Toronto 2023

SOCO Ballroom, Delta Toronto Hotel – Thursday, November 16th

The 8th annual National Energy Roundtable conference on Thursday, November 16th will gather business leaders, entrepreneurs and policy makers in Toronto for discussions on: Tranforming Canada’s Energy Systems – How Fast and How Far?

Canada and the world have a collective challenge – to develop our infrastructure and energy mix in a way that is affordable whilst significantly decarbonizing. Canada’s diverse landscape and energy mix presents the potential to become a global leader in transforming its energy systems. However, carbon emissions continue to rise and consensus on what the country’s energy future should look like has proven elusive.

As Canada’s energy needs expand, technological innovation and energy system optimization will be crucial. It is estaminated that up to $2 trillion in energy and transport investments will be required over the next twenty years to replace aging infrastructure and develop the next generation of energy systems.

Join the leaders who are shaping Canada energy future at the National Energy Roundtable conference and learn about the exciting strategies and technological advances that are driving Canada’s energy transition.

Topics will include:

  • Energy system affordability
  • The impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
  • Market design and the roll of corporate PPAs
  • The federal government’s approach to energy transition
  • Energy system reliability
  • The annual planning outlook
  • Energy system sustainability
  • Integration of gas and electricity in energy transition
  • Empowering consumer choice

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View Programme 

Speakers

Dr. Lance Mortlock

Dr. Lance Mortlock

Managing Partner, Energy & Resources, EY
Chris Benedetti

Chris Benedetti

Managing Partner, Sussex
Jason Langrish

Jason Langrish

President, The Energy Roundtable
Bonnie Hiltz

Bonnie Hiltz

Vice President & Energy Group Practice Lead, Sussex

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Programme

SOCO Ballroom, Delta Hotel, 75 Lower Simcoe Street – Thursday, November 16

MC Jason Langrish, President, The Energy Roundtable
7:45 am Registration opens. Breakfast served
8:30 am Welcome remarks
8:40 am Panel discussion: Energy system affordability
According to a recent poll conducted by Abacus Date, eight in ten think it’s important for Canada to invest in clean energy opportunities in response to the American Inflation Reduction Act investments in climate action. Canadians surveyed believe a clean energy system that includes hydro, wind, solar power and electric vehicles would be both more affordable and more secure than a fossil fuel energy system. Aligning Canada’s energy systems with net zero emissions will increase electricity use and has the potential to increase households’ electricity expenditures. To inform policy discussion and actions for aligning energy systems with net zero, the panel will explore how net zero investments will affect electricity systems’ costs and consumer expenditures and discuss where the financial resources will come from and for what in building out energy best in class energy systems and implementing new technologies.

  • Speakers tbc

Session chair: tbc

9:25 am Fireside chat: The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Canadian response
The impact of the US Inflation Reduction Act on investments in new energy technologies and the Canadian responses.

  • Speakers tbc
9:50 am Fireside chat: Market design and the roll of corporate PPAs

  • Speakers tbc
10:15 am Networking break
10:40 am Electricity is Canada’s superpower: The federal government’s approach to energy transition
This discussion will review the roll of the federal government’s regional tables for energy transition, social license and role of indigenous communities and pathways to developing assets. The discussion will address the question: Should energy policy be linked to industrial policy?

  • Speaker tbc
11:05 am Panel discussion: Energy system reliability
From increasing decarbonization, electrification, and distributed generation, to more frequent extreme weather events from climate change, the electric power system is undergoing immense change. These factors impact how the grid is planned and operated to maintain safe and reliable power. System planners and architects have to balance a diverse range of interests, including is there enough power to meet consumer needs, where is this power going to come from, what technologies does the grid invest in? The panel will examine what an integrated energy plan looks like and how it can ensure grid reliability.

  • Speakers tbc

Discussion led by: Bonnie Hiltz, Sussex Strategy Group

11:40 am Presentation: The Annual Planning Outlook

  • Speaker tbc
12:15 pm Networking luncheon presented by IBM
1:00 pm Provincial Energy Minister discussion 
A discussion regarding energy trends, challenges, and opportunities from a provincial energy minister perspective.

  • Speakers tbc

Session chair: tbc

1:30 pm Panel discussion: Energy system sustainability
Discussions on energy transition and sustainability are often framed around what we need to cut in the decades ahead—oil production, carbon pollution etc. Equally important is the conversation around what we need to build and how we can best utilize these assets. And build we must. The federal government has committed to have 90 per cent of Canada’s electricity coming from non-emitting sources by 2030, up from 80 per cent now. In addition, provincial and federal mandates, coupled with consumer choice, are driving demand for use of electricity in transportation. The panel will examine how we can best optimize existing assets while bringing online non-emitting sources of electricity to ensure a meaningful, and sustainable, transformation in the energy sector.

  • Speakers tbc

Session chair: tbc

2:10 pm Fireside chat: The integration of gas and electricity in the energy transition

  • Speakers tbc

Discussion led by: tbc

2:40 pm
Networking break
3:00 pm Panel discussion: Empowering customer choice
Timely and effective deployment of demand response could greatly increase power system flexibility, electricity security and market efficiency. Considerable progress has been made in recent years to harness demand response, including from residential consumers. Commercial and institutional customers are increasingly looking at zero emissions building, fleets and power to meet ESG targets. However, most of this potential remains to be developed. Governments have a key role to play in developing and implementing the policy, legal, regulatory and market frameworks needed to empower customer choice and accelerate the development and deployment of cost-effective demand response. This panel will identify barriers to demand response and possible enablers that can encourage more timely and effective demand response, including cost-reflective pricing, retail market reform, and improved load control and metering equipment.

  • Speakers tbc

Session chair: tbc

3:45 pm Panel discussion: Is energy the new superpower? (Session topic TBC)
Energy security determines a nations productivity, impact’s its industrial capabilities, determines wealth and support’s social programs, and ultimately impacts food supply and price stability. The wealth of a nation is now measured, and determined by access to energy. The war in Ukraine is a wake-up call to western nations regarding the potential impacts and consequences of not considering and preparing for the geopolitics of energy security. Is Canada ready? Can we play a leading role in shaping global energy security? This panel examines both domestic and international implications of energy security, from nuclear power to traditional fossil fuels, and Canada’s role in this new paradigm shift.

  • Speakers tbc

Session chair: tbc

4:30 pm

4:40 pm

Close by Jason Langrish, President, The Energy Roundtable

Networking reception 

*Programme is subject to change

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Conference Photo Gallery

Click here for photos from the 2019 National Energy Roundtable

Click here for the programme for the 2019 National Energy Roundtable