On the 15th of June, The Future Economy Network (FEN) and Future Leap hosted an online interactive event titled “The Path to a Sustainable Energy Future”. It was sponsored by ENGIE, leading energy, services and regeneration specialist in the transition to a net zero future. Before the event began, the attendees enjoyed some pre-sessional networking.
On the 15th of June, The Future Economy Network (FEN) and Future Leap hosted an online interactive event titled “The Path to a Sustainable Energy Future”. It was sponsored by ENGIE, leading energy, services and regeneration specialist in the transition to a net zero future. Before the event began, the attendees enjoyed some pre-sessional networking.
Katherine Piper of Future Leap welcomed the attendees before giving an insight into The Future Economy Network, Future Leap and the many benefits of membership, as well as the upcoming Festival of Sustainable Business on the 21st of September. She then introduced the speakers, Jason Longhurst of UKBCSD and Jane Dennett-Thorpe of Ofgem.
Jason Longhurst
UKBCSD (UK Business Council for Sustainable Development)
Jason began by explaining that UKBCSD is a network of leading organisations whose aim, along with their members, is to mainstream the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). He followed with the message that companies that have already adopted the sustainability goals are the most resilient.
He then talked about the necessity of embedding social value and the challenges of mainstreaming the SDG’s. He emphasised the importance of an outcome benefit based approach and talked about creating an investable environment, incentivising transition and change at every level.
He explained that the 17 goals can be thought of as 6 pathways and the importance of showing how anyone, no matter their starting point can do something. Incentivising is not about demanding pledges, but about defining the path ahead and shaping opportunities.
Q&A with Jason
Q: What are the two most significant behavioural changes needed across the population?
People need to be benefited and to be able to contribute locally in order to find incentive. Looking at the positive examples of change is important to encourage investment.
Q: Can you recommend a framework for assessing the carbon impact of digital services?
There are loads, we are definitely not short on resources but to be effective it has to be tailored to you.
Q: Why have you used the term ‘sustainable growth’ when the concept of ‘growth’ is at odds with that of ‘sustainability’ as we live on a finite planet?
You can’t fight growth; it is a default part of the system, but ‘growth’ can mean ‘change’, ‘transition’, ‘movement’, etc. For example, whilst electric vehicles may not be the solution, they are part of the transition. Impacts and mitigation are key.
Q: What chance have we of getting a Sustainable Development Act, what would you like to see in it and how can it make a difference to mainstreaming behavioural change?
We have had a social value act since 2012. A Sustainable Development Goal act would get us to look at our growth and greener economies. It gives the backbone needed to seek better investment.
Q: Which is more proactive, onshore or offshore wind?
Offshore.
Jane Dennett-Thorpe
Ofgem
Jane began by discussing the changes that have taken place within the energy sector. There has been a 40% decrease in UK emissions since 1990 and whilst some of this is due to outsourcing, she said, it is a considerable achievement. Furthermore, close to 50% of UK energy is renewable or nuclear, with coal power now a thing of the past.
Jane then shared some predictions for the future of UK energy. We’re expecting to see more electricity production as demand rises and renewables will increase dramatically. There could be 50 million electric vehicles by 2050.
She explained how the transition away from fossil fuels will occur. Heat will be decarbonised through electrification and/or hydrogen. New infrastructure will be needed, as well as industrial reform. The energy network will have to shift from a linear and predictable model to a multidirectional set of flows between hydrogen and electricity, distributed energy systems and storage. Seasonal demand will be another challenge and, as we move to a wind dominated grid, even day to day fluctuations in production will have to be accommodated and utilised effectively. Heat pumps and matching supply and demand will be necessary tools for this.
Really engaging people will be key and businesses have an important role in this. As transport and electricity become meshed there will be exciting development in these intersections.
Q&A with Jane
Q: What changes would you like to see the government make?
A certain boldness in direction setting and suitable frameworks that underpin that. We need boldness in thinking about how we can decarbonise heat.
Q: How much consideration is Ofgem giving to social implications such as accessibility and economic factors?
It is very important to be thinking about how changes will affect everyone. Overall, transition to electric vehicles is easy economically and will be beneficial to everyone.
Q: Which is more proactive, onshore or offshore wind?
Offshore.
Q: Who is going to pay for the necessary infrastructure in an increasingly fractured system?
We recognise that this is about local action and how we enable it without putting undue risk or stress on other consumers.
Close
Next followed the opportunity for 60 second pitches and a final round of networking before Katherine brought the event to a close, thanking the events sponsor ENGIE and all the speakers and attendees, which without our events calendar would not be possible.
Event Notes by Jessica Thomlinson-Blount, BA(Hons) Geography, University of Manchester.
