Stu Pringle
Founder
South West Renewable Energy Roundtable: Passion, Innovation and Familiar Challenges
It was fantastic to be invited by Acuity Law with Purpose to chair their roundtable for energy leaders in the South West.
The title of the event was ““The South West’s Energy Potential: Land, Sea, and Innovation”
The session was well attended by a cross section of industry, tech start-up, legal and public sector. Every single person in attendance spoke with knowledge, passion and candidly about both the opportunities and challenges that are staring them in the face when it comes to energy transition projects – from large scale infrastructure like the floating wind in the Celtic seas, commercial solar development in Somerset, urban heat networks in Bristol – and also right down to small scale consumer innovations like battery storage innovations for flats and apartments.
Some recurring themes came to the surface. On the positives, there is serious effort going in from all parts of the ‘renewables playing field’ with entrepreneurs taking risks and consultancies pushing on creating bankability for ambitious offshore projects. However set against this were some familiar foes – shifting governmental policy (here’s looking at you NESO), skills gaps, supply chain uncertainties and still a lack of a joined up approach.
Even with more than a dozen experts in the room, not one person could tell the assembled what the mission for Great British Energy is going to be. It’s like we are having to undertake the whole task with one hand tied behind our backs.
Nonetheless, the overall atmosphere was positive, with more than one participant actively encouraging the others to keep going with their endeavours. One of the great benefits of events like this is the new connections it forges. And the connections of today can become the partnership of tomorrow.
Thanks again to the team at Acuity Law with Purpose for putting on such an awesome event and we hope to be involved in future round tables.