Page 38 - Gi flipbook - October 2018

IGEM NEWS | Annual Conference

TWO FOR THE

PRICE OF ONE

IGEM combines two events at this year’s Annual Conference and Gas Utilisation

BRINGING TOGETHER BOTH the • Environment and low carbon, is happening around us, but we should
upstream and downstream arms of sponsored by Kiwa Gastec and be alarmed because it has now moved
the gas industry, IGEM hosted its chaired by Mark Eldridge. from theory to reality.
first combined Annual Conference Experts in each of these areas “My three-year-old daughter has
& Gas Utilisation, at Leicester helped delegates to consider their lived through the three hottest years
University’s Stamford Court, future strategic role in the clean on record, and it’s only going to get
on 12-13 September. energy sector. much, much worse. This is the thing
The conference united the gas The event was also an excellent we have to take action to avoid.”
world as the energy sector looks opportunity to network with fellow While global emissions have not
towards a more collaborative future, IGEM members, make fresh business fallen, said Mike, the world has agreed
allowing gas engineers of all contacts and discover the latest to take action to combat climate
professional backgrounds to learn innovations at our exhibition. change, evidenced by the Paris
about the developments and IGEM President Steve Edwards Agreement signed in 2017.
technologies that are helping to opened the conference by saying: “The transition to a low carbon
create a low carbon energy system. “Once again IGEM has struck the economy is underway, bringing
Delegates were able to mix and right balance between people opportunities as well as challenges,”
match the areas of the business they sharing their needs and requirements he added.
wanted to learn about, choosing from with us and also some technical Speaking on the subject of
the following six themes: updates that are delivering those regulation and innovation, Geoffrey
• Safety and emergency, sponsored by solutions. I would encourage you all Randall, Deputy Director of Gas
DNV GL and chaired by Tim Roff. to take full advantage of the Network Price Controls at Ofgem,
• Reliability and maintenance, opportunity to engage with us all, went over the aims of the second
sponsored by WRc and chaired by network, share your ideas and take round of RIIO price controls.
Simon Ayley. these challenges forward.” “Network companies have made
• Distribution mains replacement, Highlights included an excellent good progress, but we need them to
sponsored by Morrison Utility presentation on the UK climate go a step further in RIIO2,
Services and chaired by Sean Kelly. challenge from Mike Thompson, Head demonstrating payback to customers
• Repair, sponsored by of Carbon Budgets at the Committee in their business plans,” he said.
LinesearchbeforeUdig and chaired by on Climate Change. “The bad news is He added that Ofgem wishes to see
Richard Broome. that climate change is happening a greater focus when it comes to
• Security, sponsored by Lagoni pretty much as climate scientists network innovation spending on
Engineering and chaired by predicted it would,” he said. day-to-day customer experience
Thomas Olsen. “We shouldn’t be surprised by what issues, as opposed to the

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