The energy market is changing. Energy users, be they public bodies or large corporations, retail units or housing associations, hotels or factories, are increasingly conscious of volatile prices, unstable supply and their carbon footprint, and are taking matters into their own hands by opting for self-generation.
Set against this background, the inaugural Smart Energy Show is being held 1 and 2 December 2009 at the iconic Wembley Stadium in London. Developed by the Renewable Energy Association (REA) who are organising the conference; and Media Generation Ventures Ltd who are organising the exhibition, the new show is designed for energy users and beneficiaries of the new feed in tariffs set to start in 2010.
"The decentralised energy market is growing rapidly worldwide, encouraged by strong commercial, financial, environmental and political drivers," said Paul Stott, managing director of Media Generation Group, the organiser of All-Energy. "Europe will be obtaining 20% of its overall energy from renewables by 2020, with a further 20% emissions reduction through energy saving. In the UK there are huge incentives for organisations and individuals to produce their own green energy. Last year's Energy Act introduced new tariffs starting in 2010 to reward
local renewable heat, power and biogas production.
"We are very pleased to be working alongside the Renewable Energy Association on this new event and are looking forward to a highly successful and stimulating two days," added Jamie Thompson, event director for the exhibition. "The REA is hard at work producing a conference programme with appeal across the board to those working within organisations of all sizes who are concerned with the energy efficiency, cost or carbon footprint of buildings, including those
looking at renewable energy generation systems for the first time; and those who have previously dismissed their use."
Exhibitors at the inaugural Smart Energy will include companies with products and services relating to energy saving and efficiency; renewable energy generation; renewable heat production; energy management and monitoring; installation and commissioning; operation and
maintenance; energy advice, auditing and consultancy; and biogas and renewable fuels.
These exhibitors, drawn from home and overseas, will be demonstrating how energy can be produced by a wide range of sectors including retail units, warehouses and offices; local, regional and national government facilities; schools, hospitals and public buildings; factories and
commercial property; port authorities; economic development agencies; hotels, leisure centres, sports facilities; communities and housing associations – and many more sectors.
'We are happy to be working with Media Generation on this new event," says says Sarah-Jane Freni, Events Manager at the REA. "Pooling our strengths like this is certainly a win:win situation.
"The conference will showcase how renewable energy systems can significantly reduce a building's carbon footprint, as well as allowing users to take control of their energy supply. Spread over two days, it will mainly address issues relevant to businesses on the first day and
communities on the second. It will provide the opportunity to delegates to fully understand how the forthcoming tariff programme affects viability, witness how others have successfully integrated and are using renewables within buildings and to find out more about the wide variety
of technology options available."
The outline conference programme can be seen on the show website at www.smartenergy.co.uk
Smart Energy '09 is endorsed by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and supported by BEAMA, the Carbon Trust, EEEGR, Energy Networks Association, Energy Saving Trust, Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Renewables East and RegenSW.
