Assess the environmental impact of shale gas exploration at SMi's 4th Shale Gas Environmental Summit
London (PRWEB UK) 18 August 2013 -- Britain faces a looming energy gap, where spare electricity generation capacity falls from 14% to 4%. Energy regulator Ofgem warns of an increased likelihood of blackouts. This is due to the shutdown of fossil fuel power stations under the European Large Combustion Plant Directive, and also the decommissioning of many of Britain’s ageing nuclear power plants.While renewables are growing quickly, they are not enough to meet the energy shortfall alone. Dwindling North Sea conventional gas reserves leave the government exposed to the international gas market’s price volatility, unless new shale gas sources are extracted closer to home. So while still being a fossil fuel, shale gas can have an important role to play in the UK’s de-carbonisation targets and for the potential success of renewable energy by keeping costs down, supporting de-carbonisation and increasing energy security.
(Source: The Conversation, 8 August, 'Shale gas is a necessary part of the renewables recipe', http://theconversation.com/shale-gas-is-a-necessary-part-of-the-renewables-recipe-16863)
Additionally, with the UK Government now offering financial incentives to encourage applications from developers for drilling licences, now has never been a better time to assess the environmental impact of shale gas exploration, improve sustainability and ultimately maximise this abundant resource's commercial potential. However, concerns remain over environmental risks regarding pollution and seismic activity which SMi’s 4th Shale Gas Environmental Summit focuses on with key presentations addressing:
• The myths from the facts surrounding pollution and seismic activity
• How to navigate the regulatory landscape currently in place and the evolution of policy for better legislation
• Evaluation of technology advances in environmentally sustainable hydraulic fracturing solutions
• Analyse public-private awareness & engagement initiatives
• Discuss environmental risk management
• Assess the reality of shale gas as an economically viable alternative to meet the UK and Europe’s increasing energy consumption
Speaker Panel includes:
• Keisuke Sadamori, Director, Energy Markets and Security, IEA
• Scott Foster, Director of Sustainable Energy Division, UN Economic Commission for Europe
• David Kennedy, Chief Executive, Committee on Climate Change
• Kevin Skipworth, CVO, Agent General, Government of Western Australia
• Vanessa Harvard Williams, Partner and Global Head of Environment and Climate Change Team, Linklaters
• Rob Foulkes, Senior Associate, Critical Resource
• Ken Cronin, Chief Executive, UK Onshore Operations Group
• Corin Taylor, Senior Economic Advisor, Institute of Directors
• Michael Holgate, Independent Energy Consultant, Plexus Energy
• Dr Marco Althaus, Professor of Social Sciences, Wildau Technical University
• Jake White, Lawyer, Friends of the Earth
To view the full speaker line-up and conference programme, visit http://www.smi-online.co.uk/2013shale2.asp .
Sonal Patel, SMi Group Ltd, http://www.smi-online.co.uk/2013militaryairlift10.asp, 0-207-827-6106, [email protected]
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