(St. John’s, NL – Thursday, June 6, 2024) The Energy NL Conference & Exhibition 2024 concluded today after two more engaging sessions and an informative lunch keynote with Jennifer Williams, President and CEO of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. As well, Equinor Canada informed delegates of a collaboration with Energy NL that will explore the Newfoundland and Labrador labour market of the future and plan to address potential gaps for upcoming infrastructure projects.
The day began with an address from the Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology who provided details on the provincial Hydrogen Development Action Plan, announced the next phase of the Green Transition Fund applications, and discussed the importance of the provincial energy sector to the province. Michelle Lethbridge, Project Manager, ABO Wind, updated delegates on progress of Toqlukuti’k Wind and Hydrogen Project, including producing green hydrogen to further decarbonize Braya’s Come By Chance renewable diesel refinery. From there a discussion on technology in the energy sector occurred with a focus on safety, innovation, and reducing emissions. Julie Lemieux, CEO, Triple Point Resources and Jaydip Bhadaliya, Manager – Technical Services, Braya Renewable Fuels, provided updates on their projects and Steve Priestley, Chief Operating Officer, AltoMaxx, illustrated how the use of drones is improving efficiency, safety, and helping to reduce emissions.
The final conference session started with updates from Trent Vichie, CEO, EverWind Fuels, and Tore Løseth, Country Manager, Equinor Canada. Trent updated on the Burin Peninsula Green Fuels Project and informed delegates that four met towers are in place with four more under completion and the project environmental assessment will be registered next month. Tore spoke to the Bay du Nord project and his belief in its importance to Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as the related exploration campaign planned for this summer. Following those updates, the session continued with presentations from Elizabeth Kidd, President & CEO, College of the North Atlantic, Morgan Chafe, Director of Student Summer Employment Program, WISE NL, Samantha Nash, Machinery & Cranes Engineer, ExxonMobil Canada, and Dr. Tom Cooper, Memorial University Faculty of Business Administration. The session focus was on preparing for the energy economy of the future and the importance of diversity and inclusion and ESG applications.
The conference concluded with an exceptional lunch keynote delivered by Jennifer Williams who released the companies plan to meet electrical load growth with new generating infrastructure. The plan includes an approximately $1 billion investment, as well as purchase of power from wind generation. She emphasized that “rigour and speed are not incompatible” when planning and constructing new hydroelectric infrastructure.
“The past three days have been a resounding success with exceptional speakers and exhibitors and an amazing feeling of optimism among attendees. Today we learned about important plans of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro to meet load growth and also more details of two potential wind to green hydrogen projects. It is also clear our industry is innovating to meet the challenges before us and also readying for the energy economy of the future. I am greatly looking forward to our work on the labour market for major infrastructure projects supported by Equinor and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. This research will give us a clearer picture of the skills needed and gaps to be addressed. I want to thank all speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, and attendees for making this not only the largest, but the most successful Energy NL Conference & Exhibition yet. I look forward to welcoming everyone back from June 3-5, 2025.”
- Charlene Johnson, Energy NL CEO
Energy NL represents over 500 member organizations worldwide which are involved in the energy sector. Members are active in all areas of the supply and service sector and include a diverse representation of businesses that range from offshore supply vessels and helicopters, carbon reduction and sustainable technologies, health and safety equipment and training, engineering solutions and fabricators to law firms and human resource agencies.
