Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SET Plan (SET PLAN CONFERENCE 2022)
Période du rapport: 2022-07-01 au 2022-12-31
The European Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan is a key stepping-stone to boost the European transition towards climate-neutral energy systems through the development of low-carbon technologies in a fast and cost-competitive way. The SET Plan addresses the whole energy innovation value chain, from research to market uptake. Its annual conferences have been organised by the rotating presidency of the Council since 2008.
The 16th SET Plan Conference took place in Prague on 9-10 November 2022. The Conference physically brought together over 300 representatives and experts from the EU and international organisations, national ministries, industry, research and academia. The theme of the Conference was ‘Towards a new SET Plan’, marking the need to step up the SET Plan to match the increased energy and climate policy ambition in the context of the current energy crisis. The Conference also provided an opportunity to gather some final stakeholder input to inform the revision of the SET Plan’s activities, objectives, governance and scope.
The key objectives of the Conference were:
a) to explore the transformational pathways to sustainable, secure, resilient and competitive energy systems and value chains
b) to widen the SET Plan audience and raise awareness among all stakeholders about the latest research and innovations in the field of low-carbon energy technologies
c) to enhance synergies within the SET Plan community
d) to intensify the linkage of research efforts with EU funding instruments, policies and initiatives
The 16th SET Plan Conference took place in Prague on 9-10 November 2022. The Conference physically brought together over 300 representatives and experts from the EU and international organisations, national ministries, industry, research and academia. The theme of the Conference was ‘Towards a new SET Plan’, marking the need to step up the SET Plan to match the increased energy and climate policy ambition in the context of the current energy crisis. The Conference also provided an opportunity to gather some final stakeholder input to inform the revision of the SET Plan’s activities, objectives, governance and scope.
The key objectives of the Conference were:
a) to explore the transformational pathways to sustainable, secure, resilient and competitive energy systems and value chains
b) to widen the SET Plan audience and raise awareness among all stakeholders about the latest research and innovations in the field of low-carbon energy technologies
c) to enhance synergies within the SET Plan community
d) to intensify the linkage of research efforts with EU funding instruments, policies and initiatives
The participants had the chance to follow 19 different sessions – a combination of high-level plenary panels and technology-specific parallel sessions, with a total of 92 speakers. The SET Plan Conference is one of the very few events where all low-carbon technologies are covered. The notion of keeping the energy transition technology-neutral and the need to utilise the complementarities of the various low-carbon technologies received a positive reception from a broad range of participants.
In a satisfaction questionnaire, participants appraised the Conference’s informative content as well as the opportunities for networking. A significant number of newcomers to the SET Plan community also self-reported a desire to attend future instalments. Selected outcomes and recommendations are as follows:
a) The SET Plan can play a crucial role in preventing competition between innovators and low-carbon solutions and, therefore, in inducing strong cooperation.
b) The SET Plan can help R&I to bring down costs, notably in terms of thermal energy storage and through better circularity in value chains.
c) The revision of the SET Plan should create a better link between the SET Plan and the NECPs.
d) The SET Plan should aim for bigger outreach, involve younger generations and target a broader audience. Overall communications should reframe the challenges to our energy systems as an enormous opportunity with a number of readily available technological solutions.
In a satisfaction questionnaire, participants appraised the Conference’s informative content as well as the opportunities for networking. A significant number of newcomers to the SET Plan community also self-reported a desire to attend future instalments. Selected outcomes and recommendations are as follows:
a) The SET Plan can play a crucial role in preventing competition between innovators and low-carbon solutions and, therefore, in inducing strong cooperation.
b) The SET Plan can help R&I to bring down costs, notably in terms of thermal energy storage and through better circularity in value chains.
c) The revision of the SET Plan should create a better link between the SET Plan and the NECPs.
d) The SET Plan should aim for bigger outreach, involve younger generations and target a broader audience. Overall communications should reframe the challenges to our energy systems as an enormous opportunity with a number of readily available technological solutions.