The Spectator Energy Summit 2025

The UK is facing a pivotal moment in its energy landscape. Rising energy costs are placing immense pressure on both businesses and consumers. Companies striving for growth are constrained by high operational expenses, while consumers are burdened by increased utility bills and inflated prices of goods—driven by the energy-intensive nature of manufacturing and transport.

The Challenge facing government and industry is how to achieve a balance between affordable, reliable, and efficient energy. The progress to meeting this is often hindered by fragmented approaches across government, industry, and regulatory bodies.

This summit will bring together influential voices from industry, politics, and media to explore actionable solutions to securing energy independence, reducing energy costs and aligning policy and innovation to meet consumer and business needs

Key questions we will explore:

• How can the UK diversify its energy sources to reduce reliance on volatile global markets?
• What role should government play in incentivising low-cost, low-carbon energy?
• How can industry collaborate to drive down costs and improve efficiency?

By attending this summit, you will hear from government and opposition politicians, leaders from industries including energy, manufacturing, aviation, shipping & trade, and academia.

If you're an MP, diplomat or civil servant, please apply for a complimentary ticket.

Topics are subject to change

Session 1 - And, not or: why we should back a broad range of energy sources and technologies to ensure UK energy security, sponsored by Equinor

The Spectator’s Michael Simmons in conversation with Greg Jackson, CEO & Founder of Octopus Energy and non-executive member of the Cabinet Office Board

Session 2 - The role of AI in reducing energy costs

Session 3 - The Wind Debate

Session 4 - Having the energy to trade: the challenge and the opportunity of decarbonisation for economic growth, sponsored by Port of Dover

Session 5 - Keeping Europe’s engines running: affordable energy for industry and mobility, sponsored by Bosch

Session 6 - From wastewater to jet power: how the UK can fuel aviation beyond 2030, sponsored by Firefly Green Fuels

Session 7 - Paris in review: a decade on from the Paris Climate Agreement

Info: Panellists include: Alex Grant, Senior Vice President at Equinor, Mike Maudsley, CEO Enfinium, Dhara Vyas, CEO UK Energy and Ben Wilson, President, National Grid Ventures (Chaired by The Spectator’s political editor Tim Shipman)

Info: Greg Jackson, CEO & Founder of Octopus Energy and non-executive member of the Cabinet Office Board

Info: Panellists include: Kathryn Porter, CEO Watt-Logic, Matt Ridley, Science writer and journalist and Dan Marks, Research Fellow RUSI.

Info: Panellists include: Andrew Griffith MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Doug Bannister, CEO of Port of Dover, Gemma Griffin, Vice President and Head of Global Crewing for pan-European ferry company DFDS

Info: Panellists include: Bill Esterson MP, Chair of Energy Security and Net Zero Committee, Dr. Steffen Hoffmann, Managing Director, Bosch UK & Ireland and Geoff Mansfield, Global Vice President for Low Carbon Fuels, Shell and Harry Metcalfe, English farmer and businessman (Chaired by The Spectator’s economics editor Michael Simmons)

Info: Panellists include: Amber Rudd, former Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change during the Paris Agreement negotiations in 2015, Antonio Patriota, Brazilian Ambassador to the UK and a representative from the US Embassy

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