2023 Full Conference Agenda

Speaker Highlights

Dr Jean-Yves Cherruault

Head of Net Zero Pathways at Centrica Business Solutions

Hannah Bond

Energy Manager at Travis Perkins

Filipe Mota da Silva

Managing Director - Consulting - Energy, Resources, Utilities, and Sustainability at Tata Consultancy Services

Ben Richardson

Head of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells System (SOFC) UK & I at Bosch

Phil McNaughton

Head of Decarbonisation at British Sugar

Caroline Bragg

Director at The Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE)

Neil Coleman

Operations Manager Energy & Innovation at John Lewis

Prof. Adrian Bull MBE

BNFL Chair in Nuclear Energy and Society at University of Manchester

Stuart McLeod

Energy Manager at Balfour Beatty

David Rimmer

Microgrid Business Leader at Schneider Electric UK & I

Philip Steele

Future Technologies Evangelist at Octopus Energy

Suzanna Lashford

Business Development Manager at Vattenfall Networks

Nathan Sanders

Managing Director at SSE Energy Solutions

Adam Hamilton

Associate Director, Energy & Mobility Strategy at KPMG

Stefie Cray

Project Manager, Sustainable solutions at Rolls-Royce

Key:
Tuesday, 14th, March - Track 1
Tuesday, 14th, March - Track 2

2023 is forecast to be a decisive year for the distributed energy sector. With the economic fallout of the Covid 19 pandemic putting a strain on people’s pockets and the Russian invasion of Ukraine prompting an international energy crisis, energy flexibility and security has never been more important. In response to the increasing energy demands of our time, technological innovations in this sector are allowing businesses to lower energy costs and reduce carbon in smarter and more efficient ways. 

This keynote session will be the foundation of the conference, setting the scene for the state of the market, regulatory issues, policies and technologies which will affect the current and future state of the distributed energy sector. 

Panel Discussion:

  • Staying on target with your net zero strategies in the face of the energy crisis.
  • How can businesses meet their carbon targets if energy prices are so high?
  • Can the energy crisis become a renewable energy enabler?

Moderator

Speakers

11:00 am

Short Break
11:00 am - 11:30 am

Achieving a net-zero energy system by 2050 will require major changes to the UK’s approach to heat, power and transportation with flexibility and decentralisation being crucial to this success.

This session will take a look at the role of flexibility within a net-zero energy system and the practical implications of increasing flexible assets including policy implications and recommendations along with technology options.

Moderator

As the UK switches to renewable-energy generation and traditional fossil-fuel generators are retired, energy flexibility technologies will become increasingly vital in ensuring the nation’s energy needs are met. 

Our transition to distributed energy assets is the future, but with dispersed generation comes the need to find smarter, cheaper and more efficient ways of managing our consumption. Flexible energy systems provide a means to mitigate the energy security concerns of renewable energy assets, utilising innovative new technologies to change our energy behaviours and make sure renewable capacity continues to grow. 

This session will demonstrate the new technologies available in the energy flexibility space and how they can help your business with the energy transition. 

Discussion Topics: 

  • What energy flexibility technologies are available and how can they help you?
  • How can flexible energy technology reduce energy costs for your business?  
  • How will eliminating wasted energy from buildings  be a significant part of any business’s path to net-zero?
  • How do we drastically change ingrained behaviours in the way we interact with energy? 

Moderator

Speakers

Looking towards the future it has become increasingly clear that new low carbon energy infrastructure will have to be developed across the country. However, questions remain as to how we encourage the public to embrace these new means of generating energy. 

Public anxieties about new energy developments are nothing new, and many lessons can be taken from past nuclear power station and wind farm developments.  However, key to mitigating these challenges are both education and incentivisation. 

This session will explore how we win over local support for new energy infrastructure while ensuring the average consumer has the capital means to invest in low carbon energy assets.

Discussion Topics: 

  • How do developers create local acceptance and support for new energy infrastructure?
  • How can consumers be encouraged to embrace low-carbon energy assets?
  • How can we make sure consumers are both keen and able to invest in low carbon energy technology?

