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ABOUT THE EVENT

The event “WindWorks. Moving Energy” is the third edition of the wind energy conference that brings together experienced international energy experts, stakeholders and policy makers to shape the future of wind energy in the Baltic states. 

 

Wind energy is a fast-growing energy technology, but to deliver on its vast potential, we need substantial investments, facilitating policies and regulations. Climate neutral technologies and cooperation are key to building a clean, secure and sustainable economy. Countries like Denmark and the Netherlands have set an example inspiring others by harnessing wind energy as a cheap and renewable source of energy. 

 

This year the conference is organised by the Latvian Wind Energy Association, Estonian Wind Power Association, Danish Embassy in Latvia and in partnership with Latvian Investment and Development Agency, the Embassy of the Netherlands in Latvia and BalticWind EU.

BACKGROUND

In 2022, Europe experienced an unprecedented energy crisis due to geopolitical and climate reasons, which led to sky-high energy prices worldwide. The crisis continues.  Hence, quick and efficient solutions need to be put in place. The obvious way of quickly solving the crisis is installing large amount of renewable energy. Wind is among the top choices in the Baltics. But large-scale renewable energy projects create challenges to the system – limited grid and interconnection capacities, lack of storage. A systemic approach is needed.  

 

Offshore wind is the new “big thing” in the Baltics, given the estimated potential in the region – 47 GW. However, without a grid, there is no offshore wind power. Building new interconnectors and power-to-x facilities are key to ensuring that the Baltic region is energy sufficient. Moreover, the large potential makes the Baltic region strategically important for the long-term decarbonisation of Europe and gives the Baltic States the opportunity to play a significant role in speeding up the green transformation of Europe’s energy system. 

 

Denmark is an international pioneer in green transition and has shown that renewable energy is a growth sector of the future. Today, more than half of Denmark´s electricity is produced by wind. With a world-leading wind industry, experiences from Denmark´s green transition over the past several decades may serve as inspiration and a source of know-how. 

PROGRAMME

8.00

WELCOME COFFEE

& registration

9.00

WELCOME BY TOMS NĀBURGS

CEO, Latvian Wind Energy Association

9.10

EGILS LEVITS

President of the Republic of Latvia

9.15

KADRI SIMSON

European Commissioner for Energy

9.25

LARS AAGAARD

Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities of Denmark

9.30

ANDRIY KONECHENKOV

Chairman of the Board, Ukrainian Wind Energy Association

9.45

RAIMONDS ČUDARS

Minister of Climate and Energy for Latvia

9.45

Panel I

 

THE NEW ENERGY REALITY

The new geopolitical reality has hit Europe hard. Energy security, affordable and reliable renewable sources are now the priority on the agendas of policy makers. But can we get from words to action right away? What is needed to bridge the intention – action gap? What are the energy generation plans in the Baltics, is the focus now on offshore wind energy and what sense and projections can we make out of the large investor interest in the three Baltic States.


Līga Kurevska, State Secretary, Latvian Ministry of Climate and Energy

Timo Tatar, Deputy Secretary General for Energy and Mineral Resources, Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications
Giles Dickson, CEO, WindEurope
Toms Nāburgs, CEO, Latvian Wind Energy Association
Aavo Kärmas, Chairman of the Board, Estonian Wind Power Association

Moderator: Reinis Āboltiņš, Energy market analyst, Public Utilities Commission, Latvia

10.45

Panel II

 

BUILDING LEGAL FRAMEWORK BEFORE BUILDING WIND FARMS: ESTONIAN & LATVIAN OFFSHORE CASE

All about offshore tendering legal framework – where we are at in Estonia and Latvia, what are the best possible approaches for the two states and what are the expectations by the business? Let’s debate it during the second panel discussion.​

 

Presentations on the offshore tendering in Estonia and Latvia:

