of Unit for Innovation, Research, Digitalisation and Competitiveness, DG ENER, European Commission
Speakers:
− Teresa Cuerdo, Researcher at IETccCSIC and IWG5Building CoChair
− Huub Keizers, Business Manager Circular Constructions & International, TNO in the Netherlands,
− Andreas Türk, Head of Research Group International Climate Policy and Economics, Joanneum Research,
− Emina Pasic, Senior Adviser, Swedish Energy Agency
− Robert Freund, Coordinator of PED project, Urban Innovation Vienna
− Pál Kiss, President, Hungarian Heat Pump Association
16.30 - 17.30
Parallel sessions
Nuclear innovation and safety (room 3)
Show Event Description
The revised SET Plan will help maintain and strengthen the safety of nuclear energy, taking also into account the declared ambition of 14 Member States (Nuclear Alliance) to provide up to 150 GW of electricity capacity by 2050 in the EU (from roughly 100 GW today). This is expected to entail at least 30- 45 new build large reactors and small modular reactors (SMRs). In this context, the future nuclear landscape in Europe calls for an increased emphasis on the safety of SMRs design. It also opens the debate about the role of nuclear in a decarbonized Europe while ensuring European world-class nuclear research infrastructures able to train the new generation of talents in the sector.
Show Speakers
Session chaired by Ulla Engelmann, Director for Nuclear Safety and Security, DG JRC, European Commission
Speakers:
− Andrea Beatrix Kádár, President, Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority
− Attila Aszódi, Dean, Budapest University of Technology and Economics
− Abderrahim AlMazouzi, General Secretariat, Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform
− Andrei Goicea, Policy Director, NuclearEurope
19.00
Official dinner
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87817208564?pwd=cCcEAfu2yAEjPhKoLA3cebabRREnbv.1
Meeting ID: 878 1720 8564
Passcode: 712092
09.00 - 10.00
Plenary session (room 1)
Innovating with Hydrogen: Research, Policy, and Market Synergies
Show Event Description
Accelerating a European hydrogen economy requires a drastic cost reduction and upscaling of hydrogen production, distribution and use. The huge investments in research, innovation and deployment needed to bring hydrogen ‘from niche to scale’ call for cooperation and synergies at all levels to allow a more efficient and targeted use of resources. Speakers will discuss how they see hydrogen being developed at full scale in EU territory, not only at European level but also nationally and regionally.
Show Speakers
Session chaired by Rosalinde van der Vlies, Director for Clean Planet, DG RTD, European Commission and Tudor Constantinescu, Principal Adviser, DG Energy, European Commission
Speakers:
− Valérie Bouillon-Delporte, Executive Director, Clean Hydrogen Partnership
− Nadine May, IWG for Hydrogen, DLR Project Management Agency
− Luigi Crema, Director, Centre Sustainable Energy
− István Lepsényi, President, Hungarian Hydrogen Technology Association
10.00 - 11.00
Plenary session (room 1)
Geothermal energy: time to step up
Show Event Description
The European Parliament resolution of 18 January 2024 calls for the development of a comprehensive European strategy for geothermal energy. Geothermal energy can play a significant role within the framework of the RepowerEU Plan and the Net Zero Industry and Critical Raw Materials Acts, serving as a baseload renewable source of electricity, heating, and cooling, but also as an energy storage solution and the potential source of lithium and other minerals. However, as highlighted in the resolution, the EU needs to overcome obstacles such as complex national regulations, lengthy processes, and insufficient data on geothermal resources, which have impeded progress in this area. This is crucial in order to accelerate deployment and investment in geothermal energy, ultimately contributing to the EU's energy transition and climate targets, while also bolstering the EU's strategic competitiveness, autonomy and security. The session will tackle these challenges and embrace the opportunities associated with geothermal energy in Europe, relying on a diverse group of experts, policymakers, and industry leaders.
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Session chaired by Piotr Szymański, Director for Energy, Mobility and Climate, DG JRC, European Commission
Speakers:
− Zdzisław Krasnodębski, Professor, Universitat Bremen
− Miklós Antics, President, European Geothermal Energy Council
− Gerdi Breembroek, Chair of Geothermal IWG, Netherlands Enterprise Agency
− Judit Mádlné Szőnyi, Professor, Eötvös Loránd University
− Krzysztof Galos, Undersecretary of State, Chief National Geologist, Ministry of Climate and Environment, Republic of Poland
11.00 - 11.30
Coffee break
11.30 - 12.30
Plenary session (room 1)
The SET Plan of tomorrow
Show Event Description
This session aims at discussing the crucial role the SET Plan will play in improving clean energy R&I in the coming years. By crossing the institutional and research points of view, the session will enable to clarify the expected outcomes of the NEW SET Plan, following the new link with the Net Zero Industry Act and the SET Plan’s pending inclusion into the ERA Policy Agenda.
Show Speakers
Session chaired by Rosalinde van der Vlies, Director for Clean Planet, DG RTD, European Commission
Introductory statements:
– Piotr Szymański, Director for Energy, Mobility and Climate, DG JRC, European Commission
– Vincent Berrutto, Head of Unit for Innovation, Research, Digitalisation and Competitiveness, DG ENER, European Commission
Speakers:
− Adel El Gammal, Secretary General, European Energy Research Alliance
− Maria-Laura Trifiletti, ETIPs FORUM Facilitator – ZABALA Innovation
− Ákos Horváth, Director General, HUN-REN Centre for Energy Research
12.30 - 13.00
Closing of the conference (room 1)
Session chaired by Paula Pinho, Director for Just Transition, Consumers, Energy Security, Efficiency and Innovation, DG Energy, European Commission
Show Speakers
Session chaired by Rosalinde van der Vlies, Director for Clean Planet, DG RTD, European Commission
Speakers:
− Attila Steiner, State Secretary, Ministry of Energy of Hungary
− Christian Ehler, MEP, European Parliament (video message)
− Marc Lemaître, Director General, DG RTD, European Commission (video message)
− Iben Møller Søndergård, Deputy Director General, Danish Energy Agency (Representative of the Danish Presidency)
13.00 - 14.00
Lunch
13.00 - 14.00
SET Plan Steering Group meeting (by invitation only) (room 2)
14:00-17:00
Study tour
