Who Pays for the Energy Transition? Balancing Fairness, Investment & Public Trust

Delivering a secure, affordable net zero energy system will require massive infrastructure investment, from new transmission lines and hydrogen hubs to heat networks and advanced nuclear. But who should shoulder the cost of building this future? With bills already under pressure and investor confidence wavering, choices made now will define both public trust and the pace of progress.

• How should the costs of critical low carbon infrastructure be fairly distributed between taxpayers, bill payers, and industry?
• What financial models and market incentives can unlock rapid deployment without burdening households?
• How can government intervention, through capital support, policy stability, or risk-sharing, accelerate investment at scale?
• What role should utilities, pension funds, sovereign wealth, and private equity each play in underwriting the transition?