Programme Day 1

An update on OFTO developments and what this will mean for wind T&D moving forward

• Update on the current process and latest developments
• An overview of the enduring regime
• How the developer can exercise choice to deliver an effective OFTO appointment

The Crown Estate case study: what lessons have been learned from earlier wind farms and how can we ensure previous lessons are used to maximum effect?

• Selecting key sites and operators – how the decision-making process works
• Pinpointing the key T&D issues faced in earlier rounds and how they were overcome
• Identifying the technical advances made over the past 2 years and how they will contribute to better process
• Reviewing the regulatory landscape and assessing the impact this will have on round 3 strategies

Panel Discussion: Understanding your key project partner: putting a face to a name, who are the OFTOs and what is driving them?

• Appraising the goals and capabilities of leading OFTOs
• Understanding their background and what they will bring to the table
• Clarifying what investments they are making to ramp up engineering expertise in remote offshore transmission systems in a tough and unchartered marine environment
• Evaluating how are they going to make Wind Farm T+D work operationally and economically?

Reviewing the experiences of an Irish regulator in allowing for the connection of Round 3 wind farms

• Developing a group processing approach to speed up renewable connections
• Assessing the impact the Super Grid will have on Irish windfarms and connections – how can the sector prepare?
• Providing a link between developers, operators and government to ensure swift integration of new sites

The human resource crisis – identifying the challenges and developing solutions

• The big issue - utilising the Workforce Planning Model
• Creating a renewable energy skills strategy to ensure your projects are and adequately resourced
• Developing a skills framework for the sector and the role you can play in this
• Delivering the skills industry need – National Skills Academy Power

Operator panel discussion: dealing with the skills shortage in your organisation - what long and short term solutions will really benefit your workforce?

• Identifying the extent to which the skills shortage is currently affecting wind T&D projects and how far this problem is anticipated for the future
• Planning short-term processes to recruit and retain the most skilled workers in your organisation
• Working with training and educational establishments to minimise the future implications of this problem – what can you do?