UTILITY WEEK LIVE 2025'S CONTENT PROGRAMME LAUNCHES IN JANUARY 2025
UWL24 offered more free content than ever before, with six stages running across two days. These included the new Energy Flexibility stage, exploring the emerging policy and mechanisms as well as technical solutions for flexibility.
The UK could have some of the cheapest electricity in Europe, if not the cheapest. Instead, it spends hundreds of millions per year curtailing abundant, green wind energy in favour of dirty fossil fuel back-ups.
As we rapidly electrify our world – transforming how we both generate and consume our energy – we also need to reimagine the energy markets that deliver it.
Locational pricing could deliver well over £50 billion in savings to the UK by 2040, while unlocking vast amounts of green generation and cost savings to consumers.
In order to unleash the full potential of abundant renewables, we need a paradigm shift in our energy system. Join Greg Jackson as he explores the role of locational pricing in making our grid work smarter, not harder.
Sponsored by:
The UK's ambitious carbon reduction targets have been set at the highest level of government - but in a year of political change, that leadership has necessarily been put on hold. Yet the utilities industry remains firmly committed to achieving net zero, and knows there isn't a moment to waste. Unearth how industry can step into the gap, leading the charge on net zero, setting the pace, delivering innovation and holding themselves to account - even while delivering infrastructure on an unprecedented scale and battling cost pressures and reputational challenges.
Join this session to be inspired and learn how you and your organisation can lead the change.
At a time when UK utilities need to embrace innovation and deliver capital projects on an unprecedented scale, regulators discuss how they can collaborate to drive whole systems thinking across National Critical Infrastructure. Regulators must prioritise environmental protection and low carbon solutions while removing regulatory barriers to productivity. Do we need to reimagine the existing regulatory regime?
Join this session to unearth how regulators can remove blockers for networks, water companies, retailers and developers.
Questions to discuss:
How can regulators encourage whole life cost and carbon in projects?
What can regulators do to help foster collaboration and innovation across the whole value chain?
How can regulators support industry through AMP8, RIIO 2/3 and ED 2?
The utilities industry has been under the microscope for environmental impact and increased cost to consumers. How can utilities transform public perceptions and win back trust?
Join this session to discover how utilities can rebuild their reputation and tell the story of all the hard work that goes into keeping the lights on, the heat pumping and the taps running.
It’s a simple fact that accessing low carbon technologies is easier for consumers on a higher income – but to ensure a successful transition to a net zero economy, everyone must be engaged, and everyone must benefit, at all levels of society. Rebuilding consumer trust, educating consumers on pollution, and encouraging customers to embrace sustainable, low carbon technologies to assist in the energy transition is essential.
Join this session to debate what we mean by a ‘just transition’, and discover how it can be achieved.
One in four local authorities are working towards a local area energy plan (LAEP). However, for many already overstretched councils the cost and internal resources needed to complete this vital net zero blueprint have proved significant barriers to progress. With increasing pressure on statutory services, there is a risk that planning for net zero will be sidelined unless the government mandates action and provides councils the funding to deliver.
This session will outline Utility Week’s campaign lobbying government to mandate all local councils to produce a LAEP and provide the estimated £40 million of funding required to achieve this.
The panel will be moderated by Utility Week editor James Wallin and will feature representatives of utilities, local authorities and expert observers.
Utilities must encourage women into the industry to overcome the aging workforce, growing skills gap and pressure to transform to sustainable, decarbonised industry. People need to demonstrate their support and understanding towards women in the utilities to create long lasting change. Allyship is critical to ensuring the progression and success of women and representation at board level. Join this session to uncover how to become an intentional advocate and what operating culture organisational changes to structure and recruitment strategies need to be adopted and embedded to establish an inclusive workplace.
Net zero cannot happen without flexible energy – it’s as simple as that. Market makers, regulators and industry pioneers are working together to create an active flexibility market in the UK – but there are significant challenges ahead. Utility Week is delighted to support the emerging energy flexibility market with the launch of the Flex Awards hosted at Utility Week Live.
The Flex Awards will recognise market makers, movers and disruptors who are paving the way for energy flexibility to be rolled out. We will be showcasing the latest innovation, celebrating flexibility pioneers and unearthing the companies and individuals who are driving flex markets and end user engagement.
