Conference sessions 2023

How to do business for a better tomorrow? If the offshore energy sector wants to grow in a sustainable manner, we should look at our ways of doing things differently. Conducting business with future-proofing in mind will create opportunities for companies who are willing to invest and go off the beaten path. Expect discussions on topics such as:

• Nature enhancement
• Sustainable solutions
• Renewable energy

Speakers include:

• Marjolein Kelder, Senior Project Lead Natuur & Milieu at The Rich North Sea
• Folkert Visser, CEO and Project Director at Ecowende
• Bas Nekeman, Business Unit Director Foundations Northern Europe at DEME Offshore
• Ireen Geerbex, Director Market Development the Netherlands at Vattenfall
• Moderator: Paul de Leeuw, Director at Energy Transition Institute, Robert Gordon University

Innovation is needed when it comes to making renewable energy the backbone of future energy systems. Think of offshore wind, but also new technologies like floating wind, marine energy and floating solar. But, with operation deadlines planned for 2030 and 2050, is there much more time to innovate or should the focus be on rolling up the sleeves and getting things going? Expect discussions on topics such as:

• Collaboration vs. competition
• Learning from other markets
• Who takes control in the process

Speakers include:

• Wijtze van der Leij, Sales Manager Offshore Wind at Damen Shipyards
• Liz Burdock, President & CEO at The Business Network for Offshore Wind
• Thomas Hjort, Director Innovation Offshore Wind at Vattenfall
• Daniel Santa Cruz, Global Innovation & Entrepreneurship Director at Ocean Winds
• Moderator: Paul de Leeuw, Director at Energy Transition Institute, Robert Gordon University

Offshore wind is a relatively young industry. It is also one of the main drivers of the energy transition.    With the ambitions for offshore wind increasing globally, growing pains are to be expected. What can the industry do to make the most out of the current boom? Expect discussions on topics such as:

• Vessel shortages
• Cutting of red tape
• Industry standardization / creating frameworks

Speakers include:

• Arnaud Wyers, Renewable Explorer at TotalEnergies
• Renkse Ytsma, Director/SVP Offshore Wind Development Continental Europe at RWE
• Frank Oomen, Head of Offshore Wind Benelux at bp
• Ruben Dijkstra, Managing Director Benelux region at Ørsted
• Tore Guldbrandsøy, SVP & Head of Benelux at Rystad Energy
• Moderator: Paul de Leeuw, Director at Energy Transition Institute, Robert Gordon University

Vast areas of the deep-ocean floor are covered with mineral-rich resources such as polymetallic nodules. These nodules contain high grades of manganese, cobalt and nickel. Metals required to manufacture batteries for storing renewable energy and powering electric vehicles.

Allseas is leveraging its world-renowned deep-water expertise to develop technology to responsibly recover polymetallic nodules from the ocean floor and transfer them to the surface. This conference session is organized by IRO.

Speakers include:

• Pieter Heerema, President of Allseas
• Sabine Gollner, Senior Scientist Ocean Systems at The Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research
• Jeff Amrish Ritoe, Strategic Advisor Energy & Raw Materials at The Hague Centre of Strategic Studies (HCSS)

Hydrogen is the oldest element in the universe. Today, it is also the horse to bet on in replacing fossil fuels. It also links several markets in the offshore energy industry, making it a cross-market connector. How can this young industry flourish, and with so many stakeholders involved? Expect discussions on topics such as:

• Market integration
• Knowledge sharing & Collaboration
• Creating a supply chain

Speakers include:

• Lex de Groot, Managing Director at Neptune Energy
• Miriam Bardolet Pou, Director Energy Transition Fund at Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners
• Martin Kjäll-Ohlsson, CEO at Vergia
• Eric Vennix, Partner Consulting at Deloitte
• Moderator: Paul de Leeuw, Director at Energy Transition Institute, Robert Gordon University

Multi-source offshore energy parks combining renewables such as wind, wave and solar have an important role to play in our future renewable energy system. Together with storage and flexible load technologies these sources can help balance and secure our energy supply. Coupled with nature-positive designs these multi-source offshore energy parks can support habitat creation and protection. Expect topics in the fields of:

• Integrating offshore renewable energy sources
• Storage and power to X
• Circularity and nature-positive design
• In collaboration with DMEC

Speakers include:

• Daniel Buhagiar, CEO & Co-founder at FLASC
• Allard van Hoeken, Founder & CEO at Oceans of Energy
• Pim Somers, Project Manager Nature-Friendly Offshore Energy at Stichting de Noordzee
• Don Hoogendoorn, Co-founder & CTO at SolarDuck
• Moderator: Simon Stark, CTO at DMEC

A smooth supply chain is essential in realizing the energy transition. A changing geopolitical landscape and shortages of critical materials are making business challenging . But the energy transition creates opportunities too. High demands are needed to reach the climate goals. In this session we focus on the business opportunities that come with a transforming market. This conference session is made in collaboration Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).

Speakers include:

• Henk van Elburg, Senior Project Officer at Netherlands Enterprise Agency
• Peter Constantin Brun, Global Segment Leader Offshore Wind at DNV
• Arjen Schutten, Managing Director at Holland Home of Wind Energy
• Teun Verschoor, Regional Manager North East Asia at Cape Holland
• Moderator: Paul de Leeuw, Director at Energy Transition Institute, Robert Gordon University