As of 12 January 2021, the 22nd edition of the European Energy Transition Conference – the annual appointment of the local players committed to energy transition – will open. As they do every year, representatives of the public authorities, the economic and academic worlds and the civil society will meet up to debate and share their experience of local energy transition around a programme made up of over a hundred events – plenary sessions and workshops. However, the event organized this year in Dunkirk will take on an unprecedented form on account of the health context: it will innovate by being completely digital!

This edition will firstly be the opportunity for 3 DAYS OF PLENARY SESSIONS AND DEBATES that will take place online and live.

From 12 to 14 January many important national and international testifiers will follow on from one another making their contributions online to « large format » thematic plenary sessions fully in tune with the latest energy transition news. Among the topics that will be tackled this year: not only the issue of crises and resilience – the leitmotif of the edition – but also the opportunities of the recovery plan (green deal) for the local areas, the development of hydrogen and the prospects for a 100% renewable gas energy mix, the issue of efficiency and energy saving, the quality of the air or again the latest legal and regulatory changes that have occurred over the last 18 months. Chats and opinion polls will enable the participants to interact simultaneously with the speakers...

This edition will also be marked by the unprecedented scheduling of 2 MONTHS OF WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS in digital form linked to local energy transition.

In point of fact, as of 18 January, the second high spot of the Energy Conference will begin: the « networking » and « workshop » sessions, with no fewer than 100 appointments scheduled up to the middle of March! Totally digital, these interactive workshops will promote sharing and co-construction of solutions based on the implementation of local energy transition– the event’s prime ambition. As for schoolchildren, they will find as they do every year the Energy Transition Jobs Forum with a series of jobs videoconferences broadcast online in February (timings to be communicated at a later date).

The unprecedented health, economic, social and climate crises we are currently undergoing demonstrate that entire segments of our economy are obsolete with regard to the world that is coming into being. They have also revealed an extraordinary ability of the local areas to adapt and innovate in order to cope with the situation. It is more than ever in in our local areas where transitions to tomorrow’s world are being experimented and constructed.

It is essential their voices are listened to if we are to make a success of « what comes after ». The 2021 Energy Transition Conference will be the opportunity for them to speak out in order to build more virtuous recovery strategies to cope with the climate change issues and think out together a world that is fairer, more ecological andmore resilient.

12 TO 14 JANUARY 2021: 3 DAYS OF PLENARY SESSIONS AND DEBATES

OPENING PLENARY SESSION - TUESDAY 12 JANUARY, 9.30 – 9.45,

With:

Patrice Vergriete – Mayor of Dunkirk, Chairman of the Dunkirk Urban Community,

Barbara Pompili - Minister for Ecology (to be confirmed),

Arnaud Leroy – Chairman of ADEME,

Sébastien Javogues - Vice-Chairman of French Geneva,

An elected representative of Bordeaux Métropole

« WHAT’S NEW? » - TUESDAY 12 JANUARY, 10.00 – 11.00

An hour devoted to the latest technical, legislative and regulatory news of the last 18 months - SNBC, PPE, ACTEE, Revival Plan and also the LOM Act, ELAN Act/ tertiary decree, Energy-Climate Act, EGALIM Act, RE 2020, Finance Act, European directives in preparation or recently enacted and significant events in terms of technological advances.

« COPING WITH A MULTI-CRISIS WORLD: THE POINT OF VIEW OF A COMMITTED PHILOSOPHER AND AN ALTER-GLOBALIST ECONOMIST » - TUESDAY 12 JANUARY, 11.15 – 12.00

Through reckless and unregulated growth, humanity has come to a critical point in its existence where it has to deal with several crises at the same time of an economical, financial, ecological, climatic and now health nature. All are systemic and global: each of these crises impacts the others, and no country is immune unless it walls itself up in total confinement. What does this time of multiple crises and its social and economic consequences reveal about us, our society and humanity in general? What do they imply especially in terms of public resilience policy for France, for Europe and for the World? Is the necessary ecological and energy transition an appropriate response? In order for it to meet the challenges, don’t we need to radically change our behaviour at all personal, societal and collective levels? In order to decipher the complexity of our epoch, this plenary session will put the spotlight on the thoughts of a philosopher and an economist, both of whom are at the same time observers of these multiple crises and committed to the transition towards a more sustainable and more supportive society.

