EU Sustainable Energy Week 2015

June 15, 2015

Brussels - The 10th edition of the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) will get into full swing with up to 70 challenging sessions in the high-level Policy Conference (16-18 June) and more than 500 side events, exhibits and Energy Days attracting tens of thousands of visitors in Brussels and across the EU. Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Energy Union and Miguel Arias Cañete, EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy and, will join experts from industry, government, civil society, energy stakeholders and the world’s media to exchange ideas and discuss the role of responsible consumers in the new Energy Union and the best solutions to help meet the EU’s long-term energy and climate goals.

What is EUSEW’s mission?

First launched by the European Commission in 2006, EUSEW is organised with the support of the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME). EUSEW helps promote the EU’s energy and climate goals, and serves as an important platform for the exchange of information and best practices among participating sustainable energy experts. The EUSEW presents the opportunity to discuss the EU’s sustainable energy agenda with stakeholders and the general public.

What’s the programme for EUSEW 2015?

1. Policy Conference, 16-18 June, Brussels

This flagship three-day event will be held at two venues in Brussels: the European

Commission’s Charlemagne building and the Committee of the Regions’ Jacques Delors building. The theme this year is the role of responsible consumers in the new Energy Union.

Some 3000 participants are expected at the Policy Conference in Brussels, which features the most comprehensive programme in EUSEW’s ten-year history, with 70 sessions – 40 % of which are hosted by the European Commission and the rest by outside organisations. Topics on the agenda include Europe’s low-carbon future, decentralised energy, smart-energy solutions, sustainable mobility, renewables, smart cities, energy efficiency, energy-intensive sectors, the Energy Union, energy democratisation, and more. Sessions take place both in the morning or afternoon and, with a few exceptions, last 90 minutes.

Watch out for:

Energy efficiency first (16 June, 09:30-10:50, Charlemagne building, De Gasperi) featuring Miguel Arias Cañete, Climate Action and Energy Commissioner, Jurijs Spiridonovs, Acting Secretary of State from Latvian Ministry of Economics and Vladimir Nemec, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of the Czech Republic in Brussels, and setting the political vision for the ‘energy efficiency first’ principle, followed by a roundtable discussion moderated by Dominique Ristori, Director-General for Energy, on ‘energy efficiency first’ in action. The session will also be streamed in several rooms.
Special Report on Energy and Climate in the International Energy Agency (IEA) World Energy Outlook 2015 (16 June, 11:20-12:30, Charlemagne building, De Gasperi) featuring Dr. Fatih Birol, Chief Economist of the IEA, and Tord Lien, Norway’s Minister of Petroleum and Energy. The session will also be streamed in several rooms.
Innovative thinking for energy of the future: Women in renewable energy (18 June, in two parts 14:00-15:30 and 16:00-17:30, Charlemagne building, De Gasperi) featuring Environment ministers from Sweden and Morocco, Åsa Romson and Hakima El Haite, discussing the important role of women in the development and deployment of renewable energy around the world.
An investment framework for energy efficiency: The way forward (18 June, in two parts 9:00-10:30 and 11:00-12:30, Charlemagne building, De Gasperi) featuring Vice-President Šefčovič responsible for the Energy Union, CEO of Climate Strategies and Partners, Peter Sweatman, former MEP Fiona Hall and high-level representatives of industry discussing the report of the Energy Efficiency Financial Institutions Group (EEFIG).

2. Networking Village, 17-18 June, 9:00-17:30, Jacques Delors building, Brussels

For the first time, a dedicated space for networking will provide unrivalled opportunities for pre-arranged, one-to-one meetings between Policy Conference delegates on common themes of interest and organised through an online matchmaking app.

Features of the Village include:

Dynamic, innovative and interactive activities will be on offer at 16 locations in the exhibition area, which will be manned continuously.
Speakers’ corner will give participants an opportunity to attend brief 20-minute sessions.
Pre-arranged one-to-one matchmaking meetings will take place between conference delegates. At any time, participants will be able to identify others who have selected a ‘common interest’ through an online system and send them a meeting request for one of the 15-minute time slots available for this matchmaking activity.

Conference participants can also visit three stands (DG Energy stand, European Commission corporate stand, and media relations partners’ stand) at any time from 9:00-17:30 in the Charlemagne building. More info on EUSEW ‘Networking’

3. Sustainable Energy Awards, 16 June (18:30-19:30), Charlemagne building, Brussels

The EUSEW Awards are presented to outstanding and innovative projects in three categories:

Renewable energy – actions substituting fossil fuels with renewable energy, substantially reducing CO2 emissions by innovative integration of renewable energy sources into the local energy economy;
Energy efficiency – actions addressing sustainable energy in buildings, products and processes, including transport;
Cities, communities and regions – actions addressing sustainable energy (including clean transport) taken by cities, regional or local public authorities and/or energy agencies aiming to achieve or exceed Europe’s 2020 climate and energy objectives.

Nine finalists – three in each of the categories – were shortlisted from a record number of 373 entries. The three winners, selected by the jury (see criteria), will be announced by Miguel Arias Cañete, Climate Action and Energy Commissioner, and Jerzy Buzek, Chairman of the European Parliament’s Industry Committee. The Awards are followed by a cocktail reception. Discover the Awards, nominees and their activities

4. Energy Days, throughout June, Europe-wide

Over 500 EUSEW side events, exhibits and Energy Days are taking place across the EU and beyond. Energy Days promote energy efficiency or renewable energy in an interactive way. They can be any kind of activity, including presentations, workshops, exhibitions, quizzes, concerts, or displays organised by public or private bodies. They help to spread the word about secure, clean and efficient energy.

Nearly a quarter of the events will take place in Brussels around the EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) and Policy Conference, with the rest being organised throughout June in locations scattered across the 28 EU’s Member States and associated countries, including Turkey, Serbia, Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine, Norway and Iceland. See local EUSEW events

Media highlights in Brussels

Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete will attend the Policy Conference and present the latest biannual report on how Member States are progressing with their ‘EU 2020’ renewable energy goals, on 16 June (Opening Session, 09:30-10:00, Towards an integrated energy system session, 14:00-15:30, and Awards Ceremony, 18:30-19:30, all in the Charlemagne building).
Vice-President Šefčovič will give a key note speech in the session 'An investment framework for energy efficiency: The way forward' on 18 June, 9:00-10:30, European Commission’s Charlemagne building.
Visit to 'The beauty of renewables' exhibition, on 16 June, 14:00-15:30, European Commission’s Berlaymont building.
Special Report on Energy and Climate in the International Energy Agency (IEA) World Energy Outlook 2015, by Fatih Birol, Chief Economist of the IEA, on 16 June, 11:20-12:30, Charlemagne building.
Sustainable Energy Awards followed by a cocktail reception and interview opportunities with Award winners and the runners-up, on 16 June, from 18:30, Charlemagne building.

Consult the EUSEW 2015 press corner for more highlights and information.

What are the EU’s energy and climate goals?

On the road to a true Energy Union, European leaders have set ambitious energy and climate targets for 2020. Known as the 20-20-20 targets, they include:

A reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions of 20 % below 1990 levels
An EU-wide binding target for renewable energy of 20 % of EU energy consumption
A 20 % reduction in primary energy use

For the period up to 2030, the European Commission has also proposed further climate and energy targets which include:

A new greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 40 % below 1990 levels
A new renewable energy target of at least 27 % of EU energy consumption
A continued role for energy efficiency in the EU's energy strategy, the specifics of which have yet to be decided.