Moderator

Speakers

12:30 pm

Lunch
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

Energy security for greener sources of heat and power have become a major concern for many businesses in the UK. As we continue to transition toward renewable generation assets that are powered by specific environmental conditions, energy storage will become more significant in making sure energy is available when these assets are unable to generate. 

Energy storage technology has emerged as a fundamental component for renewable energy generation. However, questions remain as to whether these technologies will be able to meet the high energy demands of our time. 

This session will showcase the different energy storage technologies available, their potential benefits and drawbacks, while stressing their importance in the future of renewable generation. 

Discussion Topics: 

  • Can energy storage bridge the gap between the grid and renewable energy?  
  • How do you get longer battery storage? 
  • How do you release renewable energy back into the grid? 
  • How are we going to meet carbon targets when we don’t have the infrastructure? 

Moderator

Speakers

In the face of skyrocketing energy costs, large energy intensive companies are beginning to see their decarbonisation targets come under increasing amounts of stress. This has sparked fear that the unprecedented fallout of the energy crisis may lead to many large businesses rethinking their net zero commitments. 

The role of energy and sustainability managers has never been more important than now as they seek to affirm their organisations net zero commitments while meeting the numerous challenges associated with energy procurement. Many energy leaders have found new and innovative ways to decarbonize their organisations and increase their energy efficiency. 

This presentation-based session will showcase the methods energy and sustainability managers are using to decarbonize their organisations while also offering insight into how large energy intensive businesses are reacting to the current crisis. 

Discussion Topics:

  • How are large energy intensive companies utilising their extensive property portfolios to decarbonize? 
  • What are the most significant energy procurement challenges currently affecting large energy users? 
  • Are current net zero targets realistic or will they need to be re-evaluated? 

Moderator

Speakers

2:30 pm

Short Break
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm

Digital technologies are improving the efficiency of UK enterprise, allowing for newer, smarter, and more efficient decision making. When applied to the energy sector, digitalisation can be a game changer. The UK Parliament recently released a research briefing which outlined the transformative impact that energy sector digitization could have for our methods of generation, transmission, regulation, trading, and decarbonisation. 

In light of the energy crisis, digital technologies are providing realistic scope for increased energy efficiency which does not necessarily harm our net zero ambitions. Upon application to the energy sector, technology platforms and artificial intelligence can have a revolutionary effect on the future of energy flexibility in the UK. 

This session will provide an examination of significant digital technologies within the energy sector, while contemplating their potential applications, benefits and drawbacks. 

Discussion Topics: 

  • How can digital technology help you actualize your energy flexibility, resilience, and decarbonisation ambitions?
  • What method of digital technology suits your business? 
  • What are the potential pitfalls with this technology? 
  • What role does data play?

Moderator

Speakers

Heat makes up two-thirds of global industrial energy demand. In 2021 heat energy accounted for half of the final energy consumption, with fossil fuels accounting for a 75% share of industrial heating.

With gas boilers being the main source of heat for UK households, this doesn’t bode well for the fight for net zero. A recent study by Nesta concluded that the average UK boiler emits the CO2- equivalent to taking seven transatlantic flights between London and New York.

If we as a nation want to achieve Net Zero, CO2 emission from heat energy has to become a priority in terms of change and innovation.

This session aims to unpack exciting new heat innovations available and explore how they can help your business.

Discussion Topics: 

  • How do we reduce the significant amounts of Co2’s being released by UK industrial heating?
  • What are the best industrial and commercial solutions to reducing the carbon footprint of heat?
  • How do we incentivize commercial and industrial users to embrace these new innovations?

Moderator

Speakers

Key:
Wednesday, 15th, March - Track 1
Wednesday, 15th, March - Track 2

Hydrogen and fuel cell technology is becoming vitally important in allowing UK Industry to reach its net zero targets. A recent study by the Hydrogen Council estimated that hydrogen demand could increase from 90 million MT (metric tons) today to 660 million MT by 2050, therefore making up 22% of the final global energy demand. Furthermore, in 2021 the UK Government put forward its ambition for 5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030. 

