Conference showcases sustainable vision for the South East

Policy makers and business leaders will outline their vision for a low carbon South East during a conference at the University of Southampton, itself a low carbon pioneer and home of the world-renowned Sustainable Energy Research Group.

The ‘Creating a Low Carbon South East’ Conference, which also incorporates the 2007 South East Low Carbon Awards, takes place on 29 and 30 November.

With the Prime Minister pledging to deliver three million new homes by 2020, this important debate will address how the low carbon solution can play a pivotal role in the expansion of the South East’s economic infrastructure to build, grow business and attract people in a complimentary way.

Over 40 speakers, from the private and public sectors, with in-depth knowledge and practical experience of low carbon development have been chosen to share their experience in this crucial field. They will address the challenging aspects of planning, construction, eco-towns, renewable energy, transport, fuels, innovation and the creation of low carbon communities. Speakers will also look at how to deliver low carbon development within organisations, and examine success stories from the South East and beyond.

Heading the list of policy makers and business leaders speaking at the conference are:

• The Rt Hon John Denham MP, the Secretary of State for Innovation and Skills
• Chair of the Environment Agency, Sir John Harman
• Sir John Houghton, Co-chair of the IPCC and founder of the Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research
• James Braithwaite, CBE, Chairman of the South East Economic Development Agency (SEEDA)
• Professor AbuBakr Bahaj, Head of the Sustainable Energy Research Group at the University of Southampton.

The conference also features seminars and workshops run by successful low carbon pioneers, offering unique insights into the low carbon innovation and techniques being used in organisations throughout Europe.

The Right Honourable John Denham MP says: "Government sees the role of the development of a low carbon economy as a key aspect of enterprise and business innovation. It also has a key role to play in fighting climate change and improving social well-being for citizens, especially in areas of innovative use of energy. I welcome the opportunity that the conference in Southampton provides to assess what has been done in the area to date and what challenges we have to address in the future."

Professor AbuBakr Bahaj adds: "This a great opportunity to show the breadth of knowledge and activities related to low carbon in the South East. The most pressing need for the UK in addition to climate change will be how to bridge our electricity generation gap when nuclear power stations close.

"The University is at the forefront in research and development in aspects of renewable energy and energy efficiency in buildings. I believe the work on microgeneration technologies and the large-scale generation from marine renewables in both the wave and tidal fields, will form part of the solution."

The Sustainable Energy Research Group (www.energy.soton.ac.uk) is part of the School of Civil Engineering and the Environment at the University of Southampton. Its activities range from theoretical investigations to experimental research into photovoltaics (PV), marine energy (tidal and wave power), microgeneration, energy comfort in the built environment and smart building technologies.

The conference is hosted by the South East Economic Development Agency (SEEDA) with the Government Office for the South East (GOSE), nPower renewables, the Environment Centre (tEC), Waltet Recycling, the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE), Utilicom, Vestas, B&Q, Radian (Drum Housing), South East Sustainable Business Partnership and Sustainable Energy Partnership.