First International Conference on the Integration of CEA in Circular Energy Clusters
Scotland, Aberdeen October 11-12 2023 Venue Co-Location
Major public and private investments are competing to rapidly decarbonize all aspects of economies across markets. All major industries are transformed by the needed energy infrastructure in particular. Integrative cross sectoral cluster developments are needed to help facilitate this transformation. Circularity is the new standard and targeted regulation will shape the future for the entire economy including agriculture. (EU example)
Demand by growers/investors for the adoption of commercially viable horizontal and vertical indoor farms is accelerating exponentially in many regions, driven by the need to cope with the unprecedented perfect storm of challenges. Increases in demand for health, security and sovereignty surges, so does the need for affordable energy-efficient, resilient regional, digital, people-friendly agricultural system solutions that empower the farmer of the future to prosper and transform mainstream agriculture.
Most important; for a niche sector to grow, collaboration on the development of harmonized standards, planning tools and security protocols are needed. Representative and pre-competitive initiatives provide a forum (FTS(UKUAT)) to align all stakeholders and introduce the roadmap needed to overcome complexities and differences in order to grow together into large-scale project development and combine CEA with green infrastructure.
Early Examples such as the industrial park north of Amsterdam called Agriport A7 and the various newer “agro parks” in Mexico are interesting examples utilizing existing CEA technology integrated into innovative energy loops with synergetic circularity in all types of production.
CEA has the potential to become one of the key innovations to help transform mainstream agriculture, helping to adopt digitalization and drive resource efficiency with circular cluster integration into regional energy infrastructure. CEA hybrid systems provide a future-proof crossover between energy and agriculture with a significant contribution in job creation, efficient energy management, circularity and regional transformation and sovereignty.
By inviting selected stakeholders to a conference in Aberdeen, the goal is to create a roadmap, align interests and form partnerships. Follow up workshops on specific pilot projects with locations both in the EU, UK and US markets will provide leads and invitations. By integrating circular practice into wider food, feed, fiber, energy systems, stakeholders from the energy, manufacturing and agriculture sectors are needed, as mutual partnership benefits from this cross-sectoral integration become critical for engagement. Novel clustering agriculture activity along with building competencies tackling complexities while breaching the containment of the different silos is the goal.
There are several project opportunities in Germany, Scotland and the USA to discuss at the conference to have early stage engagements with the site developers.
Conference Programs Topics & Ideas
○ Decarbonization and closing energy loops
○ Green Hydrogen and geothermal in CEA
○ Grid volatility as an opportunity for CEA
○ Valorization of waste- and biomass streams
○ Stakeholder management in large projects
○ Definitions of cluster design narrative
● Farm Tour with commercial CEA Production / Research institutions
● Networking luncheons / cocktail happy hours with elevator pitch by site developers
● Moderated panel discussion (+ couple of keynotes) with TOPICS that reflect the opinion of
different stakeholders and address the challenges and offer outlooks and opportunities.
Keywords and Explanation for the Conference
Green Infrastructure Core Cluster Integration Concept
Circular CEA cluster & Renewable Energy Infrastructure Synergies around the energy, heat and cooling loops, nutrient exchanges, logistics, training and shared infrastructure. Building synergies on sustainable financial access and workforce development and cybersecurity and data standards.
Circular CEA Bolt-Ons
Integration of different production systems such as plants, mushrooms, aquaculture, insects, algae into circular cross sectoral renewable energy production and storage facilities, combined with packaging, training and logistics platforms that provide regional identities for the products and services.
Network and target audiences
Infrastructure developers / investors / energy companies / regulators / policymakers / academics/ researchers / suppliers / growers / associations / manufacturing and automation companies
Cross-Sectoral Stakeholders
FTS / UKUAT / VFI / Indoor AgCon / GreenTech AMS / 80 Acres / CLAYCO / FESTO / VALOYA / SIEMENS DIGITAL INDUSTRIES / BayWa GLOBAL PRODUCE / BayWa RE / IGS / Scot Gov / ZWS / RheEnergise / Scottish National Investment Bank / GreenBackers / CHAP / District Eating / Geopolitical Advisor / EIT Food / Abertay University / Fraunhofer Institute / James Hutton Institute /
Goals and Outcomes
Roadmap for partnerships between Energy and the CEA sector
CEA Cluster Data Standards Development
Regional Workshops for large project feasibility with selected stakeholders