Opening Session

Opening speach by IRENA
Mr. Adnan Z. Amin
Director General, IRENA

Opening speach by Host Country
Mr. Rainer Boake
State secretory, Federal Ministry of Economics Affairs and Energy

Q & A
Mr. Andreas Kramer

Plenary 1: The Age of Renewable Power

High-Level Panel

Plenary II: Systemic Innovation

Plenary II: Systemic Innovation

• Renewable Energy Policy
• Market Design
• Emerging Markets
• Business Models
• Financing

Group Discussions I: Opportunities and Challenges

Group Discussions I: Opportunities and Challenges

• Decentralised electricity systems for islands and rural electrification
• Emerging electricity systems for high demand growth
• Mature electricity systems for low demand growth

Decentralised electricity systems for islands and rural electrification

×

This group will discuss the relevance of different innovations and associated international cooperation activities for transitioning electricity systems towards renewable energy in small, isolated islands and off-grid systems from tens of kWs up to 1 GW. Specific focus will be on innovations available to transform electricity systems dominated by diesel generators to renewable energy based systems, including the associated systemic changes needed. Other key aspects that will be considered in this group are innovations in renewable power generation technologies relevant for islands and remote areas, innovations to support mini- and microgrids development, flexibility options to integrate variable renewable energy in constrained systems, innovations to extend the main grid to connect remote areas, and innovations to support economic development and productive uses based on electricity access. Furthermore, this session will examine the policy implications of these systemic, technological, and operational innovations, including their impact on regulatory regimes, their impact on the role of residential and commercial electricity consumers, and their wider socio-economic and environmental implications.

Emerging electricity systems for high demand growth

×

This group will discuss the relevance of different innovations and of international cooperation in meeting growing electricity demand and expanding generation capacity and grid infrastructure. The group will focus on innovations available to support and manage the rapid expansion of renewables to satisfy growing electricity demand, opportunities to leapfrog to the most modern grid infrastructures, as well as innovative governance structures to manage the pathway towards renewables-based electricity systems. The group will also cover countries where electricity systems are already reliant on hydroelectricity, and how these countries can continue to expand their systems with other renewable energy sources.. One of the focus areas will be on innovations available to explore renewable energy resources most effectively, either locally or through regional collaboration, and to develop a portfolio of renewable power generation technologies to continue to meet the growing demand, and ensure reliability, affordability and security. The policy implications and policy needs of different development pathways will be examined, including how their impacts can be anticipated in existing policy frameworks. The wider implications of a power sector transformation on economic and industrial development will also be examined, including potential synergies from innovations. International cooperation opportunities among emerging electricity systems will be discussed, including the differences and/or similarities with mature electricity systems.

Mature electricity systems for low demand growth

×

This group will explore the renewable energy innovations and international cooperation in the context of mature electricity systems with low growth in electricity demand. Key aspects to be considered are the innovations related to the integration of high share of variable renewable energy into existing systems, as well as innovations to support sector-coupling between the electricity sector and the heat sector, electricity uses in transport, industrial applications, and residential and commercial buildings. Specific emphasis will be paid on the implications of new renewable power generation capacity on existing utilities with conventional power generation technologies, and how different systemic, technological and operational innovations can be used to ensure a smooth transition. Existing and future opportunities for collaboration on research, development, and demonstration projects will be examined, and how these can be matched with relevant innovation needs in other constituencies

Plenary III: Reporting Back from Group Discussions

Plenary IV: Technological Innovation

Plenary IV: Technological Innovation

• Renewable Energy Grid Services
• Smart Grids
• 21st Century Grid
• Energy Storage
• Remote Control Systems

Deepdive Sessions

• The Future Grid: Smart Mini and Microgrids
• Energy Storage and Electric Vehicle
• From Science to Innovation

The Future Grid: Smart Mini and Microgrids

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This deepdive session will introduce the participants to the latest developments of grid infrastructure network technologies to support a transition towards renewables, including the manufacturing, designs, infrastructure materials and protection of grid systems. The session will focus on both, electric power transmission and distribution, and it will cover onshore high voltage, low voltage as well as offshore solutions. It will provide an overview on the different relevance innovations of cabling in the context of power sector transformation and will discuss the latest developments in mini-and microgrids, their functionalities and applications to support renewable energy deployment. Panel discussions will discuss innovative applications and strive to provide clarity and understanding to the economics of this increasingly growing market segment.

Co-organisers: ABB and Siemens

Energy Storage and Electric Vehicle

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This deepdive will introduce the current status and future outlook of energy storage systems for renewables deployment and electric vehicles, including their usage for balancing or grid stabilization services to support the integration of variable renewable energy. The combination of renewable energy technologies plus electricity storage for islands systems and rural electrification will also be discussed. Additionally, an overview will be given regarding the similarities and differences in the institutional regime governing the introduction of electric vehicles in different countries. The session will also provide some case studies and practical examples to demonstrate the energy storage and electric vehicles to support the integration of renewable energy.

Co-organisers: German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)

From Science to Innovation

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This deepdive session will examine the process from science to technology development to actual business applications. The session will start with some experiences from successful RD&D projects, followed by discussion led by the European Patent Office (EPO) on the role of patents as an innovation-support mechanism. The EPO will also show how the wealth of information contained in patent documents can be used to elicit key global trends in the development and dissemination of RE technologies as well as investigate the increasing role of software and computers in spurring power sector transformation. Finally, the session will touch upon the growing importance of patents in the standards development process in Renewable Energy technologies. Particular examples on how knowledge and patents from science institutions can be used to support innovations in renewable energy technologies.