12 TO 14 JANUARY 2021: 3 DAYS OF PLENARY SESSIONS AND DEBATES

« THE GREEN DEAL: A TRUE OPPORTUNITY OR A FALSE PROMISE FOR THE LOCAL AREAS? »

- TUESDAY 12 JANUARY, 2.00 – 3.30 p.m.

The Green New Deal for Europe proposes an action plan for the efficient use of our resources. In mobilizing at least 100 billion euros over the period 2021-2027, it aims to promote a fair and inclusive transition. And in particular to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050: innovation in industry, more affordable and healthier private and public means of transport, a carbon free energy sector and the energy efficiency of our buildings. Having come to the conclusion that the most structuring actions for achieving carbon neutrality fall to a great extent under the powers of the local authorities, this round table will look at the place the local areas can occupy in this action plan.

« EMBEDDING THE CHANGES » - TUESDAY 12 JANUARY, 4.00 – 5.30 p.m.

The health crisis demonstrates that the occurrence of a great catastrophe (health, economic, ecological) is no longer a theoretical hypothesis. It also shows that being forced and obliged to act, the local authorities have managed to implement changes that they would not have imagined possible before.

Lastly, it has raised many questions about how the local areas should prepare themselves for the crises to come, in particular the climate crisis – probably the most likely. During this plenary session elected representatives, either experienced or more recently appointed, will share their approaches to change, the constraints to which they are subjected and the sticking points they come up against – the lack of means for financing the necessary changes and the legal and organizational constraints in particular.

Opposite them, two experts will provide answers and demonstrate that means exist and that change levers can be activated despite the legal and organizational constraints that appear to limit the capacity for change of local authorities. These exchanges will emphasize the fact that «where there’s a will, there’s a way! »

« GIVING UP OBSOLETE FUTURES. WHAT CHANGES SHOULD BE PROMOTED TO ACHIEVE A TRULY RESILIENT ECONOMY? » - WEDNESDAY 13 JANUARY, 10.00 – 11.30

The Covid-19 pandemic has brutally shown that entire segments of our economies are obsolete with regard to the world that is coming into being. This unprecedented situation raises fundamental questions about our production methods and consumption patterns by explicitly confronting them with the planet’s limits. Consequently, many researchers and a few philosophers including Bruno Latour have emphasized that the period of great uncertainty and turbulence we have entered ought to enable a rethinking of the way in which the economy and our businessses operate. They have also expressed their fear of seeing this society revive the economy as quickly and as strongly as possible with the illusion of a quick return to « business as usual »? The crisis that we are going through – the bearer both of danger and opportunity – ought to be the chance to « give up futures that are already obsolete ». During this plenary session avenues will be explored for possible alliances between local authorities, businesses and researchers to make the necessary breaks and speed up the changes towards an economy that respects the planet’s limits and gains in resilience capacity.

« TOWARDS 100 % RENEWABLE GAS IN 2050? » - WEDNESDAY 13 JANUARY, 2.15 – 3.45 p.m.

One of the keys to energy transition involves switching the current methane gas network, which is at the same time fossil-based, carbonized and imported, to a mix with gas of a renewable source, produced from resouces in our local areas. Recent studies, such as those conducted by ADEME, GRDF and GRTgaz have enabled a demonstration of the feasibility of an objective that was still considered to be illusory only a few years ago: a 100% renewable gas mix by 2050. Where are we today, sector by sector? With such a mix what place would be occupied by hydrogen, methanization, pyrogasification or methanation? Will it compete with the electricity mix, or is an intelligent cooperation between the two major networks, that of the electron and that of the gas molecule, a key to the success of the energy transition? Lastly, apart from in France, what are the short and long term prospects for such a mix in Europe, and what are the costs?

« BIOMIMETICS AND ENERGY » - WEDNESDAY 13 JANUARY, 4.00 – 5.15 p.m.