For information on how to enter the Awards, click here: https://www.flexawards.co.uk/
At a time when utilities need to deliver infrastructure projects on a huge scale, they find themselves competing in a global market for skills and materials. Gas, power and water companies need to provide transparency to the supply chain and support their investment in skills and technology to deliver at pace. A race to the bottom on cost is no longer an option, with the responsibility to deliver social value, carbon neutral infrastructure and environmental impact incumbent at every level of the supply chain.
Hear experts outline how they are adapting procurement methods, engaging with the supply chain and finding new ways of working to minimise blockers to delivery.
To achieve the government’s target of a fully decarbonised energy system by 2035, the whole system needs root and branch reform. This will be led by the National Energy System Operator – a newly independent organisation which will drive a whole systems approach to electricity and gas to ensure security of supply and decarbonisation for the UK.
Water, gas and electricity companies are transforming and digitalising their operations to unlock efficiencies, increase network transparency and decarbonise utilities. How can businesses create a culture of change and arm the workforce with digital skills? The industry needs to collaborate and improve knowledge transfer to mitigate risk and drive the transition to a digital industry.
The industry cannot do it alone – customers must transform their behaviours if the UK is to deliver a net zero energy and water system. But how can utilities inform and persuade them to do so? First, they must understand the science of behaviour change – the core principles that drive people to behave as they do. Then, they must learn how to support customers to change their behaviours.
It's a tall order, but there is a lot that can be done - join this session to hear insights from behavioural science on the conscious and unconscious processes that influence customers behaviour.
Amid turmoil in the energy retail market in early 2022 Ofgem introduced a temporary ban onacquisition-only tariffs (BAT) – meaning suppliers are obliged to offer the same tariffs to new and existing customers. With energy prices now stabilised Ofgem is considering the future of the BAT and has suggested it could be lifted later this year. This panel will discuss the merits of BAT and what place it might play in a post-price cap world.
Sponsored by:
Digital twins improve network transparency, support innovation and enable utilities to make rapid and informed investment decisions. A diverse range of utilities are embracing digital twins as they seek to create operational efficiencies without compromising service. Join this session to demystify digital twins, see how utilities are embracing the technology and understand what it could mean for your organisation.
Sponsored by:
Open data is at the top of the agenda for energy and water companies. Not only has it been mandated by regulators; the industry recognises that it’s key to speeding up innovation and delivering net zero. How can water, gas and electricity companies improve the interoperability of information and drive cross-sector collaboration to make open data in utilities a reality? Join this session for an update on key open data projects and hear directly from the industry’s open data pioneers.
Sponsored by:
As distribution network operators shift to becoming DSOs, effective accurate digital infrastructure and adopting smart energy networks is essential to enabling energy flexibility, directing investment and prioritising asset management decisions on the road to net zero. How will digital networks integrate and interact with the FSO and enable the uptake of LCT for consumers? Discover the innovations, technologies and efficiencies arising from embracing smart energy networks.
Sponsored by:
In the face of the changing climate and regulatory demands for greater long-term efficiencies, utilities need to take a proactive approach to asset management rather than continue to respond reactively to bursts, leakages and failing assets. How can smart technology enable engineers to predict failures, maintain assets and ensure continued operations for consumers? Join this session to discover how water, gas and power companies are transforming asset management, saving time and money and maintaining an undisrupted service to consumers.
Sponsored by:
Mitigating cyber security risk is a priority for all major infrastructure, from telecoms to highways. infrastructure operators need to secure their assets as they embrace smart networks, sensors and digital twins which open asset owners up to new vulnerabilities. As utilities push to digitalise their assets and embrace open data, what digital security measures are necessary and required, and how is the legislative backdrop changing? Join this session to understand how to secure critical infrastructure from case studies and discover the shared responsibility for policymakers, regulators and infrastructure businesses.
Sponsored by:){kind=logo}
At a time when utilities need to optimise daily operations, sweat their asset and make strategic investment decisions, what smart tools are being utilities to gain better visibility of the network? It is vital to gain a deeper understanding of assets and networks to make informed asset management decisions which can be testing in a digital capacity.
