Across the globe, 2024 has seen the climate crisis continue to accelerate, with Europe rocked by deadly flooding and wildfire events yet again. Meanwhile, the political drive for net-zero has been a key agenda item on the ballot. This year’s European Parliament elections were set against a backdrop of increasing right-wing populism, with years of progress on Green issues overturned as politics lurched to the right, driven in Ireland and elsewhere by a surge in anti-migrant activism. Can the EU survive the coming polycrisis of food shortages, mass climate migration and ever more deadly weather extremes and how should we be preparing?

Ireland’s Energy Revolution

As governments enact climate-friendly policies, electric grids need to be decarbonised, by using renewable-energy sources. Despite its urgency, redesigning electric grids is both a political and technological challenge. How can such a revolution happen?

• Do we need to start over, or can existing regulation be adapted to meet the needs of a distributed, renewable energy system? 
• The commercial, technical and regulatory dynamics of integrating renewables into the power system
• Changing Ireland’s energy infrastructure: What would private electricity wires mean for Ireland’s energy system? 

The global energy transition, pivotal to climate change mitigation efforts and for delivering secure and affordable energy for all, has made gradual progress in recent years. Despite this, alarm bells on global warming keep getting louder as countries are facing simultaneous pressures on all three pillars of the energy transition: economic development and growth, environmental sustainability, and energy security and affordable access. The panel will discuss the uncertainties that have shaken the foundations of the energy system and the paradigm shift required in our strategies and immediate actions.

Recent research from KPMG shows that people in Ireland are broadly committed to change and support large-scale energy infrastructure and renewable energy projects once they benefit local communities and create jobs. However, to secure Ireland’s energy future and achieve energy independence, we need a compelling vision for what this will mean for people, their communities and future job prospects.

Leading the revolution in Europe

• Assessing the pace of transition: Identifying key successes so far and challenges ahead
• Delivering a secure renewable energy supply: how do operators need to adapt?
• Engaging the customer: how can consumer engagement with the transition be fostered?
• Optimising the energy system: which green technologies hold the most potential?
• Regulatory reform: Optimising policy and regulation to further support the transition 
• People and skills: the crucial skills needed to design and deliver our future energy system

Leaders in climate action industries must grasp the opportunities for their energy businesses. A massive up-scaling in our switch to renewables is required including accelerating the delivery of offshore wind, onshore wind and solar as well as ramping up green hydrogen production. Ireland is well placed to take advantage of opportunities through our vast renewable resources and there are opportunities for innovation and new technologies to play a significant role to meet emissions reduction targets.
Topics will include:

• What are the investment trends in the low carbon energy transition?
• How can we de-risk clean energy investments to maintain capital flow?
• What process and energy technologies are available to drive digital transformation in businesses?
• What do we need from the national grid?
• What capital financing and funding opportunities are available?

New tools to manage energy consumption

• Doing more with data: Engaging consumers with energy efficiency
• Harnessing data and AI to transform customer experience and enable new energy business models
• Empowering energy consumers to understand and control their energy usage with smart meters
• Developing sustainable propositions, products and services
• Combining small-scale and behind-the-meter technologies for home and business to make the transition simpler for all customers
• Transforming billing to integrate green products and services
• Financing: Low cost financing solutions for scaling electrification of homes

Building a fleet of rapid-responding storage assets to underpin a balanced grid

• How quickly can batteries be deployed as stabilisers of renewable energy?
• Ensuring the long-term storage of energy: What technologies hold the most promise?
• Trialling new solutions
• Effective integration: How to improve the coordination between the grid operator and storage providers?
• How will the regulatory system have to adapt to support the development of large-scale storage?