World Energy Congress 2024

Rotterdam | April 22-25, 2024

PwC at the World Energy Congress

From 22-25 April 2024, all eyes were on Rotterdam as international energy stakeholders convened for the 26th World Energy Congress (WEC). As the platinum sponsor, PwC participated on stage, at the exhibition and in events throughout the four days of the Congress meeting, bringing leaders together to explore solutions on key topics including: the energy transition, e-Mobility, infrastructure, public sector and alternative fuels.

At our branded exhibition space attendees could refuel, meet with a PwC professional, join our series of topical sessions and grab a liquid nitrogen-powered ice cream.

Will Jackson-Moore, Global Sustainability Leader, PwC

World Energy Congress is a great convening point, clearly. I mean, the types of organisations here are really at the heart of the energy transition.

Emma Cox, Global Climate Leader, PwC

I've found people to be very thoughtful and happy to pause and think about the complexity. I think they all know that there's no one-size solution. And so it's been really interesting to have conversations about what is a particular company or government's role within driving an energy transition pathway?

Jeroen van Hoof, Global Energy, Utilities & Resources Leader, PwC

I think what has evolved over the last few years, mainly, is the fact that we do much more ecosystem thinking now. What does energy transition mean for food? What does energy transition mean for chemicals? And all those problems are interrelated and need to be addressed all at the same time.

Emma Cox, Global Climate Leader, PwC

One of the things that stood out for me is that there is no transition unless it's a just transition.
Because otherwise we just won't get the scale and speed that we need.
So it's been great to actually be part of some thoughtful debates and to be on a panel discussing how we go fairer, faster, at scale, but with justice at the heart of it.

Jeroen van Hoof, Global Energy, Utilities & Resources Leader, PwC

We've brought some interesting perspectives to the table. One I think, on the work we have been doing on demand side management. So what can be achieved in the short term. What companies can actually do to reduce their energy consumption in an economic positive way, which has a significant impact.

Will Jackson-Moore, Global Sustainability Leader, PwC

I think the takeaways are we can't just do this as an industry. It needs to be the whole ecosystem. We've got to get the regulators, policy setting.
We've got to create investable opportunities to deploy capital into energy transition. And I think that is very, very clear.

Future Energy Leaders programme

PwC was delighted to sponsor the Future Energy Leaders Programme - now in its 40th year – is a community of exceptional young professionals who share a commitment to shaping the global energy future.

The programme is designed to build on the ideas and innovative potential of the next generation, to develop new ways of thinking and frame the future of our energy systems. It brings together a network of exceptional individuals from across the globe who represent the different players the energy sector is composed of, including government, energy industry, academia, civil society and social entrepreneurs.

Learn more

Our content agenda

Our thematic focus: Bridging the Gaps

Global ambitions to reduce emissions aggressively have thrown into sharp relief large gaps between existing crucial technologies, infrastructure and investment—and the higher levels we’ll need in the immediate future.

In this video two of our leaders, Reid Morrison and Paul Nillesen, discuss the key gaps that need to be overcome in order to achieve the energy transition.
Read the full report

View Transcript

PwC leaders on the main stage

In terms of kind of top takeaways, I think it's that you can't look at carbon in isolation when you're looking at the energy system, because people are also at the heart of making this a successful, just transition. So putting people into the narrative.

That we have a lot of the technology we need, but the pace of change is still really accelerating. And there are many, many opportunities to share and to learn from others in respect of that.

And then thirdly, finance is a great unlocker. So how do we bring finance within a policy framework so government, public, and private sector work together better to unlock the solutions at scale and get finance where it's needed, so that business is confident to make the investments that it needs.

Emma Cox

Global Climate Leader, PwC United Kingdom

Emma Cox leads the development of climate solutions for clients as they navigate the challenges and opportunities resulting from a changing climate. This includes developing digital tools to help clients use climate-related data to make better business decisions, and upskilling PwC people to integrate climate considerations into all client engagements.

Emma also leads PwC’s climate-related engagements with global organisations including the World Economic Forum, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Sustainable Markets Initiative and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Emma spoke on the following main stage session:

Faster, fairer, further: Decarbonisation with justice
23 April, 10:15 - 11:15 CEST

Watch the video to see Emma's key takeaways from the Congress.

