P&J Live, Aberdeen. ©VisitAberdeenshire/Damian Shields
Organisation: World Energy Council (WEC)
Event: WEC Executive Assembly & Energy Trilemma Summit
Number of delegates: 250
Venue: P&J Live, Aberdeen
In October 2022, Scotland hosted the World Energy Council's Executive Assembly & Energy Trilemma Summit at the P&J Live in Aberdeen.
Transformational solutions in turbulent times
The World Energy Council's Executive Assembly & Energy Trilemma Summit, which was themed Transformational solutions in turbulent times, was attended by representatives from the global energy community who discussed practical actions to accelerate clean and just energy transitions worldwide, with special attention to transformational solutions that address the energy trilemma of security, affordability, and environmental sustainability.
These two notable events brought together the World Energy Council's leadership and expert community from around 100 countries. The event was part of the countdown to the Council's centenary anniversary, celebrating its remarkable 100-year track record of listening, learning and leading in energy since 1923, and the first World Power Conference in 1924 when Kilmarnock entrepreneur Daniel Nicol Dunlop founded the first permanent energy organisation that could transcend national politics.
The Executive Assembly, the Council's annual governance meeting that brings together the World Energy Community, took place on 12 October 2022. The following day, the invitation-only Energy Trilemma Summit, themed 'Transformational solutions in turbulent times', explored the new global context of energy security and affordability, and the implications for trade-offs and transformational solutions.
Connection and collaboration
This event was brought to Aberdeen with the help of VisitScotland Business Events, the P&J Live, Aberdeen City Council, and the Scottish Government Directorate for Energy and Climate Change.
Significantly, VisitScotland were able to secure support from the Scottish Government which ensured that Aberdeen was chosen as the host city ahead of global competition. This is a wonderful example of the team Scotland approach that so represents what we can achieve as a well-connected small country. Working together, from the venue to the city, up to VisitScotland and the Government, we were able to make a compelling case to the client as to why Aberdeen was the right destination for them.
Energy trilemma: affordability, reliability and sustainability
Discussing themes including the energy trilemma of affordability, reliability and sustainability, the World Energy Council conference was an important event in the energy calendar. Displaced from St Petersburg Russia, due to the war in Ukraine, it was crucial for the Council to hold an in-person meeting, given the huge insecurity being felt in energy markets around the world.
Attendees included government ministers, energy policy leads, and energy executives from around the world, who joined key industry organisations like the Energy Transition Zone. Across two days of impact-focused conversations and peer-to-peer dialogues, participants explored how to balance the connected challenges and opportunities in mobilising global energy transitions at pace and scale in a fast and fundamentally shifting world. It is vital Scotland as an energy rich nation is able to host and participate in these crucial forums.
Commenting on the event, Neil Brownlee, Head of Business Events at VisitScotland said: "Scotland is a world-leader in developing and implementing renewable energy sources and has a thriving community of experts and organisations dedicated to this work. Bringing this prestigious event to Scotland is a prime example of our Policy Driven Model being used as a vehicle to showcase and champion our sectoral strengths, delivering government policy and our commitment to creating a sustainable future. Events such as this are an opportunity for experts to share knowledge and to shape the future of not only the energy sector but all sectors".