Join this session to uncover novel approaches to smart asset management.
Sponsored by:
As water companies prepare to deliver an unprecedented volume of work in AMP8, the need to adopt smart solutions has never been greater. Tasked with monitoring river quality upstream and downstream, reducing energy bills and operating more efficiently, where can smart water systems unlock optimised operation and automated process? Join this session to explore how water companies are investing, trailing and implementing smart solutions across their networks.
Sponsored by:
As the energy smart meter rollout heads for the finish line, how will a more granular understanding of energy consumption unlock flexibility in the system? And what can water companies learn from energy as they embrace their own smart meter targets Join this session to hear the latest updates on smart metering in energy; see the potential for smart meters to unlock smart homes; and discover how water companies are embracing the technology.
Sponsored by:
As demand for water and energy increases, managing the network in an efficient way is essential. With limited investment, how can digital tools, AI and automation help optimise assets and manage them in a more efficient way? Join this session to uncover new technologies and ways of working to better manage and maintain your network.
The role of retailers is evolving as market needs evolve. To understand the customers, they serve and offer a detailed level of flexibility, retailers are offering energy solutions to control more devices and understand existing devices in the home. Smart devices, home management systems and technology are essential to unlocking real time and quick energy flexibility. Uncover how you can leverage gride edge technology and low carbon solutions to enable the transition to for networks and customers.
Large users of energy offer a huge opportunity for power networks to harness for flexible energy. Ensuring operations of businesses are impacted at a minimum, what new opportunities does energy flexibility provide? Three users of energy will outline how they are looking to optimise operations and embrace energy flexibility.
Flexible energy markets are at a critical junction of development. Following consultations around the role of the regulator, this panel will deliberate the best way to support emerging markets, protect customers and accelerate net zero.
To accelerate the development of flexible energy markets and encourage the participation of as many end users as possible, energy networks need to offer a variety of products. Join this session to gain insight into the new products networks will be procuring.
Sponsored by:
As the UK prioritises the decarbonisation of heat and domestic flexibility potential, discover how the electrification of heat and aggregating UK homes could provide an opportunity for managing grid constraint. Discover the latest updates, best practice and lessons learnt from pilots.
DNOs need to develop and enhance their existing business model to enable flexible energy, preparing the grid and prioritising stakeholder engagement is paramount to flexible energy functioning seamlessly. In this session, discover DNOs roadmaps to evolving their network.
To accelerate flexibility markets the necessary digital infrastructure and data sharing needs to be built. How can energy companies create an accurate an efficiency digital model to understand and forecast constraint? Join this session to learn best practice on collecting data, building a digital model and operating in real time.
UK energy companies need to balance the energy system between demand and supply, with increasing renewables providing challenges and opportunities. How can we establish a whole system approach to energy flexibility? Join this session to understand how gas and electricity are integrated today, and what role hydrogen can play in the future to provide flexibility in times of peak demand or at times of low or surplus renewables.
The cost-of-living crisis has dominated public debate over the last two years with utilities working to support vulnerable customers. Flexible energy provides an opportunity to empower customers to manage the affordability of their energy make savvy choices on their energy use. Learn how we can ensure customers have a positive experience with flexible energy and are protected.
With demand on the gas system being distributed across all parts of the network, this session is going to hear from the different sectors that are connected to the gas grid. You’ll hear about the actions their businesses are working on today, and what options they are looking to secure in the future to achieve net zero.
Join us for a thought-provoking session chaired by Carly Perry, the Managing Director of Spring, as we delve into the future plans for the sector's centre of excellence. Together, we'll reflect on the progress we've made so far and explore Spring's plan for adding even more value to the sector in the years to come.
With insights from a panel of experts from the Heat Pump Ready programme, this session will delve into how innovations in smart and flexible technology, manufacturing and the customer journey can enable the mass rollout of heat pumps. Dr Nicola Lazenby, Energy Innovation Programme Manager for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, will chair the panel session
The Ofwat innovation fund has encouraged a step change in the innovation maturity of the sector - particularly in the focus and structure to the creation and delivery of projects. In thinking about the fund beyond 2025, how do we encourage the sector to take the next step in its maturity?
