Cork Energy Cluster New Focus on the CE

We are delighted to see that this year’s Cork Energy Cluster conference will have a Zero Waste and Sustainability theme.

At their annual conference 2021 , March 24 – 26th, they will ‘Explore Innovative Models for Reducing Waste and Increasing Sustainability‘. This is a significant shift as it marks a departure from pure energy and sustainable energy matters to a broader ecosystem concern, which we warmly welcome.

Energy and the Circular Economy conference, Cork 2021

At its sustainability themed annual event , this year Energy Cork is looking forward to 200+ remote attendees to their annual conference, with a theme of ‘Energy and The Circular Economy’.

The format is on regular lines, adapted to Covid19 limitations. There will be three 90-minute focused online sessions will run over three days, the 24th/ 25th and 26th of March, with each day introducing a different aspect of Energy and the Circular Economy potential and opportunity for Ireland.

All roads lead to Cork for Energy Circularity

The three sessions which explore

1. Turning Waste to Energy, the Circular Economy in Practice

2. Buildings, Transport and Heat, and

3. The Circular Economy and the Just Transition

will bring together an impressive range of Irish and International speakers. We note that their pre-publicity aligns with Zero Waste Alliance Ireland’s (ZWAI) policy, held since our 2004 foundation and to which many organizations and public sector entities are now coming to accept. It is that Ireland’s transition to net zero carbon and zero waste economy means that we must move away from the  linear model of supplying and using energy, and the generation of waste (both energy and materials). We must warmly embrace the circular economy as a central pillar of the EU Green Deal and is key to effective action on climate. Over the past decade people and society have started to embrace a Circular Economy mindset.

At ZWAI , we find this is no longer a discussion argument with people and slowly government thinking is catching up. This is increasingly evident in the rejection of the old linear model that employs Incineration of Waste. It is rejected by the population at large in favour of circular approaches to waste prevention, re-use and re-cycling. This progressive approach is a win-win for our society, for job creation , our innovative and adaptive businesses, and for our environment. We are keen to hear from National and international leaders in many different fields in the energy sector, who will take part in the conference – from climate action policy, renewable energy, the Just Transition, battery technology, sustainable building materials, district and waste heat, waste management, agriculture, and energy supply. Panelists from the following organisations will address the conference over the three days: UCC, Carbery Group, Indaver Ireland, Irving Oil, Gas Networks Ireland, Simply Blue Energy Kinsale Ltd, CODEMA, Ecological Building Systems, Italy’s CNR, ESB, Change By Degrees, Bord Na Móna, Green Rebel Marine, Limerick Institute of Technology. Brian Leddin TD, Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action will also address the conference.

Financial sponsorship is provided by Cork Chamber with City and Co Council backing . Find out more here.

We look forward to some interesting discussions and ideas.

Who are Energy Cork?

Now in its 9th year of activity, the Cork Energy Cluster , aka Energy Cork, is an industry-driven cluster, pursuing coordinated actions to strengthen enterprise and employment within the energy sector in the Cork Region. The initiative was initially started by Cork Chamber and is supported by Cork City Council and Cork County Council through their respective Economic Development Funds. It aims to build on the unique opportunities for the region to secure competitive advantage in the energy sector and energy sustainability. The cluster is active in policy submissions and is well represented by public sector members having over 95 industry members.

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