Registration and refreshments
08:45 to
09:30
Chair’s welcome and opening remarks
09:30 to
09:40
Speaker:
Nick Beddoe.
Director.
Lighthouse Development Consulting.
Government support for the development of energy projects for the benefit of Wales - policy updates and future plans for infrastructure delivery
09:40 to
10:05
- How is policy supporting infrastructure development and speeding up the planning process?
- Updates on Infrastructure Wales Act – timescale for implementation
- Next steps and future plans to scale up infrastructure delivery across Wales
Speaker:
Heledd Cressey.
Head of Renewable Energy Policy.
Welsh Government.
Navigating an evolving planning regime – meeting current requirements and preparing for changes to the consenting process
10:05 to
10:30
- Planning routes available now and going forward – considering project size and capacity
- Meeting net benefits for biodiversity requirements for your project
- How is Significant Infrastructure Projects replacing DNS system?
- When will you need a Welsh Infrastructure Consent – understanding the thresholds for new projects
Speaker:
Cathryn Tracey.
Director.
Burges Salmon.
Panel Discussion: Accelerating infrastructure development in Wales – what are the implications of new planning policy for projects?
10:30 to
11:15
- What are the main challenges facing projects that are transitioning to new Significant Infrastructure Projects regime?
- What support is needed to ensure faster development and successful delivery of new projects?
- Maximising opportunities and benefits created by new reforms
- How to align planning policy with Wales’s economic growth objectives
Speakers:
Eleri Davies.
Head of Onshore Development: Wales & England.
RWE Renewables.
Cathryn Tracey.
Director.
Burges Salmon.
Vicky Robinson.
Chief Planning Inspector.
Planning and Environment Decisions Wales.
Morning networking and refreshment
11:15 to
11:45
Achieving net zero by 2035 – minimising environmental impacts while delivering new infrastructure
11:45 to
12:10
- Best models for reducing carbon emissions when developing new projects
- New technologies that can be applied to your project to accelerate the transition to net zero
- Leveraging existing infrastructure to meet decarbonisation targets and unlock clean energy
Speaker:
Eoin Bailey.
UK Innovation Manager.
Celsa Steel UK.
Attracting investment to Wales – showcasing Wales as an infrastructure leader
12:10 to
12:35
- Building on Wales’s strengths and resources to maximise investment potential
- Successful projects that are enhancing Wales’s competitive advantage
- Drawing investment where infrastructure development is needed the most
Speaker:
Tony Parton.
Cluster Plan Director.
South Wales Industrial Cluster.
Networking Lunch
12:35 to
13:35
Effectively engaging key stakeholders to deliver vital infrastructure – when and how to engage with Natural Resources Wales?
13:35 to
14:00
- Engaging at the pre-application stage of your project – successfully applying for planning advice
- Best approaches to communicating throughout the process – how to avoid delays and added costs
Speaker:
Dr Mary Lewis.
Sustainable Places, Land & Sea Manager.
Natural Resources Wales.
Panel Discussion: Supporting development of future infrastructure – overcoming challenges facing different types of projects
14:00 to
14:45
- Delivering future infrastructure needed in Wales – considering the potential of hydrogen, tidal and nuclear projects
- Key lessons learned and advice to developers
- Navigating supply chain barriers for new developments
Speakers:
Tim James.
Infrastructure Development Director.
Celtic Sea Power.
Tom Hill.
Marine Energy Programme Manager.
Marine Energy Wales.
Julie Rankin-Perez.
Head of Project Development.
Protium.
Andrew Clarke.
Group Head of Masterplanning.
Associated British Ports.
Afternoon networking and refreshments
14:45 to
15:15
Delivering improved benefits to local communities through infrastructure development
15:15 to
15:40
- Conducting social mapping to understand what the local areas need
- Aligning infrastructure development with support for local initiatives
- Facilitating shared ownership of a project – establishing a successful partnership with interest groups
Speaker:
Leanne Wood.
Co-Executive Director.
Community Energy Wales.
Advancing floating offshore wind technologies and development – seizing the Celtic Sea opportunity
15:40 to
16:05
- Projects update – current timelines and priorities for infrastructure development in the Celtic Sea
- Understanding the stepping stone approach for delivering 24GW by 2050
- Innovative technologies that are being tested in the Test and Demonstration Zone
- New opportunities and benefits brought by floating offshore wind
Speaker:
Rebecca Williams.
Director Wales.
The Crown Estate.
Reforming the Distribution Grid to enable greater and faster connections
16:05 to
16:30
- Why is Connection Reform necessary and what will it mean for my project?
- Enabling demand and generation growth by delivering network infrastructure and flexibility
- Successfully progressing your project and a move to first ready, first connected
Speaker:
Cuan Rowlands.
Connections Strategy and Policy Manager.
National Grid.
Chair’s closing remarks
16:30 to
16:40
Speaker:
Nick Beddoe.
Director.
Lighthouse Development Consulting.
Close of conference and networking drink
16:40 to
17:40