There are lots of conversations about the need to align policies and who is actually going to take charge of this. And I think it's a fascinating topic.

I was on this panel, the title of that panel was “So Who Is Leading?”
And actually we didn't work it out because if we're talking about energy transition, it's such a complex topic.

But even the largest organisations like the UN or G20 are not going to make the difference by themselves.

So if it was like one word that was really prevalent through all these conversations was ‘ecosystem’. And also that this ecosystem needs to be innovative.

I'm really happy to see this, that even if you go through the corridors here at the exhibition, you will see many technology companies.

Coming from where I come from and also helping the government with putting together the policies and really deciding where they need to put their money, I think it is like the number one priority.

There are numerous researches that are showing that 50% of CO2 savings, by 2050, need to come from technologies that are either not existent yet, or just in the testing phase.

So this is where the government has really a role to play, to make sure that these technologies are supported, and also that they are upscaled as quickly as possible.

So the last takeaway from the panel I just participated on was about what to prioritise. And they were like, couple of things that we need to do.
Should we prioritise citizens, should we prioritise industry? Should we prioritise governance? Should we prioritise policy? Should we prioritise technology?

And what I really loved about our conversation was that I think we were very much in alignment that actually, given that we have only a decade or maybe two to address these things, and they are so complex, actually, we don't have a luxury to focus on just one.

If we want to be successful, we need to do all of them at the same time.

Agnieszka Gajewska

Global Government & Public Sector Leader, PwC Poland

Agnieszka leads the PwC Global Government & Public Services network of more than 10,000 professionals, helping governments around the globe maximise positive impact for their citizens.

She discussed recent regulation and public intervention trends that deliver on the energy transition and growth agenda at the World Energy Congress on the following main stage session:

Global energy governance: who is leading
24 April, 11:45 - 13:00 CEST

Watch the video to see Agnieszka's key takeaways from the Congress.

Biography

Jeroen van Hoof

Global Utilities Advisory Leader, PwC Netherlands

Jeroen leads PwC’s global network of specialists for the Global Energy, Utilities & Resources industry. He is also the global Power & Utilities leader and the Energy, Utilities & Resources Assurance leader. Additionally, Jeroen chairs the Dutch chapter of the World Energy Council.

During his 25-year career at PwC, Jeroen has advised many companies, regulators, policy makers and local governments on the ongoing energy transition.

Jeroen spoke on the following main stage session:

Accelerating energy transitions in Europe: A new (in)secure context
24 April, 14:15 - 15:00 CEST

Biography

Our PwC booth sessions

We hosted a series of fireside chats, topical sessions and interactive demos.

Monday, 22 April
Tuesday, 23 April
Wednesday, 24 April
Thursday, 25 April

Monday, 22 April

PwC booth opening ceremony
Time: 13:00 - 13:15
Host: Jeroen van Hoof

Transforming energy demand
Time: 13:15 - 13:45
Speaker: Rob Turner, Alexandre Golisano

Sustainable mobility fuels with WEC Germany
Time: 14:00 - 14:45
Speakers: Stuart Neil, Dirk Niemeier, Carsten Rolle, Folker Trepte

Demo: Energy Demand Experience
Time: 15:00 - 15:45
Speakers: Thomas Hendrikx, Renate de Lange-Snijders, Travis Sheppard, Rob Turner

New Zealand's renewables journey
Time: 15:45 - 16:15
Speakers: Sam Elder, Tina Schirr, Lynne Taylor, Andrew Wilshire

Tuesday, 23 April

Sustainable chemicals: Essential for a thriving energy transition
Time: 10:00 - 10:30
Speakers: Aitor Arzuaga, Volker Fitzner, Jurgen Peterseim

H2 Strategy& study: Navigating the hydrogen ecosystem
Time: 10:45 - 11:15
Speaker: Dirk Niemeier

Hydrogen market scale
Time: 11:30 - 12:00
Speakers: Markus Exenberger, Jurgen Peterseim, Folker Trepte

