The House of Lords’ Energy Committee – which includes three Scots peers – will today (18 Oct 2017) try to find out what the Brits can learn from the Swiss about energy after Brexit.
The House of Lords EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee will continue its inquiry into Brexit and Energy Security with questions to Jean-Christophe Füeg, the Swiss Ambassador and Head of International Energy Affairs at Switzerland’s Federal Office of Energy.
The committee will explore with the Ambassador the advantages and disadvantages of Switzerland’s energy relationship with the EU; the key areas of dispute in negotiations to deepen that relationship; and how Switzerland influences EU energy policy. Other topics the Lords are likely to cover include:
- Swiss priorities and aims for its energy relationship with the EU
- The extent to which the Swiss energy system is integrated with that of the EU and how much energy is traded between them
- The extent to which Switzerland co-operates with the EU on nuclear safety, safeguarding and research and development
- What regional or international energy coordination groups Switzerland finds valuable.
The 12-strong committee in the Lords includes two low-profile landed aristocrats, as well as Lord Selkirk, who – then known as Lord Jim Douglas-Hamilton – was a former Tory MP for Edinburgh West and Scottish Environment Minister in the Scotland Office last century.
The Duke of Montrose (aka James Graham) – who operates Montrose Estates Ltd from an office in Drymen, near Glasgow – is also Director of Kilsyth Ltd, a hydro-electric power developer, while the Earl of Stair (John Dalrymple) is a Borders land-owner and Director of the Stranraer & Wigtownshire Free Press.
See also
Alex Salmond, former First Minister of Scotland, to speak at keynote RenEUables After Brexit energy conference
Key speakers – including Alex Salmond, the former First Minister of Scotland – have been confirmed at the Renewables After Brexitconference.
This event is likely to be the keynote renewable energy conference of the year.
It is being held in partnership with the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law & Policy at Dundee University on 1 December 2017.
The following industry experts are also due to speak: –
- John Campbell, QC (Top legal expert who advised in the Aberdeen Bay wind farm’ case)
- Dave Pearson, Director, Star Renewable Energy
- Mark Sommerfeld, Policy Analyst, (UK) Renewable Energy Association
- Graham Provest, Managing Director, Absolute Solar and Wind Energy
A few speaking slots are still available. For more details, sponsorship opportunities and conference booking details, see: www.renewablesafterbrexit.co.uk
Experts at University College London (UCL) said recently that the UK is now the “Saudi Arabia of wind” after a government auction of renewable-energy contracts saw the cost of offshore generation fall below that of new nuclear power and gas for the first time.
18 Oct 2017
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