00:20Hello everyone, in 2020 we ended the E-Session with a success but also with the anticipation
00:28that we would meet physically in 2021, leaving the pandemic and its effects behind us.
00:36One year later, when we should be celebrating in person the 100 years of Seagraze Foundation,
00:43we are still plagued, for lack of a better word. But I believe we all expect that global
00:49vaccinations will allow us to gain our freedom of movement back so that we can meet in 2022.
00:55Last year, the first E-Session was a success with 2,500 registrations. For 2021, we have
01:06reached 1,600 registrations. This is the minimum we had expected but far below last year. The
01:13duration of this pandemic and the rolling lockdowns may have been a contributing factor. One thing
01:19that we are all very pleased to see is the great vitality and ingenuity shown by Seagraze organizers
01:27for this virtual session, enabling panels, group discussions, meetings, workshops and tutorials
01:35to take place in a similar way, just as if we were in a normal session with live interaction.
01:41This achievement has been made possible through the very strong engagement and commitment of our
01:48Technical Council with a superb support from the Central Office. A great thank you also goes to the
01:56presenters, moderators and special reporters. Energy networks don't have the option to stop during a global
02:04crisis. And neither has Seagraze. I truly believe that what is the most important is what people will
02:12remember is that the life of our Association got through this historic pandemic and continues to
02:19deliver its contribution to the shared knowledge. We will always continue to develop and share our energy
02:27network experience in a continuously changing and challenging environment, facilitating energy transition
02:35and access to electricity for all. The Seagraze focus will always as it has been these last 100 years
02:43about the technologies and their evolution, ensuring network stability while increasing the level of
02:52renewable integration, increasing long-distance power exchanges between countries in AC or DC, developing smart grids and
03:03managing energy from end to end, integrating storage and now developing the use of clean hydrogen. The pandemic
03:15and our continued knowledge sharing has shown how important Seagraze is to many.
03:20And this is why I'm asking you that we all do our best to continue to support Seagraze.
03:29Convey to your friends and colleagues the benefits of the organization, the networking opportunities,
03:37and encourage them to become active new members and to foster sponsorships by your own companies. Seagraze needs
03:44all the financial support it can get. Seagraze will reinvent itself to pass through this Covid drama.
03:53Welcome to this new Seagraze century. And above all, please stay well and I look forward to seeing you next
04:01year.