Co-organisers: European Patent Office (EPO) and European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)

Deepdive Session

• The Future Grid: Electric Highways
• New Market Designs

The Future Grid: Electric Highways

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This deepdive session will introduce the participants to the latest developments of grid infrastructure network technologies to support a transition towards renewables, including the manufacturing, designs, infrastructure materials and protection of grid systems. The session will focus on both, electric power transmission and distribution, and it will cover onshore high voltage, low voltage as well as offshore solutions. It will provide an overview on the different relevance innovations of cabling in the context of power sector transformation and will discuss the latest developments in mini-and microgrids, their functionalities and applications to support renewable energy deployment. Panel discussions will discuss innovative applications and strive to provide clarity and understanding to the economics of this increasingly growing market segment.

Co-organisers: ABB and Siemens

New Market Designs

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This deepdive session will discuss the relationship between regulation, associated market designs and the impacts of renewable power on existing and future business models for renewable energy deployment in the electricity sector. Topics that will be covered are the impact of zero marginal costs systems on business models, the impact of different market designs on the deployment and transition towards renewable energy systems, the impact of renewables on risk profiles for both old and new business models, the opportunities arising through the digitalization of the electricity sector, the regulatory conditions required to ensure both flexibility and predictability, and the policy conditions needed to allow for experimentation. Specific case studies of innovative regulation and market designs and associated examples of new business models will be provided.

Co-organisers: Renewables Grid Initiative

Deepdive Session

• Energy Systems Modelling and Planning
• Advancing Frontiers of Reliability and Quality

Energy Systems Modelling and Planning

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This deepdive session will provide an overview of the latest development in the latest techniques and tools for energy systems modelling to support energy planning in the power sector transformation. Modelling experts will provide an overview and practical examples of how their techniques and tools can be used to envision the technical challenges and opportunities associated with high shares of renewable energy, and explore the potential impacts of and needs for innovative solutions. Following on this discussion, the deepdive session will provide an overview of the developments in data availability for energy planning, the different planning methodologies available, insights on their usage to support the power sector transformation, as well as feedback from users on their experience and future expectations for energy planning methods.

Co-organisers: German Aerospace Center (DLR), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and Siemens

Advancing Frontiers of Reliability and Quality

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This deepdive session will present the latest developments from suppliers of renewable power generation technologies, namely wind and solar photovoltaic, to enable the integration of those technologies into existing power systems. Experts will introduce the state-of-the-art solutions for grid integration aspects, such as frequency and voltage control, power quality, behaviour during grid faults, provision of (synthetic) inertia to the system, followed by a discussion of the role of metrology, conformity assessment and standardization infrastructure to support and accelerate the deployment of renewable power. Specific examples of quality infrastructure and control systems will be provided.

Co-organisers: International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC) and German National Metrology Institute (PTB)

Plenary V : Operational Innovation

• Control Options
• "Big Data"
• Consumer Engagement
• Demand Response
• Virtual Power Plants

Group Discussions II: Solutions

• Decentralised Electricity Systems for Islands and Rural Electrification
• Emerging Electricity Systems for High Demand Growth
• Mature Electricity Systems for Low Demand Growth

Energy Systems Modelling and Planning

×

This group will discuss the relevance of different innovations and of international cooperation in meeting growing electricity demand and expanding generation capacity and grid infrastructure. The group will focus on innovations available to support and manage the rapid expansion of renewables to satisfy growing electricity demand, opportunities to leapfrog to the most modern grid infrastructures, as well as innovative governance structures to manage the pathway towards renewables-based electricity systems. The group will also cover countries where electricity systems are already reliant on hydroelectricity, and how these countries can continue to expand their systems with other renewable energy sources.. One of the focus areas will be on innovations available to explore renewable energy resources most effectively, either locally or through regional collaboration, and to develop a portfolio of renewable power generation technologies to continue to meet the growing demand, and ensure reliability, affordability and security. The policy implications and policy needs of different development pathways will be examined, including how their impacts can be anticipated in existing policy frameworks. The wider implications of a power sector transformation on economic and industrial development will also be examined, including potential synergies from innovations. International cooperation opportunities among emerging electricity systems will be discussed, including the differences and/or similarities with mature electricity systems.

Energy Systems Modelling and Planning

×

This deepdive session will provide an overview of the latest development in the latest techniques and tools for energy systems modelling to support energy planning in the power sector transformation. Modelling experts will provide an overview and practical examples of how their techniques and tools can be used to envision the technical challenges and opportunities associated with high shares of renewable energy, and explore the potential impacts of and needs for innovative solutions. Following on this discussion, the deepdive session will provide an overview of the developments in data availability for energy planning, the different planning methodologies available, insights on their usage to support the power sector transformation, as well as feedback from users on their experience and future expectations for energy planning methods.

Co-organisers: German Aerospace Center (DLR), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and Siemens

Energy Systems Modelling and Planning

×

This group will explore the renewable energy innovations and international cooperation in the context of mature electricity systems with low growth in electricity demand. Key aspects to be considered are the innovations related to the integration of high share of variable renewable energy into existing systems, as well as innovations to support sector-coupling between the electricity sector and the heat sector, electricity uses in transport, industrial applications, and residential and commercial buildings. Specific emphasis will be paid on the implications of new renewable power generation capacity on existing utilities with conventional power generation technologies, and how different systemic, technological and operational innovations can be used to ensure a smooth transition. Existing and future opportunities for collaboration on research, development, and demonstration projects will be examined, and how these can be matched with relevant innovation needs in other constituencies

Plenary VI: Creating a Global Innovation Agenda

• Reporting back from deepdive sessions
• Mission Innovation
• Breakthrough Coalition
• CTCN

Closing Session

Plenary VII: Reporting Back from Group Discussions

Closing Speech
Mr. Adnan Z. Amin
Director-General, IRENA