Peer-to-Peer Challenge Tables

Collaborative problem solving to accelerate deployment

Successful business electrification will require ongoing relationship building and collaboration.

In this final section of the conference, delegates will become active participants by joining small, facilitated discussions that explore the practical challenges introduced throughout the day in greater depth. 
 
Each table will be moderated by an organisation working at the forefront of electrification, creating an opportunity for honest discussion, shared learning and new collaboration between peers facing similar challenges.

Scroll further to learn about the topics* you could explore at Electrifying the Economy.

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Working Groups IZW26

Confirmed Topics

1 – How Can Industrial Electrification Enable a True Circular Economy & Reduce Supply Chain Risk?

How Can Industrial Electrification Enable a True Circular Economy & Reduce Supply Chain Risk?

Examine how businesses, supply chain partners and financial institutions measure value, risk, and resilience in challenging times.

Explore how circular principles can eliminate impact, mitigate risk, deliver resilience and regenerate an economy fit for future generations.

Moderator: Eoin Bailey, Innovation Manager, 7 Steel

2 – What Would it Take to Electrify Industrial Heat at Scale?

What Would it Take to Electrify Industrial Heat at Scale?

Explore how targeted electrification cost support, grid connection timelines, infrastructure sequencing and site reinvestment cycles can be aligned so that electrification of industrial heat scales beyond first movers.

Moderator: Beth Barker, Head of Policy, Aldersgate Group

3 – What Policy Changes Would Make Electrification Work for Businesses?

What Policy Changes Would Make Electrification Work for Businesses?

Many businesses support electrification, but grid connection delays, upfront costs and uncertainty over future infrastructure hold them back.

This discussion will examine where current policy falls short and which changes would give businesses the confidence to invest.

Moderator: Ben Martin, Policy Manager, British Chambers of Commerce

4 – How Can We Overcome Barriers to Transport Electrification?

How Can We Overcome Barriers to Transport Electrification?

Across the globe, cities are at the forefront of transport electrification, leading the way with electric bus and city fleet procurement, innovative approaches to business models, urban policy incentives, regulations and restrictions.

This session will explore how key players in the sector for transport decarbonisation can work together to overcome the barriers to accelerated electrification. How can stakeholders across the ecosystem work best together to address barriers to meet ambitious electric vehicle goals.

Moderator: Caroline Watson, Director of Transportation, C40 Cities

5 – How Can Energy-Intensive Businesses Commit to Electrification When Power Costs and Supply Remain Uncertain?

How Can Energy-Intensive Businesses Commit to Electrification When Power Costs and Supply Remain Uncertain?

Examining the political, economic and legal issues around options to reduce policy costs, network charges and/or wholesale electricity prices.

Lowering electricity prices would make them more competitive internationally and relative to gas prices, thereby stimulating electrification. Are there any options not already being discussed and what are their viabilities?

Moderator: Arjan Geveke, Director, Energy Intensive Users Group

6 – How Can We Make Electric HGVs Work Beyond the Pilot Stage?

How Can We Make Electric HGVs Work Beyond the Pilot Stage?

Explore how fleet operators, utilities, financiers, policy makers and communities can collaborate to reduce risk and secure the benefits of HGV electrification, in a world of volatile fuel costs and increasing digitalisation.

Moderator: Morna Cannon, Director of Environment, Climate and Sustainability, Transport Scotland

7 – How Can We Incentivise Electrification When Electricity Costs are High?

How Can We Incentivise Electrification When Electricity Costs are High?

Explore how government and financial institutions can incentivise accelerated electrification, whilst recognising that UK electricity prices are the highest in the developed world.

Moderator: Tim Lord, Head of Climate & Energy, HSBC UK

8 – Can Data Centres Help Deliver a More Affordable, Flexible and Productive Britain?

Can Data Centres Help Deliver a More Affordable, Flexible and Productive Britain?

Data centres are likely to be the largest driver of growth in UK electricity demand over the next two decades.

Explore how this growing demand can unlock investment in new clean power generation and help share the costs and utilisation of energy networks more effectively.

Paired with flexible consumption and smarter infrastructure planning, could data centres reduce renewable curtailment, lower system costs and strengthen energy security, helping to deliver better outcomes for consumers and businesses alike?

Moderator: Matt Parry, Head of Energy Demand, REA

9 – How Can Private Investment be Unlocked to Upscale Public-Sector Decarbonisation (and Drive Related Industrial Supply Chain Growth)?

How Can Private Investment be Unlocked to Upscale Public-Sector Decarbonisation (and Drive Related Industrial Supply Chain Growth)?

Explore how policymakers, public-sector asset owners, financiers and the heat-pump industry can collaborate to mobilise private capital for electrifying heat across schools, hospitals and local authority estates.

Examine how public buildings can demonstrate heat-pump deployment at scale, provide anchor demand for heat networks and strengthen the UK supply chain, despite intense pressure on public finances.

Moderator: Bean Beanland, Lead Sector Consultant, HPA UK

10 – What Can Businesses do When Local Grid is Constrained?

What Can Businesses do When Local Grid is Constrained?

Explore the best options for earlier engagement with the distribution network, phased connections, flexible capacity and shared local solutions to ensure that solutions can be deployed as quickly as possible.

Moderator: Neil Madgwick, Head of Connections Service Delivery, UK Power Networks

11 – How Can We Scale New Electrification Solutions?

How Can We Scale New Electrification Solutions?

Explore what is needed for a solution to be ready to scale, and what businesses, innovators, investors and policy makers can do to enable this. 

Moderator: Sarah Chapman, Director of Environment, Climate and Sustainability, SET Ventures

12 – How Can We Better Communicate the Benefits of Electrification to Drive Impact?

How Can We Better Communicate the Benefits of Electrification to Drive Impact?

Explore how organisations can turn technical capabilities and project experience into clear, credible messages for customers, policymakers and internal stakeholders. Bring a communications challenge to discuss how evidence and arguments around energy security, affordability, jobs and growth can build support and prompt action.

Moderator: Max Boon, Head of Energy Innovation & Advocacy, Greenhouse Communications

13 – What's Holding Back Energy Flexibility?

What's Holding Back Energy Flexibility?

Explore what’s preventing businesses from participating in energy flexibility, from market complexity and financial incentives to technology and operational constraints, and what needs to change to unlock wider uptake.

Moderator: Steven Gough, Head of Flexibility, Elexon

14 – How Can Large Electricity Users Become Active Participants in the Energy System?

How Can Large Electricity Users Become Active Participants in the Energy System?

As businesses electrify, they can do more than buy additional power. This table will explore how industrial and other large energy users can use flexible demand, smarter procurement and new commercial arrangements to manage costs while supporting the wider electricity system.

Moderator: Rachel Cary, Head of Industrial Strategy, Energy UK

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*Please Note: This list is not exhaustive, additional Challenge Tables will be added as the programme develops.

Challenge Table topics are subject to amendments by the organiser and contributing partners.

Our Challenge Table Hosts

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Speaker profile image for Caroline Watson

Caroline Watson

Director of Transport
C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
Speaker profile image for Neil Madgwick

Neil Madgwick

Head of Service Delivery
UK Power Networks
Speaker profile image for Sarah Chapman

Sarah Chapman

Venture Partner
SET Ventures
Speaker profile image for Ben Martin

Ben Martin

Policy Manager
British Chambers of Commerce

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