Timo Tatar, Deputy Secretary General for Energy and Mineral Resources, Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications
Līga Kurevska, State Secretary, Latvian Ministry of Energy of Climate and Energy

 

Pål Coldevin, Executive Vice President for Offshore Development Nordics, Poland & Baltics, RWE Renewables
Juris Antužs, Member of the Board, Enefit Green Latvia
Rene Tammist, Member of the Board, Utilitas
Mette Cramer Buch, Chief Advisor, Danish Energy Agency

Armen Artwich, Member of the Management Board, ORLEN Group

Moderator: Reinis Āboltiņš, Energy Market Analyst, Public Utilities Commission, Latvia

11.50

Panel III

 

GRID ME UP

Grid is the major bottleneck in the Baltic Sea region. The European Commission has anticipated an impressive offshore wind energy potential for the three Baltic states, however, the question remains – how are we going to integrate the energy in the grid and make sure it flows where it’s most needed at the time needed. Let’s talk about the grid limitations, new grid developments, super-grid idea and the energy security aspect (distributed energy generation). 

 

Presentation on the Baltic energy market interconnection plan by Raphael Sauter, Team Leader, Infrastructure & Regional Cooperation Unit, DG ENER, European Commission​

 

Arnis Daugulis, Member of the Board, “Augstsprieguma tīkls” 

Priit Heinla, Head of FSRU connection unit, Elering

Anna Egmose Larsen, Senior Consultant, Energinet

Wilfred van Bergen, IV-Offshore & Energy 

 

​Moderator - Giles Dickson, CEO, WindEurope

12.45

LUNCH

 

13.35

Panel IV

 

NO POWER-TO-X, NO PARTY

Renewable energy development requires a systemic change towards energy planning policies and practices. It’s a totally different approach with innovative elements like energy storage. Let’s discuss what system integration innovations are available in the market, what’s most suitable for the Baltics and what has been done so far. 

Priit Lepasepp, CEO, Sunly 

Kaspars Cikmačs, Member of the Board, Latvenergo 

Jens Ole Madsen, Head of Business Development, Power to X, European Energy

Are Grathen, Regional Director for Norway, Samskip

Moderator: Aivars Starikovs, Member of the Board, HydrogenEurope, Latvian Hydrogen Association

14.35

Panel V

 

DOWN TO EARTH: ROLE OF PORTS IN OFFSHORE WIND

Ports are a key element in offshore energy developments. It’s where operation and maintenance of offshore wind farms are run, where all offshore wind turbines and other equipment get transported, and where the turbines are assembled. And they will have a prominent role in the production and distribution of renewable hydrogen. Are the Baltic ports ready for the estimated offshore wind potential? 

 

Uldis Hmieļevskis, CEO, Liepaja Special Economic Zone
Henrik Theilgaard, COO, Port of Esbjerg
Margus Vihman, Member of the Management Board, Port of Tallinn Speaker from the Netherlands

Bert van der Lingen, Vice Chairman, Netherlands Wind Energy Association

 

Moderator: Edwin van de Brug, Regional Manager, Van Oord 

15:45

PANEL VI

 

BEING PART OF THE OFFSHORE SPIEL: OPPORTUNITIES

Installing a windfarm doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a long and complicated permitting and building process with many involved stakeholders. It’s a process that can constantly be improved and optimized, so shall we discuss what are the needs of the industry and how can the great tech minds and businesses of Latvia and Estonia help provide elements in the supply chain?  

