Sourcing Environmental Solutions at ET

ET is the UK’s largest gathering of suppliers for environmental best practice solutions, offering systems ranging from air pollution control through to waste management. Of the 7,725 people attending Sustainabilitylive! in 2009, more than 40 per cent were specifically seeking environmental solutions, making ET the best market place for both buyers and suppliers.

Running alongside the exhibition will be three separate days of seminars dedicated to addressing issues challenging the sector. Day One sees the launch of a new focus for Sustainabilitylive! looking at green transport. Amongst those present in the accompanying exhibition area will be Birmingham University and its hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, AEA Technology (Van Best Practice), The Cabled Group, LowCVP, and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership has additionally organised an impressive line-up of speakers to discuss topics including greener fleet management, electric fleet vehicles and road transport climate targets. Also on display at Sustainabilitylive! will be one of the first electric Porches in the world – the Greenster 911 Targa – located on Q15.

Advantage West Midlands, who along with ten other industry bodies – CIEH; CIWM; edie.net; EIC; ESA; IChemE; IEMA; the Society for the Environment; the Source Testing Association and UK Trade and Investment – are supporting ET, will take charge of the seminar programme for Day Two, with a number of organisations including Arup, Resco, Keele University, Buderus, and Worcester Bosch discussing the theme of achieving low carbon business opportunities.

Day Three is dedicated to air pollution issues, with contributions from organisations including ABB, Babcock Wanson, Bertin Technologies, BRE, Bureau Veritas, ERG and the EIC covering topics such as monitoring emissions – how to ensure compliance with current legislation, airborne contamination control and sustainable odour control in urban environments.

Continuing its long-standing relationship with Sustainabilitylive!, UK Trade & Investment will be hosting another of its hugely successful ‘Meet the Buyer’ events, with representatives from China, Egypt, Mexico, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey and USA, where meetings can be organised via an on-line booking system. The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) meanwhile will be holding a meeting of members to hear progress on regulation and best practice and share experience with problems and new initiatives.

Guided by the Steering Group, which brings together the leading experts working in today’s industry: Black and Veatch; British Water; CIWEM; SBWWI; Siemens; Veolia and Water UK – the IWEX seminar programme addresses 10 of the key issues facing the sector. Flood management is discussed by speakers from DEFRA, ADAS and Hyder, Elliot Robertson of the Environment Agency will chair the SUDS session, while the water and wastewater treatment session will hear the latest on the Water Framework Directive. Metering is also on the agenda with presentations from Elster and Mott MacDonald amongst others, and the asset management session will hear from OFWAT, the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, Enginsoft and SBWWI. Veolia Water and Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies – who are additionally sponsoring the IWEX seminar theatre – will take part in the carbon reduction session along with ABB and UKTI. Private sewers are also on the agenda, while the grey water recycling session will hear from the UK Rainwater Harvesting Association and Waterscan. Mouchel, Severn Trent, Siemens and the SBWWI Water Dragon Innovation Winner will address innovation, while ADAS, WSP Environment & Energy and WorleyParsons will be amongst those discussing sustainable water management.

British Water, in association with IWEX, will be running a two-day summit – Working in a Changing Water Industry – discussing the challenges facing the industry today. Day One will focus on the UK market, with topics including innovation, procurement strategy, carbon footprinting, and impact on the supply chain, while Day Two will look at the international perspective, discussing water scarcity, risk management and market selection.

IWEX University Challenge
A new feature is the IWEX University Challenge, looking for the best in latest water sector research. A panel including CIWEM, Mouchel and Anglian Water will judge entries based on the degree of innovation, environmental impact, technical content and commercial potential, and successful entries will present their projects on 22 April with the winner announced on the day as well as presented the IWEX University Challenge Award at the Water Industry Achievements Award ceremony on 20 May 2010 in Birmingham.