Join this interactive collaborate exchange to help shape and develop innovation maturity and discuss:
· How to adopt and scale solution being developed
· How to encourage a culture of failing quickly and being comfortable with it
· How to accelerate the return on investment
· How to improve the delivery of projects
· How to demonstrate value for money for customers
The ever-growing skills gap and public perception of utilities creates a challenge to recruiting the future of the industry. How can we apply innovation principles to the way the water and energy companies recruit, onboard and retain talent? In this dynamic discussion, industry leaders and innovators will share insights, strategies, and case studies showcasing how utilities companies are revolutionising their approach to people management.
Local authorities drive to net zero relies on strong collaboration with distribution networks and stakeholders. Local governments exhibiting on our Local Government Pavilion present case studies and updates on their local areas energy planning and more. Join this session to learn about local decarbonisation projects and strategies to switch to low carbon heat, electrify transport and much more.
For the UK to achieve net zero targets and respond to the climate crisis, we cannot rely on efforts to reduce emissions alone, we must adopt innovations and technologies to remove carbon from the atmosphere. Join this session to discover the latest trials and projects to deploy CCS technology, lessons learnt from implementation and best practice to make CCS adoption more efficient in your business.
How can human brilliance and AI help create a more joined up, advanced, collaborative innovation ecosystem across water, energy and other sector across the UK and beyond? How can we accelerate the pace and impact of innovation, without creating exacerbating resource constraints.
Collaboration and engagement with innovators are essential to accelerate the pace of innovation in the energy sector. The EIC partnership is committed to proactively evolving the support available to innovators and facilitating the right partnerships. Join us to review progress in eliminating barriers to innovation, discuss the future of energy regulation, hear the latest insights from over 200 innovators, and explore what further changes are required to effect change in the sector to deliver Net Zero.
To support the next generation of leaders, Utility Week invite people at the beginning of their careers across utility companies and the supply chain to join this session to gain insight into career pathways and development opportunities. Hear from leaders in the industry share their career stories and meet likeminded individuals with valuable networking opportunities.
Sponsored by:
With a dedicated focus on mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and hitting net zero by 2030, water companies need to tackle the process emissions released in sewage treatment. Water companies are measuring emissions and trialling innovative solutions to minimise the release of nitrous oxide, biomethane and carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Join this session to unearth the latest innovations in monitoring and reducing process emissions and resource recovery to drive a circular economy.
What role will hydrogen play in a net zero future? While its use in domestic heating remains a matter for government policy, it is increasingly expected to have a role in fuelling heavy industry and transport. Join this session to discover the latest trials to roll out hydrogen for heavy industry and transport and future scaling opportunities.
As the climate crisis deepens and biodiversity becomes a priority, finding alternatives to grey infrastructure is critical. How can industry, regulators and innovators work together to enable the adoption of nature-based solutions? Join this session to unearth how utilities are looking at the whole catchment and engaging in new partnerships to introduce more nature-based solutions.
Sponsored by:
Extreme weather is putting an increasing strain on aging critical national infrastructure and utilities must adapt their networks to withstand more frequent storms, extreme heat and increased flooding. Utilities need to prepare existing water, gas, electricity and telecoms networks to ensure resilience and security of supply to customers as a priority. Simultaneously, future assets need to be designed to realistic climate models and predictions.
Accounting and reporting scope 3 emissions is a critical step in the ‘race to zero’. Utility companies need to collaborate with their supply chain partners and be prepared to work in new ways to uncover innovations that will drive down emissions across the supply chain. Join this session to learn how utilities are managing and minimising scope 3 emissions and shifting to a circular economy.
Sponsored by:
Water companies are under public, regulatory and governmental scrutiny to reduce spills from storm overflows. Discover the latest work which is piloting novel and nature based interventions to understand what is effective and efficient at reducing storm overflow use and minimising harm before the sector gears up for a record AMP8 investment in this area.
The UK is facing a connections crisis with requests for new power connections and capacity at an all-time high. Following Nick Winser’s review into accelerating the rate of low-carbon connections, the UK is on the cusp of change – but what form will it take, and what does it mean for your business? Join this session to discover how policy is changing to enable connections reform – and how your business needs to prepare.
