Aqua Publica Europea is pleased to invite you to our next public seminar:

Water and Energy: A Complex Nexus 

The event will take place in person at VIVAQUA's main building (Boulevard de l'Impératrice 17, Brussels) and online.

The dramatic drought that affected a large part of our continent last summer proved once again that energy security and the sustainable management of water resources are two intertwined challenges. At the same time, water resources management, and in particular wastewater management, can be the source of innovative ways to meet our collective energy needs in a sustainable way.

The European Commission’s proposal for a revision of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) raises the level of ambition for water operators to become key players of the energy transition. While water operators will need to increase their efforts and develop new solutions to support the transition, an appropriate institutional and regulatory framework is needed to seize the full potential of the water-energy nexus.

Starting with a discussion on the content of the Commission’s proposal, the seminar will then explore both the concrete solutions and the institutional conditions that can maximise the contribution of wastewater management to the energy needs of our continent. Water experts will interact with representatives from the energy sector, regulators and public authorities to better understand how to turn the current (multiple) crises into an opportunity to build a more sustainable society. 
 

15:00-15:30    Welcome coffee

15:30-15:35    Introductory remarks

Bernard Van Nuffel, President of Aqua Publica Europea and of VIVAQUA (Brussels Water Operator)

15:35-16:30    Session 1 – The proposal for the revision of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive: How will the mission of water operators evolve in the coming years?

Michel Sponar, Deputy Head of unit for Marine Environment & Clean Water Services at the European Commission’s Directorate General for the Environment

Panel Discussion:

Armando Quazzo, CEO of SMAT (Turin) and Coordinator of APE’s Working Group on the UWWTD

Renata Tomusiak, President of MPiWK (Warsaw)

Joseph Hermal, Director General of SDEA (Alsace)

Andrea Guerrini, President of the European Association of Water Regulators (WAREG)

16:30-16:45    Coffee break

16:45-18:00    Session 2 – Wastewater and Energy: What synergies?

                             Energy from wastewater: examples from APE members

Olivier Broers, VIVAQUA

                             Gudrun Winkler, Hamburg Wasser

Panel Discussion:

Jon Rathjen, Deputy Director - Water Policy & DECC Operations, Scottish Government

Gert De Block, Secretary General of the European Federation of Local Energy Companies (CEDEC)

Andrea Guerrini, President of the European Association of Water Regulators (WAREG)

18:00               Closing remarks

18:00-19:00    Cocktail reception

            Interpretation service: French, English, Spanish and Italian

Download the full programme here