Local Energy Markets Alliance Summit 2024

Progress, collaboration and development

1 & 2 October 2024

Members book here

Non-members book here

LEMA invites you to reserve a place at this initial collaborative event in the most beautiful castle in England, to understand the key benefits of Smart Local Energy Systems (SLES), learn about the work of LEMA in commercialising their development and to work with other leaders in the field.

Objectives

Explore commercial potential and challenges of SLES opportunities
Identify solutions to the challenges and propose a way forward
Develop UK and Europe-leading commercial delivery activities

This event will bring together members, potential members and leaders to explore and problem solve a commercial business model for Local Energy Systems within an inspiring collaborative environment.

Structured and informal co-creation will take place over an intensive two-day agenda, all with a view to forming initial consortia that can commercialise Local Energy Systems and start exploiting the effort put in by us all getting to this stage.

Only 80 places are available.

Why this event?

Billions need to be spent on the grid edge updating the distribution infrastructure to be able to connect homes and businesses in the timescales required and reduce reliance on fossil fuels and to combat climate change. There are huge opportunities, especially for first movers, but to-date this potential market is highly fragmented, has not progressed beyond trials and remains under-funded.

Complexity and timing lies at the heart of the problem for everyone and is proving almost impossible to solve top-down given established generation orientated market structures. Electric vehicles, heat pumps, insulation, solar panels, and home batteries are all being encouraged by the government but, not only does the grid need to be strengthened to receive them, these initiatives also need to be funded by consumers at considerable cost.

Furthermore, consumers do not understand the complexity and nor do they have confidence in the industry to supply, install, maintain, and support their investments. This is why few products have gone beyond the early adopter, single product stage and have yet to become mass market propositions.

So how do we, our industry, move consumers to mass adoption?

Smart, Local Energy Systems hold the key. These are ring-fenced, individual but repeatable energy installations that integrate all the elements, including Installation Service and Support (ISS), to provide consumers with a simple, turn-key, evergreen system that reduces energy bills by combining flexibility with energy supply.

Innovate UK’s £107m Prospering from the Energy Revolution (PfER) programme recently demonstrated significant benefits from “Energy-smart places”. Europe too is waking up to the need/opportunity with several energy communities appearing particularly in Portugal, The Netherlands, Italy and Austria and with authorities starting to acknowledge that local systems have an important role to play in the current crisis.

What is needed now is not more trials and demonstrations but collaborative problem-solving to determine pragmatic, viable commercial business models that deliver sustainable income streams.

LEMA’s objective is to be a catalyst for District Energy. To use our contacts and experience to bring together people and businesses with expertise in district flexibility to stimulate the formation of, find investment for, and support consortia in delivering simple, fully integrated, locally focused, consumer propositions with flexibility at their centre.

A 2-day event with 6 x 2 hour sessions over the 2 days. There will be lunch each day and dinner - plus plenty of time for informal networking and discussions in the private surroundings, lounges etc.

In general, the first day will be about setting the scene, presenting and discussing progress plus a choice of 2 detailed group discussions. The second day brings in a European dimension comparing challenges and progress in each market followed by 2 more group discussions before finishing with a discussion on defining the practical next steps.

Ideally invitees will attend both days but, should you be unable to attend the full event, shorter options are available. There will still be much value particularly in understanding the opportunity, judging others’ interests and building initial relationships.

Workshop Format

Interactive, problem-solving, solution driving presentation-discussions and brainstorming sessions, carefully guided to deliver clear outcomes.

Benefits for Participants

An opportunity to co-develop and become a part of a leading delivery collaboration initiative

Conduct your own personal market research with peers and specialists in the field
See how your capabilities fit into collaborative District Energy propositions
Brainstorm solutions with non-competing colleagues experienced in this field
Determine how best to proceed in this valuable and developing market space
Meet and build lasting collaborative relationships with other great minds.