On May 20, UKERC Researchers, policymakers and industry representatives headed to the Edinburgh Futures Institute for the 2026 UKERC Annual Assembly. The two-day event provided an opportunity to share progress across UKERC’s research programme, discuss current energy policy challenges, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration across our research programme, and explore opportunities for future research and engagement. Watch Energy Minister Michael Shanks MP’s address to the Assembly:
View the full agenda here, and read our full report below.
The Assembly formally opened on 20 May with welcome remarks and programme updates from the UKERC team, before diving into a series of research update sessions introducing progress across UKERC’s research themes. Presentations covered the broad remit of UKERC’s work, ranging from energy affordability and justice to infrastructure delivery, geopolitics and energy security, public opinion on climate change and our recent project work on long duration energy storage.
The afternoon focused on energy policy priorities and challenges facing the UK. Four thematic panel discussions drew on expertise from across UKERC’s research community, addressing:
Each panel combined short expert presentations with lively audience discussion, including the opportunity for researchers from our new Whole Systems Networking Fund projects to introduce themselves to the centre.
Claire Ross of the Scottish Government reflects on our sessions on energy policy priorities
The policy focus continued in a stakeholder perspectives session featuring contributions from government, industry and civil society representatives. A recorded address from Michael Shanks, Minister for Energy at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, was followed by discussions involving representatives from SSE, National Energy Action, The Energy Landscape and other organisations. We were also fortunate to hear the Scottish perspective, with voices from the Scottish Government and Scottish Power joining the discussion. These sessions explored current priorities relating to energy supply, infrastructure, demand reduction and consumer impacts.
We concluded the first day by exploring the city in interdisciplinary “ideas mixer” sessions, where participants joined walking groups and breakout discussions to explore opportunities for collaboration across our research, with the hilltops of Edinburgh providing an idyllic backdrop from The Meadows. The evening networking reception at The Lookout provided further views of the city, and further opportunity for attendees to develop new connections.
The Lookout provided breakout space for attendees to collaborate
Day Two: Integration, Collaboration and Knowledge Exchange
The second day began with reflections from our cohort of Early Career Researchers, who summarised key themes emerging from the previous day’s discussions, and then provided an update on the UKERC ECR Network. Updates followed from the Energy Data Centre and UKERC’s Reformed National Pricing Forum.
A major focus of the morning was interdisciplinary research integration within UKERC. Researchers reported back from the previous day’s ideas mixers and discussed the ever present question of how to strengthen collaboration across themes.
The Assembly’s keynote address was delivered by David Joffe, of the Clean Power 2030 Unit at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). Joining from London, the presentation examined progress towards the UK Government’s Clean Power 2030 mission and was followed by a lively Q&A with attendees.
The final substantive session addressed the role of whole systems energy research and knowledge exchange. Gerard Davies gave context on UKRI’s developing research strategy. Two panel discussions brought together representatives from academia, government and independent organisations to explore the relationship between research, policy development and evidence exchange. The first focused on the value of whole systems energy research, featuring discussants from EPSRC, ClimateXChange, and UKCCS, and the second on the relationship between academia and government, with representatives from Scottish Government, SPICe, SPEERI and GO-Science.
Contributors discussed the role of research in informing decision-making, the importance of collaboration between researchers and stakeholders, and opportunities to strengthen knowledge exchange across the energy sector.
The Assembly concluded with closing remarks from UKERC Director Rob Gross, followed by internal research theme meetings for UKERC researchers. Over the two days, the event provided a platform for sharing research progress, examining current energy policy challenges, and strengthening connections between researchers, policymakers and stakeholders.
The discussions highlighted the breadth of expertise within the UKERC community and reinforced the importance of working in an interdisciplinary and whole systems manner to best address the challenges and opportunities of the UK’s energy transition.