Powering the Future: The Global Energy Transition
Hosted by: Phil Dillard
Peter Struck
Peter is a Senior Consultant in Environmental Engineering and Infrastructure projects with our associate HPC AG and based in Bavaria Germany. Peter joined HPC in 2014 and worked previously as Environmental Planner in Australia with the focus on mine closure planning and re-establishment of natural ecosystems and ecosystems functions. He has over 18 years experience in working in the fields of infrastructure and industrial developments, landscape and environmental planning and project management of multidisciplinary projects working with local and international clients. His passion to lead projects that can have a positive impact on local societies and natural resources continues to be an integral part of his work.
Peter holds degrees in Environmental Engineering and Science from Germany and Australia as well as degrees in Project Management and Management from Australia. Peter continues to be an associate of the Australian Institute of Project Management and the Austrian Project Management Association. He took on the leadership position of global Energy Transition Working Group in May 2024.
Ilkin Haji
Ilkin Haji is Founder and Executive Director of Sustainera Solutions. I.H is a professional specializing in sustainable development and project management. Ilkin worked with various UN Agencies, inter alia United Nations Industrial Development Organization’s Office in New York as Sustainable Development Expert, UN Development Programme, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Azerbaijan International Development Agency.
His areas of expertise are project management in international development context, financing for development, South-South and Triangular cooperation, partnership building, resource mobilization and science and technology for sustainable development.
Ilkin Hajiyev graduated from the George Washington University with Master Certificate in Project Management; University of Bristol (UK) with MSc degree in Public Policy; Baku Slavic University with BA in International Relations degree.
Andrew Young
Andrew Young is the Founder and Group CEO of EnviroSolutions & Consulting (ESC) and a Board Member for Inogen Alliance. With over 30 years of experience in the Asian environmental industry, Andrew is a highly respected environmental specialist with expertise in solid waste management, planning and impact assessments, air quality management, due diligence, and compliance assessments. He has provided expert advice to government and private sector clients across numerous countries in East, South and Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines, China, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. His advice has covered a range of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, including EHS risks, sustainability, energy transition, liabilities, and compliance. Andrew's deep understanding of the unique environmental and sustainability challenges in Asia, along with his knowledge of the cultural and regulatory landscapes, makes him a valuable partner to any organization he works with. Currently, Andrew is focusing on helping organizations develop and deliver their ESG Commitments.
Scott Thomas
Scott is a project manager at Tonkin & Taylor who provides expertise in the conception, planning and delivery of multi-disciplinary utility-scale solar projects. Having successfully delivered several solar projects, he has developed skills in risk analysis, stakeholder engagement, budgeting, and contingency planning. Scott is passionate about renewable energy, and is also contributing to sustainability initiative in the Pacific region related to civil construction.
Guest Quotes
“I suppose Aotearoa and New Zealand is in a slightly different place to others in the world. We've got a reasonably high proportion of our energy currently classified as renewable. We're looking at 80 to 85 percent. So our energy transition isn't so much a transition to renewable energy, it's more of a continued growth in our renewable energy sector as we see a demand increase.” - Scott
“There's a big project, for example, from Australia that will have the world's longest cable, about four and a half thousand kilometers, which will run from Australia all the way to Singapore. So you've got these sort of regional cooperation things beginning to happen, and that's all really being driven by this energy transition.” - Andrew
“When we talk about the transportation, it is not a task of one country, right? In that sense, you need to work closely with your neighboring countries or the transit countries. One example, we are now planning to export green hydrogen and also gas to the EU. The route is that the pipe starts in Azerbaijan, it passes through Georgia and through Black Sea, it arrives in Romania, and through Romania it goes to the EU.” - Ilkin
“In Europe, oil and gas companies, they are one of the main investors in renewables. I'm sitting in the Northeastern part of Germany, which is a very rural area, very sparsely populated and income is the lowest within Germany. However, there's lots of space for wind turbines, for solar parks, and all of a sudden this industry is creating industrial jobs in areas where historically there is no industry and it gives the farmers or the landowners an additional benefit to make money on their land.” - Peter
(00:00) The current energy transition landscape
(02:06) Panel with Ilkin and Peter
(26:43) Panel with Andrew and Scott
(54:37) Key takeaways
Harnessing Renewable Energy Responsibly: The Role of Environmental Impact Assessments
Environmental Impact Studies for Floating Solar
Inogen Alliance Presents at COP29 in Azerbaijan
https://www.inogenalliance.com/podcast/powering-future-global-energy-transition