Businesses and academics from across the region joined to address challenges, highlight opportunities and share best practice at the Midlands Energy Conference on 3rd December.
Delivered by East Midlands Chamber in partnership with the University of Nottingham Energy Institute and sponsored by Flogas, part of DCC Energy, the conference was held at Derwent Electric Hydropower at Masson Mills, Matlock Bath.
Panel discussions and keynote speakers shared insight on technological developments in areas like fission, fusion and hydrogen as well as future production, storage and distribution of energy.
East Midlands Chamber Director of Policy and Insight Richard Blackmore opened the conference and chaired a panel discussion looking at incentivising business to prioritise renewable investment. Speaking afterwards he said: “The determination of business in the East Midlands to look closely at energy storage and carbon reduction is encouraging but the evolving journey brings as many challenges as opportunities. How best do we address our future approach to sustainable energy storage, its production and evolving technology while incentivising firms to embrace the journey – these are questions that should be addressed.
“The detailed research around energy produced by the region’s leading universities, combined with the experiential findings of firms and Chamber members across the East Midlands gives valuable insight and springboards useful discussion.
“There is tremendous potential in the East Midlands to lead on a world stage and shape the future of energy and that’s why the Chamber’s recently launched Framework for Growth highlights the need for energy support packages and the weight that should be placed on giving incentives for firms to invest in renewables and energy efficiency.”
University of Nottingham Energy Institute Director Prof David Grant gave a talk on the future of energy creation and storage. Afterwards he said: “We can’t live in a bubble. We can’t just lecture people on how important climate change is. We have to act on it and work with the communities, explain what the challenges are and how we can help solve them and we need communities to work with us and tell us what the issues are. That must include both big and small businesses so all of it comes together.
“The Energy Institute’s role is to try and pull that all together and do our bit to try and solve what is a big problem. The Midlands Energy Conference is important because there’s a chance to talk, not just among academics or own research fields, but to people and businesses about their work. It’s really important to get research out there so I’m really pleased East Midlands Chamber ran this event.”
Flogas, part of DCC Energy Strategic Energy Partner Jaz Aujla gave a talk on the transition from fossil fuels to lower carbon alternatives. Speaking afterwards she said: “Supporting this event was important in building awareness of how we are supporting not just SME businesses but large industrials, helping them meet their sustainability targets. The message from me was that regardless of where an organisation is on their net zero journey, there is always something or a mix of technologies they can explore to help reach those targets. It could be as simple as behavioural change or quick wins such as lighting or solar PV but then you start getting into more complex solutions. Regardless of where a customer is on their journey, there’s surely something they can explore.
“I was amazed at some of the research being done by researchers at Nottingham University. Partnerships between academia and industry will lead to cleaner and more commercially viable solutions going forward and we must keep having these conversations.”
1Energy, Derby Energy Network Project Director Fei Zheng gave a talk on an initiative to reshape the way Derby heats homes and buildings. Speaking afterwards she said: “Everyone now, certainly the majority of us are using gas generated heating and hot water systems and we need to all come together, work together so we can find a solution to decarbonise on a larger scale because decarbonising individually, one by one, is costly and time consuming.”
East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) Director of Green Growth and Climate Resilience Michael Gallagher gave a talk on recent completed projects and delivering change for the region. Speaking afterwards he said: “There are huge opportunities to create significant jobs in the region, to support people to come out of fuel poverty and to create the opportunities in the region that have been lacking for so long, for which the potential is so significant. We really want to harness the heft of the region and help drive those opportunities forward and of course support clean energy transition.
“Conversations like this with business and academics are critical. We can’t do anything as individual organisations when it comes to achieving the overall target of net zero by 2050; we can only do it by working in collaboration across the public-private sector, working with our universities and others as well. It’s only with proper collaboration and shared vision we are going to achieve our overall objectives and aims.”
R&P Clean Power Director Adam Hinds gave a talk on a new Energy from Waste project in Swadlincote. Speaking afterwards he said:“It’s really useful to have various stakeholders in one room together. Often people work in silos but having various businesses representing different parts of the supply chain all coming together is really good. Making people aware of the opportunities throughout the supply chain is really important to do in one forum.”
Speakers and panelists at the 2025 Midlands Energy Conference:
- Prof David Grant – Director, University of Nottingham Energy Institute
- Ben Sumner – Innovation Clusters Director, University of Nottingham
- Jaz Aujla – Strategic Energy Partner, Flogas, part of DCC Energy UK
- Dean Needle – Director, Derwent Hydroelectric Power (DHP)
- Fei Zheng – Project Director, The Derby Energy Network
- Michael Gallagher – Director of Green Growth and Climate Resilience, East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA)
- Ben Bradley – Head of Communications and Engagement, UK Industrial Fusion Solutions
- Adam Hinds – Director, R&P Clean Power
- John Egan – CEO, Peak Cluster
- Linnan Sun – Anne McLaren Fellow, University of Nottingham
- Amelia-Rose Edgley – PhD student in Sustainable Hydrogen, University of Nottingham
- Mitchell Searjeant – PhD researcher in community energy systems, University of Nottingham
- Richard Blackmore – Director of Policy and Insight, East Midlands Chamber