Thus, the use of hydrogen in decarbonising UK industry has become a key area of development in the UK’s path to net zero. However, many energy users still have doubts regarding the economic and decarbonisation faculties of hydrogen and fuel cells technology. 

The aim of this session is to unpack hydrogen and fuel cell technologies’ role in achieving net zero while also unpacking how we scale their production and understanding the technologies potential gains and pitfalls. 

Discussion Topics: 

  • Understanding the role of hydrogen and Fuel cells in the energy transition. 
  • How do we remove the stigma around hydrogen as a renewable energy enabler? 
  • Government hydrogen clusters: what are they and how will they help your business?
  • How do we fully decarbonise hydrogen energy assets?

Moderator

Speakers

Whilst new technological advancements continue to enter our everyday lives, a new demand for energy comes with it. Coupled with the climate crisis, war in Ukraine, and growing requirement to be more sustainable, there has never been a better time to innovate our energy. In this current world climate research into sustainable technology and green-energy innovation is paramount in reaching our decarbonisation aims.

This session aims to unpack some of these new energy innovations and how they could help you by allowing industry pioneers to showcase new ideas to help.

Discussion Topics: 

  • How can new energy innovations help your business?
  • What’s on offer and where is it going?
  • Can energy innovations keep up with our increasing energy needs?

Moderator

Speakers

11:00 am

Short Break
11:00 am - 11:15 am

As new renewable generation assets continue to be brought online it has become increasingly clear that the UK’s power grid will need to be modernised in order to be able to cope with the intermittent and decentralised nature of these new assets. Meeting modern demands for renewable energy will require far more grid capacity which in itself will require fundamental changes to the nation’s infrastructure. 

Many renewable-energy generators are either finding it incredibly difficult to connect their assets to the grid or far too expensive to invest in the grid reinforcement costs. This often acts as a hindrance for new renewable asset development. 

This session will unpack the steps required for grid modernisation while presenting solutions to help fast track your renewable assets connection to it.

Discussion Topics: 

  • How do we assure a seamless migration to the grid for renewable energy generation systems. 
  • The grid needs modernisation, how do we get there?  
  • How do we fast track the electrification of renewable energy generation assets?
  • How to ensure your renewable assets meet your energy demands while remaining carbon neutral.  
  • Will we see power outages across enterprises in the UK?

Moderator

Speakers

Energy market volatility has become one of the biggest anxieties for many in the current business climate. A recent study put together by Npower showed that 77% of organisations say energy is now their biggest business risk and 82% believe the government needs to do more to protect businesses from wholesale market volatility. 

In the UK  the majority of electricity is traded, and as energy prices have elevated to an all time high there is widespread uncertainty and therefore anxiety as to when they will go down. As many businesses seek to negate the capital costs associated with energy and reach their net zero targets, there are strategies which can be utilised. 

PPA agreements are an efficient way to stay green and manage energy costs in the current climate and can be merged with flexibility trading technologies to optimise your energy prices. Concurrently, private wires can be a game changer in these uncertain times and help you deliver renewable energy at scale directly to your business. 

This presentation-based session aims to underline the strategies available to help mitigate the increased energy market volatility of our time. The session will explore the energy flexibility systems that will help you put your fingers on the pulse of the energy market. 

Discussion Topics: 

  • How can PPA agreements help optimise your energy strategy?
  • Is a market structure that was designed around centralised energy still the right structure for distributed energy?
  • How to identify risks and opportunities when designing your energy strategy. 
  • How does the private wire method work, what are its benefits, and is it right for your business?

Moderator

Speakers

12:15 pm

Lunch
12:15 pm - 1:00 pm

The worst of the cold winter is now over, but it was a difficult, harsh and incredibly expensive period for millions of households across the country. Winter is always an expensive time when it comes to paying energy bills, but particularly so when in the grips of a dual energy price and energy security crisis.