Demo: AI net zero tracking and forecasting tool
Time: 12:00 - 12:30

Demo: Pathways to Paris transformational tool - session 1
Time: 13:00 - 13:30

Catalytic collaboration for green growth
Time: 14:30 - 15:00
Speaker: Agnieszka Gajewska

Bridging the policy gap
Time: 15:30 - 16:00
Speakers: Agnieszka Gajewska, Maxine Tillij

Wednesday, 24 April

Demo: Hydrogen calculator
Time: 10:00 - 10:30

From gas to green: How infrastructure companies pioneer the hydrogen revolution
Time: 10:30 - 11:00
Speakers: Helmie Botter, Heiko Seitz

Power Shift: how EV battery swapping revolutionises energy grids and storage
Time: 11:15 - 11:45
Speakers: Arthur van Mook, Heiko Seitz

Strategic flexibility: The key to enable better value and sustainability in infrastructure projects under uncertainty
Time: 12:00 - 12:30
Speakers: David Allaverdi, Michel-Alexandre Cardin

Demo: Grid flexibility tool
Time: 12:30 - 13:00

Future Energy Leaders: Shaping the future of energy pitching contest
Time: 15:30 - 17:30
Judges: Agnes Koops-Aukes, Helen Lapeyra

Thursday, 25 April

Demo: Pathways to Paris transformational tool - session 2
Time: 10:00 - 10:30

Session speakers

We were delighted to welcome both PwC and guest speakers to our exhibition space for discussions on a range of topics.

Guest speakers
PwC speakers

Aitor Arzuaga
General Manager, Alba Emission Free Energy (Spain)

Sam Elder
GM Energy Futures, Orion Group (NZ)

Arthur van Mook
sr. Power Business Development Manager, NIO Netherlands BV

Tina Schirr
Executive Director, BusinessNZ Energy Council (BEC)

Helmie Botter
Manager Business Development Hydrogen, N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie

Markus Exenberger
Chairman of the Executive Board / CEO, H2Global Stiftung

Stuart Neil
Director of Strategy and Communications, International Chamber of Shipping

Michel-Alexandre Cardin
Associate Professor in Computational Aided Engineering, Imperial College London

Alexandre Golisano
Country President, Schneider Electric The Netherlands

Dr Carsten Rolle
Secretary General, World Energy Council – Germany

David Allaverdi
Product Architecture & Resilience, Senior Manager, PwC Germany

Agnieszka Gajewska
Global Government & Public Sector Leader, PwC Poland

Renate de Lange-Snijders
Global Sustainability Markets Leader, Partner, PwC Netherlands

Paul Nillesen
Global Utilities Advisory Leader, Partner, PwC Netherlands

Lynne Taylor
Energy Markets Sector, Managing Director, PwC New Zealand

Andrew Wilshire
Energy and Utilities, Partner, PwC New Zealand

Jon Chadwick
Global Sustainability - Energy Transition, Partner, PwC Australia

Will Jackson-Moore
Partner, Global ESG Leader, PwC United Kingdom

Helena Lapeyra
Global Energy, Utilities and Resources Advisory Leader, Partner, PwC Spain

Jurgen Peterseim
Sustainability Services, Director, PwC Germany

Folker Trepte
Utilities and Resources Leader, Partner, PwC Germany

Volker Fitzner
Chemicals Industry, Partner, PwC Germany

Agnes Koops-Aukes
CEO and Chair of the Board of Management of PwC Netherlands

Dirk Niemeier
Clean Hydrogen and Alternative Fuels, Director, PwC Germany

Heiko Seitz
eMobility Leader, Director, PwC Middle East

Rob Turner
Energy and Resources Leader, Partner, PwC UK

Join the Energy Demand Experience

How do your business decisions concerning energy demand affect your company’s overall growth, environmental impact and carbon footprint? This unique and interactive digital experience, developed in collaboration with Microsoft, is designed to highlight how demand-side management can create financial savings and reduce carbon emissions. Our specialists will walk you through the choices you could make to better manage your business’s energy consumption and deliver value to your shareholders, customers and employees.

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World Energy Congress - local experience

PwC Netherlands hosted the House of Energy, bringing together leaders to bridge the gaps to a decarbonised future.

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