SMMT International Automotive Summit: Power to the people

SMMT kicks off its fourth International Automotive Summit tomorrow with vehicle retail, supply chain, and ultra-low carbon forming the core streams of the event.

Speakers for the latter include senior executives from Intelligent Energy, Renault and Volkswagen Group who will discuss the ultra-low carbon technologies designed to reduce CO₂ emissions from new cars.

Sessions 4 and 5 from the ultra-low carbon stream will explore the portfolio of products coming to market and examine why different vehicle manufacturers are backing different technologies.

Opening the session entitled Delivering the vision – taking technologies to market, Prof Wolfgang Steiger, director of Future Technologies, Volkswagen will speak about the company’s multi-technology approach, from developing the internal combustion engine to plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles.

Renault’s global head of EVs, Thierry Koskas, will discuss the decision-making process, strategic vision and technology driving Renault’s development of pure electric vehicles.

Intelligent Energy’s CEO Henri Winand will end the session with an insight on the development and deployment of fuel cell electric vehicles, and the infrastructure needed to bring them to market.

Brighton returned Britain’s only Green Party MP in 2010 and this week the seaside town hosts the Eco Technology Show (ETS) 2012.

ETS 2012, which takes place in on June 15 &16, will showcase the latest technologies that the organisers believe protect the environment and make day-to-day living more efficient.

Publicity material states that that using ‘eco technology’ can minimise waste, save energy, reduce environmental impact and save consumers and businesses money.

They add that they’re bringing together business, decision makers, subject specialists, policy makers and buyers from business and the general public for the event, which is being held at the new American Express Community stadium, which is also the home of Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club .

Low carbon generation is top of the agenda at London’s Excel Centre, which hosts Global Offshore Wind on Wednesday and Thursday.

The UK currently leads the world in installed offshore wind capacity with a further 45GW expected from Round 3 projects. The organizers add that in the last decade offshore wind energy has attracted £5bn in investment in the UK and is set to exceed £50bn by 2020.

Day Two sees a session entitled The Battle of the Titans: 5MW+ Machines, which will examine the merits of turbines close to 200m tall, and how different manufacturers have tried to overcome gearboxing, tower weight load, plus transportation and handling. The session will also examine the physical limits of the standard three bladed design.

NAREC CEO Andrew Mill chairs and presentations will be given by representatives from Gamesa, AREVA UK, Vestas Technology R&D, REpower Systems, and Alstom.

Still with energy and news that The Johnnie Walker Room of London’s Caledonian Club is the venue for an electricity network seminar on Thursday.

The seminar will examine the opportunities and challenges associated with the future of the UK’s electricity network, whilst focusing on the next steps in the development and implementation of a smart grid strategy.

Delegates will be able to assess the financial, practical and technical requirements for a smart grid and discuss the prospects for a European Supergrid, including the implications and further opportunities this may present for UK electricity.

Speakers include Duncan Burt, customer services manager, National Grid; Joe Corbett, head of Technical Services, Mainstream Renewable Power; and Mike Wilks, principal consultant, Pöyry UK

EEF tell us that they’re inviting manufacturers to show how they’re boosting sales overseas by entering the EEF/DHL Outstanding Export Award.

In a statement, EEF chief executive Terry Scuoler said: ‘The ‘march of the makers’ is underway and UK manufacturers are leading an exporting renaissance that is crucial to domestic growth and economic recovery.

‘Companies are opening up new opportunities in emerging markets and our award will  recognise and celebrate their outstanding efforts and achievements.’

The Awards are free to enter and are open to all UK manufacturers, with a closing date of July 20^th 2012  For more information, click here.

Transport for London (TfL) is expected to begin charging utility companies up to £2,500 a day for the amount of time they dig up the busiest roads in the capital.

This covers 57 per cent of the TfL road network known as the ‘red routes’.

London mayor Boris Johnson advocates such a system and says this will incentivise firms to complete works at the least disruptive times.