Colorado-Iceland Clean Energy Summit

WELCOME TO COLORADO-ICELAND CLEAN ENERGY SUMMIT IN DENVER

On Thursday, June 20, 2024, State of Colorado, Denver Economic Development & Opportunity, the Embassy of Iceland, and Green by Iceland, will host Our Climate Future event at the McNichols Civic Center Building, in Denver.

The conference brings together government leaders, businesses, and civil society groups to discuss opportunities to strengthen the cooperation between Colorado and Iceland in the field of Geothermal Energy and Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) solutions. The aim of conference is to build upon recent advancements in clean energy, including geothermal and CCUS, and highlight technological solutions to accelerate the energy transition. Speakers will highlight the opportunities and challenges to accelerate public and private partnerships to advance the energy transition and achieve today’s ambitious climate goals.

Against the backdrop of today’s geopolitical challenges, greater ambition is needed to rapidly decarbonize the energy system while ensuring energy security. Given Iceland’s achievement in being the world’s largest green energy producer per capita and a leader in harnessing renewable energy for more than a century, there are many lessons learned that can be shared to mutually benefit today’s global energy security and climate change challenges.

• WHEN: June 20, 2024
• WHERE: McNichols Civic Center Building, Denver

AGENDA

10:00 - 10:30 am   Registration and networking
Welcome by Ambassador Bergdís Ellertsdóttir
10:35 - 10:40 am   Opening remarks by Adeeb Khan, Executive Director, Denver Economic Development & Opportunity (DEDO)

10:45 - 11:35 am Different energy streams from a geothermal power plant and cascaded use. Experience from Icelandic Resource Parks
Panelists:
- Jón Ásgeirsson, EVP Strategy & Continuous Improvement, HS Orka
- Hjálmar Helgi Rögnvaldsson, Managing Director of Business Development & Power Markets at ON Power
- Amanda Kolker, Laboratory Program Manager - Geothermal Technologies
- Levi Kilcher, Senior Energy Advisor, The Arctic Energy Office
Moderator: Lu Cordovoa, Director Global Energy Park

11:35 – 12:25 pm    Opportunities for Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage in the Western States (Colorado, Wyoming, Utah) and the role of CCUS technology in the Energy Transition.
Panelists:
- Abby Pelsmaeker, Policy Advisor, Western Governors Association
- Kristinn Ingi Larusson, Chief Commercial/Business Officer, Carbfix
- Lotte Rosenberg, CEO, Carbon Recycling International
- Melissa Carey, Head of Climate, ESG Policy and Government Affairs at Holcim
Moderator:
- Will Toor, Executive Director Colorado Energy Office

12:25-1:20   Lunch break 

1:20 – 2:10 pm   Fireside chat with Governor Jared Polis and Ambassador Bergdís Ellertsdóttir.
Moderator:
- Birta Kristín Helgadóttir, Director Renewable Energy at EFLA

2:10 – 3:00 pm    How to accelerate the geothermal transition in Colorado?
Land Protection, Energy Transition and Economic Prosperity: A challenge - an opportunity - NIMBY?
Panelists:
- Árni Magnússon, CEO of ÍSOR / Iceland GeoSurvey
- Bryant Jones, Executive Director of Geothermal Rising
- Gudmundur Heidar, Principal, Western Geothermal
- Kristín Linda, Deputy CEO of Landsvirkjun
Moderator:
- Julie Murphy, Director of ECMC

3:00 – 3:50 pm    The Geothermal district heating system in Iceland; Is that an option for Colorado at large scale?
Panelists:
- Eythor Sigurdsson, Mechanical Engineer at Verkís
- Jonny Rogers, Denver Office of Climate Action Sustainability and Resilience
- Magnús Ásbjörnsson, CEO, Reykjavik Geothermal
- Matt Garlick, GreyEdge Group
Moderator:
- Rósbjörg Jónsdóttir, Managing Director, Iceland Renewable Energy Cluster

4:00 – 4:10    Summarizing by Nott Thorberg, Director of Green by Iceland
4:10 – 4:15     Closing remarks by Sigridur Dogg Gudmundsdottir, Director of Export & Investments at Business Iceland
4:15 – 6:00    Networking reception