The UK needs post-pandemic recovery measures that align with net zero ambitions. How could smart local energy systems support this?

About this Event

On top of tragic health impacts, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused widespread economic harm. Governments are dedicating significant resources to economic recovery measures, and there is a broad desire to ensure that these are supportive of social and environmental sustainability goals.

Through a rapid review of post-pandemic recovery proposals, four key energy-relevant areas emerged as mostly likely to address all of these goals: building energy efficiency, low-carbon heat, low-carbon mobility, and electricity generation and infrastructure. In our recent report, we suggest that delivering these solutions through a locally-led, smart approach has the potential to put the UK on the right path to net-zero and improve post-pandemic recovery by enabling more investment and action which is better value, better targeted, and faster (but enduring).

In this seminar, the first in an EnergyREV series on governance insights, we will present the key messages of the report followed by a panel discussion and Q&A session that includes national government, local government, and citizens’ perspectives on how smart local energy systems can contribute to a green and fair post-pandemic recovery.

Chair and Panel Speakers

Dr Rebecca Ford (chair) is a Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Strathclyde and Research Director of EnergyREV.

Dr Michael Fell is a Senior Research Fellow at UCL Energy Institute and co-lead of the Interdisciplinary Knowledge Synthesis theme within EnergyREV.

Dhara Vyas is Head of Future Energy Services at Citizens Advice.

Cheryl Hiles is Director of Energy Capital at West Midlands Combined Authority.

Patrick Allcorn is Head of Local Energy at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

About the Governance Insights Lunchtime Seminar (GILS) Series

What is it?

GILS is a new monthly virtual seminar series which will provide a forum for discussions around the governance insights emerging from research and practice within EnergyREV & wider PFER programme. Each event will focus on a particular aspect of smart local energy systems and seek insight from a range of perspectives through a panel discussion and audience Q&A.

Who should attend?

Policymakers, energy practitioners, community groups, researchers and others who are interested in policy, regulation, market design and innovation frameworks relating to smart local energy systems.

When will they run?

On a monthly basis, usually around lunchtime. The events will be recorded and made available shortly after.

About EnergyREV and the PFER programme

Over £100 million has been invested by the UK Government in the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) Prospering from the Energy Revolution (PFER) programme.

The PFER programme will provide investable, scalable local business models using integrated approaches to deliver cleaner, cheaper energy services. This will lead to prosperous and resilient communities and benefit the energy system as a whole.

EnergyREV’s broad expertise will provide coordinated research and innovation support across the PFER programme. It will deliver innovations to support the various projects, while independently reviewing and synthesising the knowledge and evidence of how smart local energy systems can be successful.

EnergyREV will work with the demonstration and design projects funded through the PFER programme through their lifetime; undertaking analysis and evaluation, building and driving best practice and, leading knowledge exchange through national and international engagement with policy, academic, industrial and public communities.

Our novel research, detailed evaluation of other PFER activities and synthesis of knowledge and data will help accelerate and deliver the PFER goals and enhance UK competitiveness.