Wednesday 20 October 2021 | 16.00 – 18.00 CEST (online)

Towards COP26 –
Electricity Transmission System Operators: Key Enablers of Net-Zero

Climate change is the greatest challenge now facing humanity. Ahead of COP26, the global, European and Mediterranean associations of electricity transmission system and grid operators, GO15, ENTSO-E and Med-TSO join forces to organise a global online conference to debate the role of electricity grids in enabling the fast-paced and unprecedented energy transition which is needed to meet net-zero by 2050.

CEOs from TSOs in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and the United States will debate with representatives from International and European institutions on how to rapidly deliver a climate-neutral, resilient, and cost-efficient power system which supports greener economies and societies.

By connecting new and more remote generation sources to consumption centres, by allowing the leveraging of complementary energy mixes across borders, and by enabling the reduction of emissions far beyond the energy system, electricity grids have an important contribution to make on the road to climate-neutrality.

Join the conference!

Towards COP26

Wednesday 20 October 2021 | 16.00 – 18.00 CEST (online)

Programme

This event, taking place just a few weeks before the COP26 summit, will debate the role of electricity transmission system operators in enabling climate-neutrality by 2050. It aims to be an interactive discussion on challenges and innovative solutions around decarbonising the power system. It will take stock of experiences from different parts of the globe. It will also be an opportunity to stress the importance of cross-border & cross-stakeholder cooperation in delivering climate-neutral, resilient, and cost-efficient power systems, in support of greener economies & societies.

16.00

Welcome

Siobhan Hall, Montel, Brussels correspondent

16.05

Opening words by NGESO

Fintan Slye, National Grid ESO, Director

16.10

Keynotes

Ahmed Ali Al-Ebrahim, GO15, President
Hervé Laffaye, ENTSO-E, President
Chaher Boulakhras, Med-TSO, President

16.40

Coffee break

16.50

Getting ready for COP26 – accelerating efforts to decarbonise the grid

Panel followed by a Q&A

Tom Howes, IEA, Head of Energy and Environment Division
Joachim Balke, European Commission, DG ENER, Directorate for Green Transition and Energy System Integration, Head of Unit C4
Dolf Gielen, IRENA Innovation and Technology Centre, Director
Fintan Slye, National Grid ESO, Director
Elliot Mainzer, CAISO, CEO
Stefano Donnarumma, TERNA, CEO