Activity Report 2012 - Eurelectric

EURELECTRIC’s
annUaL ConvEnTIon
anD ConFEREnCE –
IMpREssIons
“We urgently need investment in Europe’s transmission and distribution grids,
in new power plants, and in innovative technologies like smart grids. But policy
as well as regulatory uncertainty is blocking access to capital.…”
EURELECTRIC President and CEO of EnEL, Fulvio Conti,
thus set the tone of the association’s annual industry
event, hosted this year by Maltese member Enemalta
on 4-5 June.
The conference attracted over 400 delegates from
industry, EU and international circles and was sponsored
by EURELECTRIC Business Associates Accenture (Gold
sponsor), Pöyry (Silver) and Ormazabal (Bronze).
Entitled “Politics vs. Industry: on the Cliff Edge –
Europe’s new Energy Challenges”, conference debates
focused on how to render the industry “investable”, with
several keynote speakers calling on EU decision-makers
to reassure investors that an integrated and efficient
energy market was still at the heart of the EU’s strategy
to achieve a sustainable, competitive, low-carbon
46 eurelectric activity report 2012
economy by 2050. The transition to a “new era” for
European energy in an increasingly difficult economic,
financial and political climate was discussed at length
in four specific sessions dedicated to analysing: i) global
energy challenges, ii) mismatched European energy/
climate policy instruments, iii) financing of investments,
and iv) the role of EU islands as “test beds” for mainland
energy solutions.
As in the past, the event also included the presentation
of a EURELECTRIC industry and student award (see article
on page 50).
Preparations are now underway for the annual
EURELECTRIC conference in Bologna next 3-4 June,
hosted by EnEL and entitled “Innovative Investments:
Re-energising Europe”.