Biomimetics is not only the living matter that inspires our innovations, but also an approach designed to make our methods of production compatible with the diversity and dynamics of ecosystems. Capture, concentration, storage and distribution of energy, all the solutions can be found in nature. Some have not waited: experts, founders of startups, producers or distributors of energy, testify during this plenary session to what they have learned by listening to living matter.

« ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TRAIL », BY ADEME - THURSDAY 14 JANUARY, 9.30 – 12.15 p.m.

For this 22nd edition, ADEME wished to devote a full half-day to the local elected representatives. On the mornings’s programme, 4 appointments: welcome plenary session (9.30 – 10.00), plenary session entitled « The Cit’ergie and Circular Economy programmes, at the service of local ecological transition undertakings! » (10.00 – 10.45), presentation of the SARE programme – a tool at the service of energy renovation (11.00 – 11.45) and lastly the plenary session entitled « Elected representatives commit themselves in 2021! Appointment made for January 2022 » (11.45 – 12.00). On this occasion 2 elected representatives will present their commitments to energy transition for 2021 and will come to report on them in 2022, at the 23rd edition of the European Energy Transition Conference.

« ENERGY SAVING, EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS IN ENERGY TRANSITION » - THURSDAY 14 JANUARY, 2.00 – 3.30 p.m.

Energy saving and efficiency, these first two pillars of energy transition, are not of the same nature. Energy efficiency aims to optimize the output of the technologies used and the necessary energy chains. As for energy saving it seeks, the proper use, the right dimensioning and the pooling of the property, plant and equipment. Energy saving is not just a matter of personal attitudes: it questions our collective choices in terms of facilities and equipment. Now, there can be no energy transition without a saving approach to the use of the materials that make up our equipment. The issue of saving therefore directly begs the question of the raw materials and other materials in nearly all its forms: recycling, non-wastage, re-use, co-use, repairability, flexibility of use, limiting of obsolescence, etc. But what types and quantities of materials would be essential, for example, to achieve the renewable energy renovation and rollout objectives? To succeed here, is it necessary to engage highly proactive public policies of energy saving, even if it means restricting the « liberty to consume »? This round table will endeavour to clear the ground with regard to these difficult albeit essential issues.

« TRANSPORT- ENERGY »: THE ROLE OF THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES » - THURSDAY 14 JANUARY, 3.45 – 5.00 p.m.

The field of transport accounts for one-third of the final consumption of energy in France and therefore represents a big potential for energy saving and the reduction of greenhouse gases. Over the last few years, the legislative and regulatory framework has evolved and given the local authorities new tools and fields of intervention: low emission zones, rollout of IRVE (Charging Facilities for Electric Vehicles), alternative engine specifications for fleets of vehicles...In this context where the issue of the scope of their powers is paramount, what action can the local authorities take? What are their assets and their difficulties? What are the recommendations of those that have already embarked on this route? This plenary session will propose the enlightenment of a legal expert who will help people to come aware of and understand the legislative and regulatory framework.

« CLOSING PLENARY SESSION » - THURSDAY 14 JANUARY, 5.00 - 5.30 p.m.

With: Patrice Vergriete - Mayor of Dunkirk, Chairman of the Dunkirk Urban Community, Arnaud Leroy – Chairman of ADEME, Sébastien Javogues – Vice-Chairman of French Geneva and an elected representative of Bordeaux Métropole

A FIRST: A VIRTUAL EXHIBITION TO PROMOTE EXCHANGES!

During these 3 days of plenary sessions, a virtual exhibition – directly accessible from the website of the European Energy Transition Conference, will enable the participants to access the stands of many public and private energy transition players who are partners of the event. It will then be possible to have exchanges with the exhibitors via chats or videoconference tools, access videos and online conferences. Digital meeting rooms will also enable people to meet up for group exchanges. Among the players present : the Caisse des Dépôts, GRDF, EDF Collectivités, ENGIE, GRT Gaz, RTE, Dalkia, ENEDIS, SUEZ, the Hauts-de-France Region, the Nord Department, the FNCCR, the Post Office, the Négawatt Institute, ENERCOOP , H2V, Dorémi or again the Federation of local public enterprises.

