All Energy Day 2018
Report from "De Ingenieur" 08 May 2018 Jemery Rifkin: Don't get stuck in "Engineering"
None other than Jeremy Rifkin was snared as the "opening act" of the All Energy Day on 8 May at the Fokker Terminal in The Hague. In five quarters of an hour, the famous economist highlighted the energy transition. His bouncer to the students was personal and people-oriented: 'You are now being put to the test. Don't get stuck in technology. Develop your social skills too.'
Some call it a relief, others get an itch: the stern angularity with which Jeremy Rifkin addresses a room. 'No phones! Young man, if you want to take pictures, do it at the back of the hall.' So it was not nothing what Rifkin, a man with a mission, wanted to convey. It takes concentration to follow him. His story is dizzyingly complex and merciless.
But what exactly was Rifkin saying? That is not so easy to formulate. His speech touched on the economy, renewable energy generation, the nadir of the second industrial revolution (July 2008), the laws of thermodynamics (which affect the economy but of which our economists are "totally unaware"), regulating the price of oil, the energy transition, new business models and the third industrial revolution, with simultaneous breakthroughs in energy and information technology. And most importantly, the responsibility of every single global citizen. We make an attempt to summarise his complex story.
Excessive consumption
'We dig ourselves deeper into a hole,' said Rifkin, referring to consumerism, capitalism, income inequality and the rat race to the drain. The rich part of the world's population is doing great, the poor part has to make ends meet on two dollars a day. And excessive consumption of luxury items, meat and means of transport drains CO2 emissions, leaving the climate adrift. Forget the mild climate we once had. 'Heavy snowfall, heavy flooding and killer storms are the new normal.'
Talk of climate change is rife. But what has been radically transformed? Our business models are often still calibrated on the old economy, born after the second industrial revolution. With a leaden bag of legacy, we drag on. 'We are asleep,' conjures prophet of doom Rifkin. 'Greenhouse gas emissions should not be reduced in two decades; do you hear what I am saying? Not reduced, but reduced to zero.'
Intelligent network
Those who now see the outlines of a doomsday scenario judge too quickly. Indeed, the current, third industrial revolution is one of community. In this respect, the millennials have a powerful weapon in their hands to turn the tide: the internet and the sharing economy.
Internet technology is transforming our power grids into an intelligent power grid. Our energy supply is being democratised since small-scale power generation pays for itself. People are investing in it, which is the best news we could wish for. More and more buildings are being transformed into small power plants.
Rifkin foresees a transition from socialist and capitalist ideologies to a society of cooperation and networking. Sharing is caring. Use is more important than possession. We see intermediate links in traditional, endless production chains slowly disappearing thanks to blockchain technology, among other things. Direct communication is the holy grail. Peer to peer, also in business transactions. Small and local are the future, fuelled by the sharing economy and the Internet of Things. Production costs of energy, among others, are falling exponentially. Solar energy pays for itself. Other products are also getting cheaper. In China, smartphones are being marketed for $25. Smartphones as a commodity.
Creative kids
'We are moving from markets to networks and from ownership to access,' says Rifkin. 'That is the new system to beat capitalism, because yes, there are 3.5 billion of us.' All those creative kids are offering their talents (sometimes for free) on the internet. They make their own news, create their own YouTube videos with which they reach an audience of millions. Power generation also benefits from our desire to network. Power to the people!
The energy companies, with their old business models, do not have sufficient capacity for sustainable energy generation and ... will have to innovate. Meanwhile, billions of global citizens already hold the trump cards. And soon solar panels will be built into stone, glass and paint.
And students at our technical universities have a responsibility to take on. Rifkin: 'Don't get stuck in engineering. You are being tested, be aware of that. Don't just study engineering, develop your social skills too.'
New freedom
According to Rifkin, we are growing towards a completely different society. 'Look at the perception of the word 'freedom'. My generation defined freedom as autonomy, independence and a government that protects. For millennials, freedom is 'access to networks rather than possession' and 'being able to harness talent'. That is something completely different. So it's up to you.'
And robots? Perhaps their importance is overestimated. In any case, they are not going to raise our children, predicts Rifkin: 'At most, they will bring lunch. Deep social engagement belongs to the people.' (Ton Verheijen)
Photo: Stephan Röhl/CC BY-SA 2.0
For continuation the announcement at
Symposium All Energy Day 2019
Description
The All Energy Day is an interdisciplinary symposium concerning all forms of renewable energy and in particular the energy transition. Our goal is to bring students, professionals, companies, politicians and science together. This group of participants will together lead the energy transition and are on the forefront of developing a sustainable future. Together we can create innovative ideas and inspire one another to become part of the solution of the energy problem we face today.
This day offers an opportunity to students, academics and young professionals with an interest in (sustainable) energy to get acquainted with your company and contribute valuable input to complex cases. The energy transition concerns not only energy companies, but requires involvement of a wide range of parties. Take on the challenge from a policymaking, technology, entrepreneurship and a financial point of view. We guarantee in-depth content of high quality and a perfect match between your company and our participants.
Our programme consists of inspiring speakers, business cases, power talks, roundtable discussions, exhibition floor and ends with networking drinks and a VIP dinner. Our event enables your company to network with both young talent and colleagues. The coming edition will be on 8 May 2018.
About All Energy Day:
The goal of the All Energy Day day is to show all the different aspects of the energy transition to students, young-professionals and academics. Every year around 600 energy-students from Delft, Eindhoven, Utrecht, Rotterdam and Wageningen attend this day. This year we try to make our event more appealing to the international student community by inviting more internationally orientated companies and speakers.
The program of this year
Our keynote speaker this year will be Jeremy Rifkin, he has been an adviser to the leadership of the European Union since 2000 - as well as numerous EU heads of state, including Germany's Angela Merkel. He also advised the leadership of the Peoples Republic of China. Beside that, Mr. Rifkin's New York Times bestselling book, The Third Industrial Revolution, provided the blueprint for the economic transition to a post-carbon ecological society across the European Union.
The day will take place in the Fokker Terminal in the Hague the 8th of May, this year we are aiming for 600 to 700 students, and have made an English track for international students.
Partners and participants
As we try to make a real mix of companies, research institutes, start-ups and NGOs, the participating companies are quite diverse. For instance, ING, Stedin, TU Delft, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (and more) are already participating this year.
Speaker(s)
See http://www.allenergyday.nl/sprekers-ned.html
Location
Binckhorstlaan 249 2516 BB The Hague
Organiser
Electrical Engineering
Team All Energy Day TU Delft
Name and contact details for information
Hilde Huismans - Secretary All Energy Day secretaris@allenergyday.nl / Ing. Paul van Moerkerken board member KIVI-EL pvmoerkerken@gmail.com
Register for All Energy Day 2018
Register via
See URL above. For professionals / Companies 201,-- euro including Tax, KIVI full members can get a 30% discount.
