Welcome word from LAC Chairman: Marc Gerrits
With the COVID pandemic as a backdrop, the full Annual conference has been postponed a number of times, with the intent now that it will run in hybrid (physical-virtual) form in October 2021. Whether it is by coincidence or not, there can be little doubt that in the period since the EAGE LAC started working on the 2020 (now ‘21) conference, there is, if anything, an even greater need to address climate change: the effects of fires in Australia, the Russian Arctic and California are all too obvious, as are the increased frequency and ferocity of Atlantic hurricanes, amongst the myriad signs of ongoing change.
The demands on all of us in the wider industry to act are clear: we all have a role to play. The challenge we have identified remains unchanged: delivering solutions which address the three core dimensions of the energy transition – energy security, energy equity, and environmental sustainability. These three goals constitute a ‘trilemma’, entailing complex interwoven links between public and private actors, governments and regulators, economic and social factors, national resources, environmental concerns, and individual behaviours.
For the 2021 conference, the LAC will therefore continue to develop a programme which focusses on the trilemma:
1
ENERGY SECURITY
2
ENERGY EQUITY:
ACCESSIBILITY & AFFORDABILITY
3
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
1. Energy Security
This includes the ongoing role for oil and gas, complemented increasingly by the diversification of cleaner renewable energy options like geothermal. To meet increasing global energy demand, while decarbonizing energy, we need to be inclusive in our approach and make the best of all the skills, talented people, digital and technical solutions that the energy transition offers us.
2. Energy Equity (accessibility and affordability)
Technically-speaking, already discovered resources may be present, but not accessible or accessible but not affordable. From the perspective of the consumer, energy poverty remains a real concern and the access to affordable energy a key factor to our ongoing success. Clearly a balance must be found for cleaner, affordable energy – but at what cost?
3. Environmental Sustainability
Geoscientists, geophysicists, and engineers have always interrogated our planet to unlock its secrets and articulate its dilemmas. That hasn’t changed and in 2021 we should be able to speak passionately to the impact of our ambition for robust energy systems. These are systems which increasingly support net zero emissions by 2050 and the demand for renewables like wind, solar and geothermal activities. Innovative geoscience solutions for energy storage and CCS will form an integral part of our future energy systems and all ultimately influence our ongoing social license to operate.
“Robust energy systems are secure, equitable and environmentally sustainable, showing a carefully managed balance between the three dimensions. Maintaining this balance in the context of rapid transition to decentralised, decarbonised, and digital systems is challenging: there are risks of passive trade-offs between equally critical priorities. “
- World Energy Trilemma Index
Welcome to EAGE Amsterdam 2021 and
Delivering for the GREAT ENERGY CHALLENGE: today and tomorrow
Target audience: Who might want to attend?
It is the specific aim of the LAC to attract a broad range of committed attendees, well beyond the Oil & Gas industry. “Delivering robust energy systems – today and tomorrow” is designed to connect geoscientists, engineers, decision-makers, young professionals, students, academics and educators. Everyone with energy for delivering a sustainable energy future.
Marc Gerrits
Shell | Local Advisory Committee Chairman
Main Sponsors