| 09:30 |
Registration and Coffee |
| 10:00 |
Welcome and Introduction
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| 10:05-11:25 |
Session 1: Small Island, Big Decisions: the new UK policy context
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This session lays out the challenges for UK energy policy, setting the broad context for later sessions which will delve deeper into specific policy areas. The world has embarked on a path towards a lower carbon energy system, a journey which requires high degree of international co-operation. The UK is committed to being part of that global effort under the Paris agreement, and needs an energy policy that is aligned with the decarbonisation agenda. But the decision to leave the EU means that the nature of co-operation with our closest neighbours has to be redefined. Moreover the UK’s energy policy has to recognise other priorities beyond decarbonisation, and respond to rapid changes in energy technology. Against that backdrop, what are the key building blocks of an energy policy that will guide the UK safely through the 2020s, and how much progress can we hope to see in 2017? |
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Chair : Paul Ekins, Professor of Resources and Environmental Policy, UCL |
| 10:05 |
Clear Direction – First Fill in the Gaps
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 Lord Deben, Chairman, The Committee on Climate Change |
| 10:25 |
Energy policy priorities for an uncertain future
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 Prof Jim Watson, Research Director, UK Energy Research Centre |
| 10:45 |
Development of Regulation from Policy– the view from the Industry
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 Chris Harris, Head of Regulation, Npower |
| 11:05 |
Q&A |
| 11:20 |
BIEE 2018 Research Conference Theme Announcement
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| 11:25 |
Coffee |
| 11:45-13:15 |
Session 2: Decarbonisation – the Clean Growth Plan
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The UK has legislated a 5th carbon budget requiring a 57% reduction in emissions by 2030, on 1990 levels. Progress to reduce emissions has been made – emissions in 2016 are 42% down on 1990. However, much of that reduction has been in the power sector, with little reduction elsewhere. Policies and measures to meet the 4th carbon budget, covering the years 2023-2027, or the 5th budget (2028-2032) are not in place. The Government has delayed setting out how it intends to meet the gap, but has now promised a Clean Growth Plan to be published in September. So how – if available – does that Plan stack up? What does it – or should it –contain to secure the low-carbon investment in the power sector necessary to continue progress? Does it look likely to extend progress to decarbonisation of other sectors – such as heat for buildings; and transport, where emissions are currently rising? Will it – or how could it – secure greater emissions reductions from industry, whilst helping put UK industry in a better place to gain from increasing low-carbon markets globally? How are policy choices constrained or freed up by leaving the EU? |
| 11:45 |
 Chair/Opening Remarks: Richard Howard, Head of Research, Aurora Energy Research
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| 11.55 |
UK Decarbonisation – the next phase
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 Prof Sam Fankhauser, Co-Director, Grantham Research Institute, LSE |
| 12:15 |
 Graham Meeks, Director of Policy, Green Investment Group
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Heat in buildings: international solutions to UK challenges
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| 12:35 |
 Alex Kazaglis, Engagement Manager, Vivid Economics |
| 12:55 |
Q&A |
| 13:15-14:15 |
Lunch |
| 14:15-15:30 |
Session 3: Energy Smart Systems
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Chair : Jonathan Thurlwell, Managing Principal, IPA Advisory
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For nearly 140 years, the electricity system has provided power on demand to meet consumers’ needs, but changing technologies mean this paradigm can change, and will have to change. Decarbonising electricity with wind and solar generators that cannot choose when to run, and electrifying heat and transport demands that can be time-shifted gives scope for demand to adjust to the available energy; new communications technologies make this feasible. But what changes to market rules are needed to coordinate this? Will the roll-out of smart meters empower customers to play a more active part in balancing the system? Is enough being done to reduce the cost of electricity storage and allow storage operators to develop feasible business models? Will we get the right balance between rewarding generating capacity, demand reduction and international interconnectors for providing security of supply? |
| 14:15 |
Delivering Smart Innovations in Britain’s Homes
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 Catherine O’Kelly, Director Industry Development, British Gas |
| 14: 35 |
Smart Controls – Unlocking the Value of Consumer Flexibility
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 Colin Calder, CEO, PassivSystems |
| 14:55 |
How Can Regulation Support Flexible Solutions, New Business Models and Innovation?
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 Martin Crouch, Senior Partner, Improving Regulation, OFGEM |
| 15:30 |
Tea |
| 15:50 |
Session 4 : Panel Discussion – Energy and Industrial Strategy
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Chaired panel discussion with 4 panellists from industry, finance, policy/regulation Each speaker will introduce their chosen theme, and then respond to questions |
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Reviving the notion of ‘industrial strategy’ was an early and prominent part of the new policy direction set by Theresa May’s government. With the creation of BEIS the highly policy-driven energy sector has arguably been more obviously affected by this, but how the new vogue for industrial strategy will affect the energy sector in practice is still to be resolved. Will a post-Brexit focus on driving up industrial competitiveness press against making progress in decarbonisation? Or will new focused interventions enable the UK to take strategic advantage of new technologies? And how will a new emphasis on ‘left behind’ regions map onto energy policy? The government’s green paper recognises the importance of energy policy and the energy sector, but the full implications will take time to resolve and emerge. |
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 Chair : Catherine Mitchell, Professor of Energy Policy, University of Exeter |
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 Julia King, Baroness Brown of Cambridge |
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 Michael Lewis CEO E.ON |
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 Darran Messem, Chairman, Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership |
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 Philip New, CEO, Energy Systems Catapult |
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 Simon Sharpe, Industrial Strategy: Affordable Energy and Clean Growth, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy |
| 17:00 |
Refreshments and Networking |
| 18:00 |
Close |
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