Conference hears how region can lead the way on future energy provision

Future energy provision, storage and decarbonisation have been explored at a major conference hosted by Rolls-Royce in Derby

Business leaders, educators and policymakers recently addressed the opportunities and challenges, while sharing best practice for future energy provision, at the 2026 Midlands Energy Conference, which took place at the engineering giant’s Learning and Development Centre earlier this month.

The conference was delivered by East Midlands Chamber, in partnership with the University of Nottingham Energy Institute, and supported by Rolls-Royce.

Panel discussions and presentations from speakers covered opportunities and challenges in the East Midlands around future energy production, storage and distribution.

Dr Cham Kang, president of East Midlands Chamber, who opened the conference, said: “The East Midlands leads in the provision of clean energy and its surrounding innovation, boasting an enviable level of skill that can drive growth.

“That expertise stretches across education and business of all sizes but there’s more to be achieved as we go forward.

“Continued and increased collaboration across the region, with communication a catalyst for action, is essential.

“As a business community we cannot take a hesitant approach to clean energy and storage; we need to collectively overcome any obstacles to drive progress, we need to lobby policymakers for greater investment, we need to share experience across all sectors.

“To unlock growth, we must embrace every opportunity to prioritise how we approach sustainable energy storage and provision now and in the future.”

Among the speakers was Edward Wright, Trent Supercluster innovation and growth lead at the East Midlands Combined County Authority, who talked about the programme and its growth opportunities.

He said: “The Trent Supercluster is made up of three compelling power plant sites.

“There’s massive opportunity around them now from fusion, fission and hydrogen.

“These are really exciting energy opportunities, particularly around fusion. This is not just about building a power plant; it’s about building a sector and creating UK economic value and there’s a massive amount of supply chain capability in the region that we want to be able to find opportunity for within the supply chain.”