"The Power of Collaboration" 4th European Grid Conference on Energy and Democracy

1. Energy and Democracy
While in the past only a few actors dominated generation and transmission, the picture has been changing during recent years. Distributed generation, unbundling, or citizen co-operatives are phenomena often described as the democratisation of energy.

2. Innovation and Structural Change
Through new technologies, citizens gain more responsibility and become prosumers rather than mere consumers of electricity. What’s more, many citizens request an active part in the financing, planning and permitting of new generation and transmission sites.

3. The European Energy Union
The European Union plays an increasing role in energy policy, be it through the climate and energy packages for 2020 and 2030, the Emission Trading Scheme, Projects of Common European Interest (PCI) and the recently announced Energy Union.

Confirmed speakers for the 4th European Grid Conference include:

• Snežana Samardžic-Markovic, Director General for Democracy, Council of Europe
• Miriam Maes, Chairman of the Board Elia Group
• Jerzy Buzek, MEP, Chair of the ITRE Committee, Group of the European People's Party
• Claude Turmes, MEP, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance
• Monica Frassoni, President Energy Efficiency Alliance
• Boris Schucht, CEO 50Hertz
• Jo Leinen, MEP, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
• Marie C. Donnelly, Director for new and renewable sources of energy, energy efficiency and innovation at the European Commission

Discussions will be followed by the Good Practice Award Ceremony. The Award is meant to honour an outstanding practice in grid development, one that is innovative and an improvement to existing practices in the field – be it environmental protection, stakeholder participation or one of the many other fields surrounding grid development today.

More info HERE