Opening keynote for European Utility Week 2016 to set the scene for Europe’s leading smart energy event

Panellists to consider the energy revolution in kick-off debate

Utrecht, The Netherlands, – European Utility Week (EUW), the leading event for the smart utility community, taking place at Fira Barcelona Gran Via, Barcelona Spain from 15^th to 17^th November, has released the first confirmed speakers for the event’s opening keynote panel session.

The panel session, entitled ‘Are We Ready for The Energy Revolution?’, will explore how the utility business model can be future-proofed in a changing environment that includes new technologies and shifting customer behaviours.

The session will be moderated by Carol L. Stimmel, chief advisor, author and founder of Manifest Mind, and will explore topics including the integration of renewables, sustainability and energy efficiency, the state of urgency and collaboration and the changing workforce. The C-level utility panellist line up will include:

– Sara Bell, CEO, Tempus Energy, UK

– Inken Braunschmidt, CIO, RWE, Germany

– Blanca Losada, CTO, Gas Natural Fenosa & CEO, Gas Natural Fenosa Engineering, Spain

Speaking about the keynote, Content Director Florence Coullet said:

“We’re delighted to be able to share the line-up for our opening keynote panel session at this early stage. The energy revolution encapsulates one of the biggest trends in a sector which is adapting to new levels of connectivity and changing customer behaviours. It’s a vital topic and reflects the important role that EUW plays in bringing the major players in smart energy together, to explore the state of the industry and where it’s going. We hope 2016 sets the bar even higher and look forward to welcoming our guests to Barcelona in November.”

So far more than 140 speakers from Europe and beyond have been confirmed to speak during the three day event. Speakers include:

– João Torres, CEO, EDP Distribuição and Chairman of EDSO

– Paul Jan Jacobs, Vertical Leader Mobility, Eneco

– Andy Perry, CSO & Head of Supply Operations, Tempus Energy

– Michael Flipper, VP T&I Strategy and Head of Innovation Center Systems, E.ON

– Maher Chebbo, President, ESMIG

– Mercè Griera i Fisa, Project Officer, European Commission

– Nicolas Arcauz, Global and Smart Metering Director, Iberdrola

– Philip Lewis, CEO, VaasaETT

– Caroline Ledl, Head of Product Development, Wien Energie

To see the full list, click here.

EUW has also confirmed the programmes for both the event’s Summit and Hub sessions. The strategic Summit is a knowledge-sharing platform designed to facilitate the needs of C-level executives discussing the challenges facing the industry and the solutions that will help transform it.

This year, the Summit will delve deep into content around market design, digitalisation, consumer centricity and business models for the following themes: T&D, The Intelligent Grid, Retail, Sustainable and Smart City, ICT and Data Management.

The Hub Sessions on the exhibition floor are different from the Summit as they offer a dynamic format and engaging Q&As, allowing attendees to participate for free in topic-led sessions.

For the first time in 2016, the Hub Sessions event will also include two new launch topics: Energy Revolution Europe and Intelligent Buildings Europe. Both launches will be part of the Hub Session programme and will have their own focus area in the form of a zone on the exhibition floor. The other Hub Session topics include:

– Storage

– Smart water and smart gas

– Big data and analytics

– Intelligent grid

– Smart metering, smart homes and end use.

Keynote bios

Carol L. Stimmel

Carol L. Stimmel is the chief advisor, author and founder of Manifest Mind. Carol is an impact advisor to governments from across the globe, NGOs, solutions providers, private companies, and high net-worth individuals. She is an engineer of complex systems, digital forensic practitioner, agile adherent, and sustainability expert.

Sara Bell

In 2012, Sara set up Tempus Energy and began developing the tech platform for the future utility. The Tempus platform uses algorithms, machine learning and DSR technology to reduce energy cost for customers, boosting the efficiency of renewables and reducing reliance on stand-by fossil fuel peaking plant. In March 2015, Sara launched the first flexible electricity retailer in the world. Tempus Energy Supply now services over 100 customers, including Hertz, Avis and EAT. Sara sits on numerous industry committees, is a Director of the Association of Decentralised Energy and a member of the Strategic Advisory Council for Energy for the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council.

Dr. Inken Braunschmidt

Inken Braunschmidt heads up the RWE Innovation Hub, the platform and team developing RWEs innovative business models of the future, for RWE to become the innovation leader in the future energy system. In the Innovation Hub the most courageous, creative and entrepreneurial people are free to explore ideas and develop the best to market maturity. The simple mission is: to innovate. She started working for RWE in 2004 within the internal Management Consultancy, RWE Consulting and her subsequent roles included heading up the RWE Consulting Office in Frankfurt am Main, acting as account manager for the RWE Effizienz (innovative Energy+ products and services) and the German regional RWE companies. She also held the post of Managing Director (Finance) of RWE Consulting in Essen where she supported the set-up of RWEs Transformation and Change Journey.