The Energy Transition conference, co-organised with Bristol Energy Network, will take place on Saturday 18 June at Engineer's House in Bristol and it will be our first in-person event since 2019. The conference is now fully booked. If you would like to join the waiting list you will be notified if any tickets become available.
The event, will build on our track record of successful summer conferences and we will be introducing a new format with a range of informative, engaging workshops, talks and networking opportunities.
Thank you to this year's Principal Sponsor - Bristol City Council, and our junior conference sponsors:
Event Programme
09:30 Registration
10:00 Morning plenary speakers
- Philip Coventry, Acting Co-Chief Executive, Community Energy England
- Lord Callanan, Minister for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
11:15 Refreshment Break
11:30 Workshops
Workshops (11:30)
1. Skill building and sharing for the Energy Transition
This workshop, co-hosted by Rachel Moffat from the Bristol Energy Network, Paul Chandler from the Bristol Energy Cooperative and Ruzanna Chitchyan from the University of Bristol, will centre around skills sharing initiatives for Energy Transition.The workshop participants will work collaboratively in a supported environment to:
- Identify the skills that are available and/or needed for Energy Transition;
- Identify the learning resources for such skills development;
- Co-design a process for such skills and resource sharing;
- Discuss what formal (e.g., employee training, internships) and informal (e.g., volunteering, upskilling, reskilling) avenues are available for engaging diverse communities and individuals (e.g.young people, women, underrepresented groups) into skills development for energy transition;
- Co-design a process for engaging with skills acquisition accessible to all.
2. Smart local energy systems: Unlocking Net zero
In this workshop, hosted by Ruzanna Chitchyan from the University of Bristol and supported by the Smart Local Energy case study representatives, we will explore smart local energy systems and their potential in the race to net zero. The workshop will cover the following:
- Smart local energy systems have the potential to bring cleaner, cheaper, more efficient energy to our communities and to build local jobs and prosperity. But building such integrated local systems at scale is a new territory. It takes innovation, vision and collaboration;
- Several business models, considered for smart local energy systems, will be discussed;
- Presenting examples: e.g., Oxford Energy Superhub, Orkney Reflex Project, Ambition Lawrence Weston wind and solar projects and Waterlilies projects at Bristol;
- Highlighting what is possible, what works, and where help can be found.
3. Feasibility Funds and employment: How to boost your organisation’s capacity and finance community energy projects
This workshop, hosted by Ollie Pendered from Community Energy South, will explore how to find feasibility funding to support early stage development and delivery of community energy projects which will facilitate the creation of new jobs and economic growth in local communities. Ollie will be joined by Louise Daniels from Thrive Renewables, and Emma Lower from Lendology. Louise and Emma will input into the workshop and highlight the different ways you can get funding from investment, donations and traditional finance.
Please come prepared with your own ideas to share with other attendees at the workshop!
4. Community scale low carbon heat
This workshop, hosted by Kate Gilmartin (North West Net Zero Hub) and John Taylor (Greater South East Net Zero Hub) will explore the opportunities and barriers for the delivery of low carbon heat projects to tackle fuel poverty in communities and how to do renewable heat for all households, including those more able to pay. The workshop will give case study examples, explore routes to delivery, governance of the infrastructure models, costs and paybacks, funding and overall benefits of low carbon heating solutions.
5. What’s new? Sharing learning about emerging opportunities for Community Energy groups
Join this workshop for to share the latest learning from the Next Generation programme, funded by Power to Change. The programme has been exploring 11 post-subsidy business models for Community Energy, ranging from a EV community car club and community-led renewable heat/energy efficiency project to community-led flexibility. Gerard Couper from CAG’s evaluation team will lead this interactive session, giving an overview of findings on all the Next Gen models, with further insights provided by representatives from a few of the innovation projects.
12:30 Networking Lunch and exhibition
13:30 Afternoon plenary speaker - Darren Jones MP, Chair of the BEIS Select Committee
14:00 Workshops
15:00 Refreshment break
15:20 Panel Discussion and Q&A - The role of energy communities in the changing energy landscape.
Panelists include:
Helen Seagrave, Panel Chair
Kate Gilmartin, North West Local Energy Hub
Ruzanna Chitchyan, University of Bristol/ Bristol Energy Network
Dr Andrew Garrad CBE
James Goodman, Local Trust
Louise Hosegood, South West Energy Hub
16:00 Closing Remarks
16:15 Conference Close