Groningen to mark two days of energy symposium
On Thursday 6 and Friday 7 October, energy experts and policymakers from the Netherlands and abroad will gather at the Martinikerk-venue in Groningen for the 6th edition of the Wind Meets Gas symposium. ‘Energy Resilience’ is this year’s overarching theme. The Dutch Minister for Climate and Energy, Rob Jetten is one of the main speakers on the opening day. The symposium is attracting increasing international interest: this year participants from 17 countries are taking part, including a 30-member trade delegation from Japan and a delegation from Canada. The annual symposium is an initiative of New Energy Coalition and addresses the latest developments towards the green energy system of the future.
This year’s theme points to the resilience of the energy system in today’s turbulent times. At this symposium, experts and policymakers from industry, research and governance meet annually to discuss developments in the energy transition, especially in relation to hydrogen: from large-scale application and system integration to training and labour market and everything in between. Green hydrogen is now globally recognised as an indispensable link in the sustainable energy system of the future.
First Hydrogen Valley
The Northern Netherlands has been appointed by the EU/FCH JU as Europe’s first Hydrogen Valley, a testing ground for the development and application of hydrogen gas. The region is ideally suited for ‘gearing up for the future’, given the available infrastructure (gas network, deep sea port), the energy clusters present and the knowledge and expertise built up in the area through natural gas extraction in recent decades. Hard work is being done here to future-proof the historic energy position – with Groningen as the logical home base for the Wind Meets Gas symposium.
Nordics
A regular feature of the programme in recent years has been the Scandinavian partners, the ‘Nordics’. The embassies of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden will give their perspective on offshore energy and hydrogen developments and talk about interregional Nordic North Sea energy cooperations and green corridors. There will also be a panel discussion on the greening of heavy duty transport and industry in Scandinavia.
The two-day symposium will take place at the Martinikerk (the landmark church) in the city of Groningen, with several break-out sessions and workshops. Participation is by invitation only. More information can be found at www.windmeetsgas.com
