John Grady on the alchemy required to squeeze energy from waste water

The UK water industry is poised for change. Last month, retail competition for businesses was launched and now Ofwat are focusing on introducing greater competition and efficiency. And, in a world of increased competition where the value chain is being reconfigured, Ofwat and the water companies are now directing their gaze towards the further opportunities in the sector.

Sludge, and the ways in which the industry manages it, has long been of particular interest to many innovators in the sector especially those who wish to realise the full potential of turning it into energy. Next week John Grady, partner at law firm, Shepherd and Wedderburn will explore some of the essential market and regulatory conditions required to achieve this, when he speaks at All-Energy, the UK’s largest renewable and low carbon energy event, which takes place in Glasgow on 10 – 11 May.

John will chair the session: Energy from Waste on the second day of the event and will also deliver his own presentation: Waste water and energy in the UK – the next big bang? Here he will look at issues relating to the scope for new contracting arrangements and key risk and compliance issues. He said: “There is no doubt that reforms will lead to further innovation. There are of course regulatory and structural challenges. However as the water industry moves from a vertically integrated world, the challenge to such collaboration will not only be of a technical and regulatory nature, it will also be a cultural one.”

Shepherd and Wedderburn has a strong reputation in the water sector with a long track record in advising on a wide range of regulatory issues and major water projects, both in the UK and internationally. The firm has had a prominent role in advising on the opening up of the English water non household retail market to competition.

On the Energy from Waste panel, John will be joined by other eminent speakers including:

Alister Veitch, Head of Sales UK, DONG Energy
Yorik Tisseau, Bouygues Energies & Services Contracting UK
G. John Kuipers, CEO & Owner, Pyr-Oil Group
Paul Winstanley, Project Manager – CCS & Bioenergy, Energy Technologies Institute (ETI)

Further information
Shepherd and Wedderburn is headline sponsor to All-Energy. Other lawyers from the firm’s 90 strong energy group will be speaking at other sessions over the two-day event: Clare Foster, Head of Clean Energy; partners, Patricia Hawthorn, Liz McRobb and David Anderson, and solicitor Stephanie Mill. Full details can be found here.

Now in its 17th year, the conference and exhibition continues to build on its strong reputation as the UK’s largest renewable and low carbon energy event.

Venue: Glasgow’s Scottish Event Campus on 10-11 May 2017.

The event is free to attend. More details at all-energy.co.uk

Further information can also be found on Shepherd and Wedderburn’s dedicated all-energy website