The Energy UK Annual Conference always comes at a pivotal time of year and this one was no different. With winter just around the corner, and bills set to rise with an increase in the price cap, it felt like a crucial time to gather government ministers, the regulator and experts from across the sector.
Emma Pinchbeck, our Chief Executive, kicked off the morning with a call for bold choices, critical decisions and collaboration between industry and Government. By welcoming the new Government’s ambition to get things done and secure a future powered by clean homegrown energy, Emma’s speech emphasised the importance of pace for the transition.
As an essential service, energy touches every household and business across the globe and that really shone through at the Conference. We all know that there are challenges to come, specifically with building the energy system at speed while supporting households and vulnerable customers – but although this is a big mission, it is possible.
The top-tier line up and exciting panels meant there was, once again, only standing room left in the venue. (Even during the final panel – after six hours of energy policy!)
Before we get into the takeaways – a big thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible, including our British Sign Language interpreter and sponsors ScottishPower, Engage, LCP Delta, Mesh-AI, National Grid, Policy by Murray and Uniper.
Big voices, big plans
It was a highlight of the Conference to witness Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Net Zero and Energy Security, deliver his first major speech and double down on the Government’s ambitious commitment to this mission.
We also heard from Claire Coutinho, Shadow Secretary of State for Net Zero and Energy Security, who spoke passionately about the role of British innovation in driving the journey towards homegrown energy solutions.
Finally, the day wouldn’t have been complete without insights from Keith Anderson, CEO of ScottishPower, who delved into the critical aspects of new technologies, retail policy, and affordability. Keith’s remark, “We cannot have our economic future and economic growth sat waiting in the grid queue,” underscored the urgency and importance of moving quickly to unlock the full potential of the energy transition.
Bringing people along
The first panel tackled one of the most pressing issues – how we bring households and customers with us in the transition. The panel, chaired by Matthew Cole from the Fuel Bank Foundation, discussed how while we still have a lot of clean energy infrastructure to build, we also have a lot to do in people’s homes. Whether that’s introducing households to new, flexible tariffs or installing heat pumps and smart meters. With that in mind, it is key to maintain public support, and offer community support, through this transformational decade.
During the discussion, Helen Seagrave from Community Energy England and Electricity North West, said rightly that when communities can see there is a direct benefit from the local energy projects, they are more likely to support it. Research from Onward shows that over half of rural voters would support an onshore wind farm within three miles of their home. With that in mind, it was clear that communities hosting vital infrastructure should benefit, whether this be through a discount on bills or through community funding. Read about how Energy UK members, and wider industry, are supporting local communities in Energy in Action.
The consensus among the panel was clear – building public trust and understanding is critical. This requires the right communication around new technologies, energy efficiency, and how individuals and communities will benefit from the changes.
The power of innovation
The second panel shifted the focus on unleashing the UK’s clean energy potential amidst evolving markets, investment challenges, and connection queues. As the UK is on the brink of significant electricity market reforms, the panel delved into the challenges of attracting increased investment while balancing diverse perspectives on market reforms.
One key theme to emerge from this session was how we should avoid a one-track mind when it comes to energy technologies. As Mike Lockett from Uniper put it: “It’s not batteries vs hydrogen or CCUS vs nuclear; we need a broad mix of technologies.” The UK’s strength lies in its ability to innovate across a range of energy sources, which will help drive investment and long-term security.
Prosperity through clean energy leadership
The third and final panel focused on Prosperity and how the UK’s leadership in clean energy can generate economic growth. As the country strides towards Net Zero, investment in energy infrastructure is set to become a major driver of prosperity, creating jobs and fostering new industries.
As our panel discussed the enormous potential for private capital to fuel the energy transition, it was important for them to also focus on the industry’s current skills gap. Julia Pyke, from Sizewell C, highlighted this issue, saying, “If we want more people to come into the sector, the sector needs to co-invest into skills. We need to co-invest in further education. The more we do together, the better we’ll be.”
Energy in conversation
As well as our panel discussions, we had some brilliant ‘In conversation’ sessions which saw energy leaders discuss a topic one-to-one. Emma Pinchbeck sat down with Alice Delahunty, from National Grid, to discuss the opportunities for the UK in decarbonising the energy system.
While Fintan Syle, from National Grid ESO, spoke to the CEO of Ofgem Jonathan Brearley about the establishment of the new National Energy System Operator (NESO). Throughout both conversations, it was clear we need alignment across all players in the energy system with Jonathan saying “If we have a Government, sector, regulator and consumer groups working together, we can get this right for customers.
Closing the loop
As the conference wrapped up, Energy UK’s Chairman David Laws made it clear that the challenges facing the energy sector are significant, but so too are the opportunities. The UK’s clean energy mission is not just a path to Net Zero, but a potential engine for economic growth.
With strong leadership, cross-sector collaboration, and a focus on innovation, the energy transition can be a success for everyone—people, power, and prosperity. Our Mission Possible report explores how the Government and industry can collaborate with the private sector to achieve a clean power system by 2030, drive down household energy bills and deliver energy security. Learn more about our five priorities for Government in Mission Possible.
