From Today to Net-Zero: Securing an affordable & reliable energy transition

5 November 2024 | 15:30 – 18:30

Renaissance Hotel, Brussels

EUTurbines celebrated its 20th Anniversary with a high-level event, “From Today to Net-Zero: Securing an Affordable & Reliable Energy Transition,” held on 5 November in Brussels. This milestone gathering brought EU policymakers, energy sector leaders, and industry experts together to discuss a sustainable path toward climate neutrality, balancing the critical aspects of affordability and reliability. 

Attendees were welcomed by our Secretary General Ralf Wezel, who opened the floor to Tatiana Márquez Uriarte, from the Cabinet of the EU Commissioner for Energy. Uriarte opened the event with reflections on the EU’s evolving energy priorities. Highlighting a shift from target-setting to implementing competitive frameworks, Uriarte’s remarks underscored the Commission’s strategic direction for the coming years.

Fabrizio Fabbri, CEO of Ansaldo Energia, delivered a keynote on the European turbomachinery industry’s readiness to lead in sustainable innovation, advocating for a stronger role for the industry in Europe’s journey to net-zero.

The event’s panel discussions, moderated by Sonja van Renssen, provided in-depth perspectives on affordability and reliability:

• Panel 1 “An energy transition that is affordable for industry and households” gathered Dr. Javier Cavada (President & CEO Mitsubishi Power Europe, Middle East & Africa), Paolo Noccioni (President of Nuovo Pignone, IET, Baker Hughes), Christina Macatee – (Director of Marketing and Product Strategy, Solar Turbines), and Nicolai Romanowski (Energy Manager, European Chemical Industry Council – Cefic). The panel underscored the value of a diverse energy mix to avoid transferring high decarbonisation costs to consumers and ensure industrial competitiveness.

• Panel 2: “A reliable energy supply in times of growing electrification and more renewables“
  gathered Brice Raisin (Vice President GE Vernova’s Gas Power Control Solutions & Services), Stefan Becher (Vice President Large Gas Turbines, Siemens Energy), Alina Neagu (Deputy Head of Operations and System Operations Manager, ENTSO-E), Viola Rocher (Managing Director EU Representation, BDEW), and Eric Lecomte (Policy officer, European Commission). The panel addressed the need for flexible grid services and enhanced capacity to support Europe’s electrification targets and renewable energy integration.
  

Prof. Dr. Thomas Thiemann, EUTurbines’ Vice-President, facilitated a dynamic Q&A session, focusing on the role of hydrogen-ready power plants in Europe’s energy strategy.

Concluding the event, Dr. Javier Cavada speaking as EUTurbines Vice-President, reiterated the need for a systemic approach to Europe’s net-zero future, integrating multiple energy solutions to ensure an affordable, dependable path forward.

EUTurbines thanks all participants for contributing to this essential dialogue on Europe’s energy transition to net-zero.