UK100 summit highlights challenges of a UK clean energy mission that excludes local leaders

The UK100 Local Leaders: Clean Energy Superpower Summit, held at County Hall, London, brought together national and local government representatives alongside community and national energy sector leaders to accelerate the clean energy rollout.

It featured keynote speakers Tom Hayes MP, National Mission Champion for Energy; Mete Coban, Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy; and Emma Pinchbeck, who has just been announced as the new Chief Executive of the Climate Change Committee.

Addressing the clean energy challenge

The summit served as the launch event for UK100's flagship "Local Net Zero 2.0: The Moment To Deliver" report and marked the unveiling of a groundbreaking Charter of Collaboration between local and national government.

The Charter, now open for local leaders across the country to sign, aims to foster stronger partnerships and align efforts in the clean energy transition.

Signatory Cllr Dan De'Ath, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Strategic Planning & Transport, Cardiff Council, highlighted the significance of the Charter, stating: "The Charter for Collaboration represents a fundamental opportunity to tackle technical and non-technical barriers to accelerating clean energy delivery, in a synchronised way, across all levels of government."

The Charter aims to address the daunting energy challenges revealed in the "Local Net Zero 2.0" report, including electricity demand set to surge 64% by 2035, a need to triple onshore wind and quintuple solar capacity, and renewable projects facing up to 15-year grid connection delays.

Among the recommendations in the report and reflected in the Charter are:

1. Implementing a national framework for Local Area Energy Planning (LAEP), backed by dedicated funding from Great British Energy.
2. Removing planning barriers for renewables and new technologies to accelerate deployment.
3. Developing a collaborative grid expansion plan that prioritises local community engagement and benefit.
4. Reforming social housing retrofit funds to catalyse sector-wide transformation.
5. Making it a strategic priority for Skills England to support the development of the construction industry to deliver Net Zero homes.

Speaking at the summit, Christopher Hammond, Chief Executive of UK100, said:

"Decarbonising the grid will be the biggest infrastructure investment in the UK since the Second World War. It may be disruptive, but it doesn't have to be destructive. The role of local authorities and their recognition as invaluable partners is continually growing in the energy sector. Local, smart and decentralised grids can’t be done without the efforts of local leaders and the buy-in of the residents they serve. But local leaders can't win support for these projects on goodwill alone. Communities that host infrastructure need a share in the economic return.” 

On the scale of the infrastructure challenge, Hammond adds: “We need to move beyond simplistic NIMBY or YIMBY frames — which will only feed polarisation in charged times. There are those waiting in the wings, ready to weaponise frustrations for political gain.”

Emma Pinchbeck, the incoming Chief Executive of the Climate Change Committee, but speaking as the current Chief Executive of Energy UK, also emphasised the need for rapid infrastructure development:

"We need to build around five times the amount of infrastructure over the next seven years as we have built in the previous three decades. We need to grow the power sector two to three times by 2050 and that is because we're expecting consumers to be using electric vehicles, to be using heat pumps."

Pinchbeck also stressed the importance of public engagement, particularly regarding new infrastructure:

"We are going to need to build some pylons. We are going to have to build some pylons in places where people don't want pylons. We’re going to need to put them in the right places, of course. We’re going to need to minimise the amount of building we do, being as efficient as possible. We’re going to need to think about community benefits because the fact is that some communities will host more of this construction than others.”

Addressing local leaders in the room, she said it is “critical to have this conversation in your communities.”

Speaking at the event, Tom Hayes MP, National Mission Champion for Energy, said:

"As a former local climate leader, I've seen firsthand how crucial local authorities are in delivering the clean energy transition. Our ambitious goal to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030 will be delivered faster and more successfully if we do it hand-in-hand with local leaders. They have the on-the-ground knowledge and community relationships needed to drive rapid change. We are committed to ensuring national ambitions and local delivery are fully aligned."

On the importance of the summit, he added: “there are difficult decisions ahead, it won’t always be easy and relationships between national government, local government and communities will face strain … It’s why events like this are so important, places where the different actors involved in delivering the mission can come together, debate these issues.”

Mete Coban, Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy, added:

"London continues to be at the forefront of the clean energy revolution, driving innovation to deliver on ambitious targets. This summit provided an invaluable opportunity to share expertise and align strategies with other local leaders from across the UK. The partnerships forged here will amplify our collective impact in driving the clean energy transition."

The summit also saw the launch of UK100 and Involve UK’s new “Inclusive Climate Action: A Toolkit for Effective Public Engagement in Decision-Making” report on public engagement in climate action. A key panel, "Rules of Engagement: How to Engage Communities on Renewable Energy Projects", emphasised the critical role of community engagement in the clean energy transition.

Speaking on the panel, Steph Draper, Director of Innovation and Practice at Involve UK, said:

"Effective public engagement is critical to accelerating the rollout of clean energy at the local level. This summit is an excellent opportunity to showcase our new Inclusive Climate Action toolkit, which equips local leaders with practical strategies to bring communities into the heart of decision-making on renewable projects. Our research shows that when done well, participatory approaches not only lead to better clean energy outcomes but also empower residents to become active partners in the transition."

This summit marks a pivotal moment in Britain's clean energy journey — coming almost 100 years after the national energy grid was first made possible — laying the foundation for the nation's success as a clean energy superpower built on local-national collaboration.

Local leaders are encouraged to visit https://localclimatepledge2024.uk100.org/ to sign the Charter of Collaboration and signal their willingness to play a critical role in the clean energy superpower by 2030 mission — with the right support.

The summit was hosted in association with Utility Week, Sustainable Ventures, UK Power Networks DSO, CO2Sense, Thrive Renewables and Battery Box by AMP Clean Energy.