It’s obvious that action is needed right now to make sure that this situation is not repeated when temperatures fall at the end of this year, so what can we learn from the past few months?

More public and private funding is needed to quickly deploy energy efficiency measures to make homes warmer and more comfortable, reduce vulnerability to energy price volatility in the long-term, and save households across England and Wales more than £10 billion a year, working out at nearly £400 per household.

Similarly, a more flexible energy system that rewards consumers for their participation, such as through the Demand Flexibility Service that helped balance the grid whilst paying consumers this past winter, is a key part of avoiding future energy crises.

Discussion Topics: 

  • What learnings can we take from winter 2022 in terms of handling the energy crisis and protecting consumers?
  • How can the UK make a success of energy efficiency to reduce long-term demand and insulate itself from volatile energy prices?
  • How can we ensure that energy consumers are fairly rewarded for their role in balancing demand at critical times?

Moderator

Speakers

Heat networks will be vital to making net zero a reality in the UK. They are a proven, cost-effective way of providing reliable, efficient, low carbon heat at a fair price to consumers, while supporting local regeneration. In recognition of their importance to the future energy mix, the Committee on Climate Change has estimated that around 18 per-cent of UK heat will need to come from heat networks by 2050 if the UK is to meet its carbon targets cost effectively.   

To put this into context, at the time of writing, around 2-3 per-cent of the UK’s heat is delivered by heat networks and BEIS’s recently published pipeline of heat network projects in development revealed a total capital expenditure exceeding £2 billion. However, it has been estimated that reaching a level of around 20% has investment potential between £60 billion to £80 million by 2050. 

This session will bring together heat network experts for a comprehensive study of how heat networks are becoming a vital component of the UK’s net zero aims, the significant capital support available to finance heat networks, and how heat networks can improve energy efficiency by capturing your wasted heat energy.

Discussion Topics: 

  • How is this growing sector becoming vital to making net zero a reality in the UK? 
  • What support is available in this sector?
  • Looking at the significant capital support available for financing Heat Networks. 
  • How can heat networks utilise your wasted heat energy?

Moderator

Speakers

2:00 pm

Short Break
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Decentralised energy architecture sounds like a futuristic term describing a faraway future, but on the contrary, it refers to concepts and technologies that could play a critical role in solving the challenges our energy system faces today.

As we move away from traditional, centralised forms of energy generation and shift towards a network of intermittent renewables, heat pumps, battery storage and electric vehicle charge points, we require a smarter, more flexible electricity system underpinned by data and digitalisation to manage supply and demand in real-time.

Many of these devices are already in place across our homes and businesses; now they need to be absorbed into a cohesive and dynamic energy architecture to deliver the 30GW of low carbon flexible assets BEIS predicts the UK will need by 2030, representing a three-fold increase on today’s levels.

Discussion Topics: 

  • In simple terms, what does a truly smart and decentralised system look like?
  • What are its core qualities and what opportunities do they offer?
  • What obstacles are there in the way of delivering a 100% smart system?
  • How important is data in such a system, and to what extent will data protections and cybersecurity measures have to evolve as a result?

Moderator

Speakers

It has been widely accepted that this decade is the most important in history to decarbonise our industries. Yet, grid outages are causing many businesses to feel concern for their energy security, especially when using renewables. 

However, Microgrids have emerged as a unique solution to this problem, allowing users to self-contain their electrical network on-site, while integrating multiple different renewables with energy storage to mitigate concerns of outages. Microgrids simply allow companies to harness pure, green, energy flexibility at a time when balancing the grid is of the utmost importance.

This session will convey the numerous benefits of microgrid technology while exploring the future of this technology and whether it is right for your business. 

Discussion Topics: 

  • Understanding microgrids and how they could benefit your business.
  • Is a microgrid right for you?
  • What is the future of microgrid technology?

Moderator

Speakers