18 JANUARY TO 11 MARCH 2021: OVER 100 DIGITAL WORKSHOPS TO DEBATE, SHARE AND CO-CONSTRUCT LOCAL ENERGY TRANSITION

(Registrations on the website of the Energy Transition Conference starting 7 December)

As every year the European Energy Transition Conference is proposing a vast programme of themed workshops, imagined in collaboration with the local players committed to energy transition – elected representatives, citizens, researchers, businesses, associations or again technicians. The objective? Be as close as possible to the

issues encountered daily in the local areas and inspire change thanks to the sharing of experience and concrete solutions. Totally digitized, the workshops will begin on 18 January, with the programme extending over 2 months. On the programme: no fewer than 100 appointments!

• 22 « Speed Dating » workshops (initiative forums)
• 60 « Inspiration » workshops (debating and experience sharing workshops)
• 18 « Challenges » workshops (co-creation workshops)

Full programme and registrations online as of 7 December on https://www.assises-energie.net

OTHER HIGH SPOTS NOT TO BE MISSED! PLENARY SESSION « 1, 2, 3... SUN! URBAN HEAT ISLANDS » - FRIDAY 15 JANUARY (to be viewed on the Energy Transition Conference website)

The Paris Agreement obtained at COP21 aims to contain the rise in the planet’s average temperatures to a maximum of 2°C, and as far as possible limit this rise to 1.5°C. Now the rise in temperatures in France is already in exceess of 1°C since the beginning of the 2Oth century. Europe and France should undergo warming proportionally higher than the overall global warming. The climate has already changed and this phenomenon can be observed in various fields: water resources, biodiversity, major hazards, health, agriculture and forestry, economic models ... How can the local areas anticipate these upheavals and adapt to tomorrow’s climate, with the effects of climate change differing from one region to another? This plenary session will try to provide answers.

INTERNATIONAL FRANCE-JAPAN HYDROGEN ROUND TABLE: « TWO COUNTRIES, TWO POINTS OF VIEW » - TUESDAY 26 JANUARY (to be viewed on the Energy Transition Conference website)

The Yamanashi region is located to the west of Tokyo. The earthquake risks in this region have prevented any nuclear power plant from being built there. However, it has a mountainous terrain that is advantageous for the production of hydroelectric power. Thus, at the beginning of the electricity era, the region was the main supplier of electricity to the Tokyo megacity. Wide and exceptionaly sunny valleys also enable the development of solar farms which, coupled with the production of hydrolectric power, make the region an example to follow in terms of green electricity. Today the region, in conjunction with the University of Yamanashi, has developed a highly sophisticated hydrogen programme and is now a front-runner in the sector. This round table proposes to compare the views of the representatives of this authority with those of the elected representatives of Dunkirk and Dijon.

THE ENERGY TRANSITION JOBS FORUM – FEBRUARY (Onine multicasting – timings to be communicated at a later date)

As every year, the organizers of the European Energy Transition Conference wish to sensitize schoolchildren to the job opportunities open to them in the energy transition sector and are organizing a Jobs Forum in February. Totally digitized, the Forum will this year propose a series of online « jobs » conferences (timings and programme to be communcated at a later date).

AN UNPRECEDENTED 2-MONTH PROGRAMME OF WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS WEBINAR: « THE ENERGY COMMUNITIES: A NEW FORM OF ENERGY SHARING? » - TUESDAY 2 MARCH (to be viewed on the Energy Transition Conference website)

The « Energy-Climate » Act of December 2019 defines a new action framework at the service of energy transition: the energy communities. They should shortly be clarified by the transposition of the directives of the Clean Energy Package. At a time when collective self-consumption projects are being developed, there are today near on forty projects in operation, mainly owned by local authorities, social landlords or private companies. What new energy sharing opportunities are offered by the energy communities? What role can be played by the local authorities, collectives, associations, start-ups, network managers? This webinar will provide some enlightening on this matter.

Go to the event’s official website as of 7 December! https://www.assises-energie.net