Financing the Transition: Is UK Capital Backing the Right Innovation?

The UK’s pathway to a resilient, decarbonised energy system depends not only on how much private finance is flowing, but whether it is reaching the innovations that deliver whole-system impact. This session examines whether capital is aligned with the projects that matter – from early-stage technologies supported by UKRI’s Clean Energy Mission through to the large-scale deployments needed to realise system benefits.

• Is enough private capital entering the energy transition? Is it targeting the technology and system needs that will unlock the greatest value?

• How can public funding for early-stage innovation, such as UKRI’s Clean Energy Mission, better catalyse private investment and accelerate scaling?

• What shifts in policy, regulation, and market design are needed to make whole-system solutions investable?

• How can investors, corporates, and government align risk appetite and incentives to support integrated system transformation at speed?