Senior executives from Google, Lego and Unilever joined counterparts from more than 40 of the world’s most important energy companies and associations — including E.ON, Shell, Statoil, GE, First Solar, SunPower, MHI Vestas, Gamesa, the Global Wind Energy Council, the Global Solar Council, the European Wind Energy Association, SolarPower Europe and the World Energy Council — at the Holmenkollen Park Hotel, in the hills overlooking Oslo, for the invitation-only event.
A wide range of weighty issues were discussed, from how to manage the growing intake of renewables on the grid to technology innovation, the industrial internet and energy market design.
Delegates were particularly impressed by the presentations of Google, Lego and Unilever and their commitments to renewable energy, and were keen to forge links with those corporations. Discussions are now under way on a long-term industry project that builds on the commitments and relationships made at Holmenkollen to advance corporate deployment of renewable energy worldwide.
“The 31-page Paris Agreement that came out of COP21 mentioned renewable energy only once. It hardly needed to,” said Recharge editor-in-chief Darius Snieckus, opening the summit.
“In 2015, $329bn was invested globally in renewables — a record. But more importantly, a record achieved in a year when the prices of fossil fuels were tumbling, a year when the dollar was strong, a year when traditional clean-energy powerhouse Europe was in the relative doldrums.
“It was a technical knock-out blow to anyone who expected the contrary.”
Though there was a palpable spirit of optimism at the summit, many delegates also struck a note of caution.
In her introductory speech, Elisabeth Harstad, chief executive of the event’s sponsor, DNV GL Energy, said: “What our customers regard as a ticket to trade today might not be tomorrow. And we need to adapt to that world... [to] innovate or die.”
Another speaker — who cannot be identified due to the event’s Chatham House rules — asked: “How long is this sense of commitment and enthusiasm [post-COP21] going to last? If there’s one major power cut, renewables would get the blame, even if it isn’t true. I don’t feel that Paris has changed anything.”
One delegate pointed out that the EU renewables targets for 2030 currently being debated are “less than business as usual, and give the opportunity to those markets, be it the UK, Poland and others, to row back on their commitments, as Spain and Italy did. We’ve got to be very watchful on that”.
“I’m not convinced it’s a one-way road towards more renewables for evermore,” said another delegate. “Let’s not be mistaken, there are plenty of people around who are not pro-renewables.”
Amber Rudd, the UK energy secretary, was singled out for criticism, with delegates describing her as naive and ill-informed, with ideas and policies that were not supported by evidence.
“I think as an industry we have to rally, to not lose that momentum,” the delegate continued. “We should be very careful to not get complacent and keep fighting, because it is far from over.”
ALL PHOTOS | KAIA MEARS
The delegates (in alphabetical order)
Hans Aasnæs | Senior vice-president, Umoe
Leila Asdal Danielsen | Communications specialist, DNV GL
Guy Auger | Chief executive, Greensolver
Steen Broust Nielsen | Partner, MAKE Consulting
David Brunt | Chief executive, Fred Olsen Renewables
Christopher Burghardt | Vice-president, Europe, First Solar
Pepe Carnevale | former chief executive, Blade Dynamics
Sonja Chirico Indreb | Vice-president, strategy and innovation, Statoil
Lucy Craig | Director, technology and innovation, DNV GL
Giles Dickson | Chief executive, EWEA
Bruce Douglas | Chief operating officer, SolarPower Europe and chairman, Global Solar Council
Erik Dugstad | Head of market and policy development, DNV GL Energy Scandinavia
Jon Dugstad | Director, Intpow
Tony Dunnage | Group manufacturing sustainability director, Unilever
Kristine Fiksen | Partner, Thema Consulting
Tomas Gärdfors | Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright
David Green | Senior pathfinder, future energy technologies, Shell
Bill Hampton | Chief executive, Kite Power Solutions
Cliff Harris | General manager, renewable energy, EMEA, GE Power & Water
Elisabeth Harstad | Chief executive, DNV GL Energy
Bjørn Haugland | Executive vice-president, DNV GL
Javier Huerta | Vice-president, strategy and operations, Unilever
Teijo Karna | Wind market manager, ABB
Einar Kilde Evensen | Senior vice-president, DNB Bank
Jon Lezamiz | Director, public affairs, Gamesa
Erik Means | Editor-in-chief, Upstream
Xavier Moreau | Director, Schneider Electric
Rasmus Nedergaard | Senior manager, environmental sustainability, Lego
Anders Nordeng | Senior analyst, Thomson Reuters Point Carbon
Rolf Normann | Chief executive, Fred Olsen Ocean
Terje Osmundsen | Senior vice-president, business development, Scatec Solar
Jemylia Raimbault | Director, CG Power
Andreas Reuter | Director, Fraunhofer IWES
Steve Sawyer | Secretary-general, GWEC
Oliver Schäfer | President, SolarPower Europe, and director of market development and policy, SunPower
Jatin Sharma | Head of business development, GCube
François Sterin | Head of global infrastructure, Google
Niall Stuart | Chief executive, Scottish Renewables
Jens Tommerup | Chief executive, MHI Vestas
Hans Tormod Hansen | Area manager, energy advisory, Scandinavia, DNV GL
Sven Utermöhlen | Director, E.ON Climate & Renewables
Zulandi van der Westhuizen | Deputy director, World Energy Counci