As utilities encourage customers to value resources and remain mindful of consumption, they must lead from the front, by detecting, preventing and repairing leaks across their networks. Water and gas companies are seeking to adopt a proactive and preventative asset management approach while responding rapidly to bursts and leaks to ensure maximum safety and network efficiency. Join this session to uncover the latest innovations and technologies being trialled and adopted by water and gas companies as they minimise leakage and the associated carbon cost.
Sponsored by:
The UK is entering a decade of unprecedented infrastructure delivery as utilities seek to upgrade the grid, increase capacity and improve river quality. To deliver the scale of works required the whole supply chain needs to collaborate and explore innovative ways of working to maximise resources and minimise carbon. How can we deliver infrastructure efficiently and at speed? Join this session to discover the latest innovations in infrastructure delivery and learn how technology is changing the game.
Consumers will play a pivotal role in the UK’s shift to renewable energy, adopting low carbon technology in their homes and taking an active role in shifting their demand. Retailers and networks need to educate, communicate and incentivise customers to embrace LCT in their homes. At a time of macro economic change and wavering political commitments, the industry must lead the charge on rolling out LCT at scale to deliver a decarbonised society. Join this session to find out how.
Sponsored by:
In the last 18 months utilities have borne the brunt of public, media and government ire over soaring bills, river quality, executive pay and shareholder rewards. The industry urgently needs to rebuild customer trust and repair its reputation if it’s to influence consumer behaviour, attract talent to the industry and ultimately deliver the level of infrastructure projects required. Join this session to learn from pioneering projects that are rebuilding trust and discover best practice in stakeholder engagement.
Sponsored by:
Utilities are racing to achieve digital readiness, while facing an ever-growing skills crisis and demands from the regulator to deliver more for less. How can energy and water businesses embrace operational change, drive process efficiency and ensure digital readiness? Join this session to explore the innovations available to utilities as they seek to modernise their workforce and operations.
Heat remains the biggest single source of carbon emissions for the UK, making its decarbonisation critical to the net zero journey. The government has set out ambitious plans for the rollout of heat pumps, but the reality is that just a fraction of the targeted number are being installed each year. What is the future of low carbon heat, and when will the tipping point for mass take-up arrive? Join this session to learn how to engage consumers, improve consumer understanding and accelerate the decarbonisation of heat.
Following the second winter of the cost-of-living crisis, the industry is searching for the best tools to support customers from a range of backgrounds. Can pre-payment meters remain a viable tool following their reputational damage? What is the best form of social tariff, and what role can innovations in billing play? Join this session to understand the tools available to utilities to support customer payments.
Sponsored by:
As the cost-of-living crisis extends into its third year, the UK’s energy and water business continue to face extreme volumes of customer contacts. How can they ensure the best experience for every customer, no matter their preferred channel; and deploy innovation to unlock efficiencies? Join this session to discover how data and digitalisation can change the game, improving business processes and the end user experience.
Customers have suffered through two winters of high energy prices and now face increased water bills – meaning utilities must work harder than ever to identify, support and communicate with vulnerable customers. Utilities know they have a responsibility to ensure nobody is left behind as they decarbonise, roll out low carbon solutions and drive the sustainability agenda – join this session to find out how.
As utilities prepare for net zero, they face one of their biggest challenges yet. Influencing consumer behaviour and helping customers to consume less is a critical step on the journey to net zero. How can utilities showcase the benefits of a reduction in consumption when encouraging customers to change their behaviours? The industry must work together to discover ways to help consumers change their behaviour – join this session to hear from pioneering industry projects.
To achieve net zero targets, the existing housing stock needs to adopt low carbon technology, embrace water efficiency solutions and leverage energy efficiency measures. Installers, utilities and construction and engineering companies need to come together to deliver low carbon homes and encourage customers to take an active role in a low carbon lifestyle.
"There were many interesting things to discover at the event. The talks gave a fascinating insight into issues facing the industry, how they are dealt with and what the future looks like. For someone looking to expand their horizons, it's definitely worth a visit. Utility Week Live is also a very good place to network and meet new people from an array of different companies"
- UWL23 Visitor
)
)
)
)
