UNWE - Co-Host of Online International Scientific Forum on Energy Transformation

Three days Scientific Conference on the Transformations: Energy, Infrastructure, eMobility was organized by the Center for Energy Business and Infrastructure at UNWE jointly with the Colorado Energy Research Collaboratory - a partnership between four leading American universities: Colorado State University, University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado School of Mines and National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

The forum is virtual and it consists of three modules - each one on a separate date at intervals of one week. The first module was held on 4 November.

On behalf of the American partners the Executive Director of Colorado Energy Research Collaboratory Maury Dobbie opened the webinar by welcoming the organizers and briefly presented to the participants the objectives and tasks of the partnership between the four American universities dating back since 2007.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vladimir Zinoviev, Director of the Center for Energy Business and Infrastructure, presented the Center managed by him emphasizing that its work is focused on the economic impact of developing research in the field of energy which covers the electricity production, transmission and distribution as well as the renewable energy sources. "We are facing a remarkable challenge – restructure of the energy sector. I am convinced that it is a common responsibility to find the right way, to find the right technology and the working model for the scientific, industrial and public sector in order to implement the restructuring on a global scale", said Assoc. Prof. Zinoviev.

On behalf of Bulgarian co-hosts the Rector of UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov welcomed the organizers-partners and participants. He outlined the importance of the Forum topic not only for the university but also for Bulgaria. "The European Green Pact, the European Green Deal and the resulting regulations are very serious economic issues affecting our whole society. They are related to the jobs of people, closure of coal mines, introduction of new technologies and new energy sources, development of our economy in long terms so the topic is especially relevant in the turbulent times we live in", said the Rector. He pointed out some specific features of the energy sector in Bulgaria emphasizing that despite the difficult political situation the right common social and economic solutions must be found not only from an environmental point of view but also regarding the proper development of society and people living in our country.

Bryan Willson, Executive Director, Energy Institute, Colorado State University, also greeted the participants in the Forum and presented the major objectives of the Institute managed by him. He pointed out his convinience that innovation is extremely important in the modern dynamic world and should not be thought of as for Edison's invention but as for a wide network through which ideas are implemented in practice, in real life.

The moderator for the first day of the Conference was Bill Ritter, former governor of Colorado and current Director of the Center for the New Energy Economy, Colo State University. A key plenary report was delivered by Knut Abraham, Member of German Parliament (Bundestag), National Parliament of FR Germany. Among the speakers at the Forum were the Bulgarian Deputy Minister of Energy Georgy Samandov, the Chairman of CEZ Supervisory Board Kiril Boshov and Maggie Mann, Manager of the Center for Integrated Mobility Sciences Decision Support Analysis, National Renewable Energy Lab.

Topics of discussion were focused on the transformation process of critical energy infrastructure, growing energy needs created by electric mobility and the analysis of electricity consumption. Medium and long-term perspectives for planning the capacity of the transmission network, the strategic plan for giving up coal and reaching the objective of climate-neutral energy and economy were considered. The objectives of complete abandonment of coal-fired energy and the future use of nuclear energy were discussed.

New horizons have been opened for energy supply management, smart networks management and electricity storage. The global objectives were featured regarding the implementation of production and consumption and how faster the green transition and accelerated use of natural gas could happen as a transition to fully renewable electricity. The first day of the Forum was attended by 147 people, 111 of them from 16 different American states. 36 participants from 16 countries, including Austria, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, India, Japan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, Ukraine and the United Kingdom also joined the Forum.  

The second module of the Forum is on 11 November 11 at 5.00 p.m. EEST. It will focus on IT infrastructure and cybersecurity, research, innovation and funding in the field. In the session will took part Monica Dimitrova-Beecher, Deputy Minister of Finance at Ministry of Finance, Bulgaria, Member of Board of EBRD, IIB, Deputy Country Head of IM, Craig Patridge, Chair, Department of Computer Science, Colorado State University, Alice Jackson, President, Xcel Energy-Colorado, Chavdar Rissin, CFA, Citi Bank Trade Regional Head Central and Eastern Europe, Ian Lange, Director, Mineral & Energy Economics Programme, Assoc. Prof. Division of Economics & Business, Colorado School of Mines.  

On the final third day of the Conference – 18 November 18 at 5.00 p.m. EEST, the scientific discussion will focus on the future, namely - electric mobility, hydrogen use and smart cities infrastructure. In it will took part Prof. Dr. Hristina Nikolova, Head of the UNWE Economics of Transport and Energy Department, Will Toor, Colorado Energy Office Director, Rosen Daskalov, Founder and CEO of Sin Cars /electro vehicles/, Prof. Plamen Atanassov from the University of California-Irvine, Bryan Pivovar, Senior Research Fellow at National Renewable Energy Lab /NREL/.

The event is broadcast in real time. Those who want to follow it can make a free registration on the Conference site.