The Digitalization of Energy Systems: Experiences from Europe and Asia - Multinational Development Policy Dialogue Brussels
Workshop
Details
The worldwide energy sector stands at the crossroads by coping with unprecedented changes and challenges of the digitalisation, new forms of mobility, autonomous driving and the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. In contrast to the past, most of the new technologies are developed outside of the energy sector but might have unprecedented impacts on energy markets and traditional energy industries. For the incumbent energy industry, these changes offer both new benefits as well as operational and strategic risks.
The energy sector has always been at the forefront of adopting technological innovations. Power utilities have proved to be ‘digital pioneers’ since the 1970s by using technologies to improve grid management and operations, while oil and gas companies used digital technologies for modelling exploration and production assets. The fastening digitalisation with the widespread use of ‘information and communication technology (ICT)’ is changing the established energy sector and the traditional energy business models by creating new consumption patterns, providers and platforms. The digitalisation and electrification have also led to rising competition among energy companies which face at the same time new competitors from outside (i.e. IT companies).
Program
9:15 WELCOMING REMARKS and INTRODUCTION
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Dr Peter Hefele, Director, Regional Project Energy Security and Climate Change, KAS, Hong Kong SAR/PR China
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Sabina Wölkner, Programme Director, Multinational Development Policy Dialogue, Brussels/Belgium
9:30 SESSION 1 — GEOPOLITICS
Keynote 1
Energy Security in a Digitalised World and its Geostrategic Implications
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Dr Frank Umbach, Research Director, European Centre for Energy and Resource Security (EUCERS), King's College, London/UK
Keynote 2
Digitalisation of Energy Systems: the Case of India
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Professor Suba Chandran Durai, National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore/India
10:30 Tea Break
10:45 SESSION 2 — BUSINESS
Interventions
Coping with Disruptive Transformations in the Energy Business
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Philip Thies, Senior Advisor External Affairs,Tennet Holding B.V., Brussels
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Elisa Gastaldi, Senior Director EU Affairs, Siemens, Brussels
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Andrew Fielding, Vice-President Government Relations Europe, Samsung Electronics, Brussels (tbc)
11:30 Discussion/Q&A
11:45 Conclusion
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Dr Peter Hefele, KAS RECAP