Anders Damgaard, Senior Executive Officer, Energy Island Bornholm
Terje Talv, CEO, Estonian Wind Power Association 
Gatis Ginters, CEO, Norplast Piemare 
Dainis Krūze, CEO, Aerones 
Nadezda Vassiljeva, CEO, Marketex 

Aleksandrs Parfinovics, CEO, Naco Technologies

Moderator: Lasma Livzeniece, Executive Director, Latvian Wind Energy Association

17.00

CLOSING REMARKS

 

Flemming Stender, Ambassador of Denmark to Latvia
Claudia Pieterse, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Latvia
Toms Nāburgs, Member of the Board, Latvian Wind Energy Association
Aavo Kärmas, Chairman of the Board, Estonian Wind Power Association

 

17.15

WINE O'CLOCK

 

Reception

 

SPEAKERS

H.E. EGILS LEVITS

President of the Republic of Latvia

KADRI SIMSON

European Commissioner for Energy

RAIMONDS ČUDARS

Minister of Climate and Energy in Latvia

RAPHAEL SAUTER

Team Leader, Infrastructure & Regional Cooperation Unit, DG ENER, European Commission

BERT VAN DER LINGEN

Vice Chairman,

Netherlands Wind Energy Association

ALEKSANDRS PARFINOVICS

CEO,

Naco Technologies

GATIS GINTERS

CEO,

Norplast Piemare

LĪGA ROZENTĀLE

Deputy State Secretary,

Ministry of Climate and Energy

ANDERS DEMGAARD

Senior Executive Officer,

Energy Island Bornholm

JENS OLE MADSEN

Head of Business Development, Power to X

European Energy

JURIS ANTUŽS

Member of the Board

Enefit Green Latvia

PRIIT LEPASEPP

CEO​

Sunly

RENE TAMMIST

Member of the Board

Utilitas

ARNIS DAUGULIS

Member of the Board
Augstsprieguma tīkls (AST)

MARGUS VIHMAN

Member of the Management Board,
Port of Tallinn

METTE CRAMER BUCH

Chief Advisor, Centre for Global Cooperation

Danish Energy Agency

ANDRIY KONECHENKOV

Chairman of the Board

Ukrainian Wind Energy Association

AAVO KÄRMAS

Head of the Management Board

Estonian Wind Power Association

TOMS NĀBURGS

CEO

Latvian Wind Energy Association

CLAUDIA PIETERSE

Ambassador of the Netherlands to Latvia

LARS AAGAARD

Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities of Denmark

VILFRED VAN BERGEN

Commercial Manager at Iv-Offshore & Energy

ARE GRATHEN

Regional Director, Norway Samskip Norway

ARMEN ARTWICH

Member of the Management Board,

ORLEN Group

ANNA EGMOSE LARSEN

Senior Consultant,

ENERGINET

NADEZDA VASSILJEVA

Sales Director, Member of the Board,

Marketex

PÅL COLDEVIN

Executive Vice President for Offshore Development Nordics, Poland & Baltics

RWE Renewables

KASPARS CIKMAČS 

Member of the Management Board and Chief Development Officer

AS "Latvenergo"

NIKITA KAZAKEVICS

Head of Innovation and Technology Department

Latvian Investment and Development Agency

EDWIN VAN DE BRUG

Regional Manager

Van Oord

REINIS ĀBOLTIŅŠ

Energy market analyst

Public Utilities Commission of Latvia

DAINIS KRŪZE

CEO

Aerones

ULDIS HMIEĻEVSKIS

CEO
Liepaja Special Economic Zone​

PRIIT HEINLA

Head of FSRU connection unit, Elering


DENNIS JUL PEDERSEN

CEO

Port of Esbjerg

AIVARS STARIKOVS

Member of the Board

Hydrogen Europe, Latvian Hydrogen Association

TERJE TALV

CEO

Estonian Wind Power Association

GILES DICKSON

CEO

WindEurope

TIMO TATAR

Deputy Secretary General for Energy and Mineral Resources

Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications

FLEMMING STENDER

Ambassador of Denmark in Latvia

EVENT AMBASSADORS

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PARTNERS

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ORGANISERS

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REG2023

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REGISTRATION

*On-site registration is no longer available. 

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Event location

GET IN TOUCH

Biroju iela 10, Lidosta "Rīga", Mārupes nov., LV-1053

+371 26 15 49 69

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