This Forum was intended to bring together policy makers, technology innovators, leading researchers, entrepreneurs and industry thought leaders to help shape next generation smart energy solutions. The goal of the 2018 Forum was to explore the effect of emerging technologies on the distribution sector business models. Throughout the day, leading industry, government, and academia, provided expert presentations on addressing the alignment of energy policy and the need to foster innovation to achieve a low carbon economy. Through dialogue and extensive opportunities for networking, collaboration and discussion, the Forum focused on establishing a common basis for accommodating divergent interests.
The forum addressed an urgent need to accelerate impactful integration of cost effective solutions to decarbonize our energy system and brought together technology developers and innovators, leading researchers and entrepreneurs, industry thought leaders, and policy makers to help shape next generation smart energy solutions.
Forum Goals and Objectives:
- The goal of the Forum was to explore the effect of emerging technologies on the distribution sector business models.
- The Forum comprised of panel presentations by leading industry, government, and academia, with extensive opportunities for networking.
- The objective of the Forum was to address the alignment of energy policy and the need to foster innovation to achieve a low carbon economy.
The forum:
- Explored investment opportunities for technology developers and small to medium size enterprises (SMEs) as new business models emerge in response to disruptive technologies.
- Focused on distributed energy resources to improve performance and resilience of the distribution network.
- Fostered research partnerships between academia, industry, utilities and government to strengthen the eco-system for innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Addressed regulatory and energy policy issues in the context of sector modernization
The forum focused on establishing a common basis for accommodating divergent interests. Special features of the day’s events included poster presentations by students, an innovation showcase, a tour of the solar lab – Center for Advanced Photovoltaic Devices and Systems – as well as an electric vehicle showcase held outdoors
Agenda
| 8:00 am |
Registration & Continental Breakfast |
| 9:00 am |
WelcomeGlen Wright, Chairman, Council for Clean & Reliable Energy Jatin Nathwani, Executive Director, WISE |
| 9:15 am |
Keynote SpeakerThe Hon. Sergio Marchi, President and CEO, Canadian Electricity Association |
| 9:45 am |
Panel 1Is Technology Disruption Driven by Economics? The large cost declines in several parts of the energy supply chain – batteries, LED’s, solar and wind, sensors, devices and computational power – is the context that will determine new business models and relationships between the utility, the customer and new service providers. The panel will discuss financial and regulatory implications likely to emerge for the electric utilities. Moderator: Jatin Nathwani, Professor & Executive Director, Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy, University of Waterloo
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| 11:15 am |
Break |
| 11:30 am |
Presentations by Technology Developers |
| 12:30 pm |
Lunch, Innovation Showcase, Networking & Industry-Academic Collaboration |
| 1:30 pm |
Optional Lab Tours (for Pre-Registered Guests) |
| 2:30 pm |
Panel 2Financing Business Models: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Financing innovation is almost always an issue. This highly experienced panel will discuss alternative approaches to financing and the advantages and pitfalls which need to be considered. The panel will also consider successes and failures with alternative business models and the role of government in fostering innovation. Moderator: David McFadden, Counsel, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
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| 4:00 pm |
Closing Remarks:David McFadden, Counsel, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP |
| 4:00 pm |
Reception, Innovation Showcase, Networking & Industry-Academic Collaboration |