9:00AM - 9:05AM
Welcome Address from Solar Media Ltd
9:05AM - 9:10AM
Welcome Address from Chair
9:10AM - 9:50AM
High Energy Prices: What Does the Future Hold for the UK Market?
The UK is entering one of the most severe energy crises in decades. It is comparable to the combined impact of the 1970s oil shocks and the Ukraine conflict. Global supply disruptions and escalating tensions in the Middle East are driving volatility. Wholesale electricity prices are rising again. This will place significant cost pressure on UK businesses. This session will explore what this will mean as the market shifts. It will assess how rising prices are expected to reshape energy costs and investment decisions. It will also outline how energy buyers can act to manage risk and support renewable energy strategies.
- Crisis unfolding in real time: Global disruptions and gas linked marginal pricing are expected to drive sustained upward pressure on UK wholesale electricity prices.
- What this will mean for businesses: Rising prices are likely to impact cost structures, procurement strategies, and investment in renewable energy.
- Acting ahead of the curve: Practical approaches, including hedging, contract structuring, and demand optimisation, to manage volatility and unlock long term value.
Speakers
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Matt Parry, Head of Power & Energy Demand, REA
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Yassine Bounajma, Category Sourcing Manager - Global industrial vendors, Philips
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Simon Wilding, Senior Category Manager, Heathrow Airport
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Rachel Cary, Head of Business Decarbonisation, Energy UK
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Gus Majed, Group CEO and Founder, Paratus Group of Companies
9:50AM - 10:20AM
The Role of Behind-The-Meter PPA in Delivering Sustainability and Business Competitiveness
Behind-the-meter Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) are emerging as a powerful mechanism for energy-intensive businesses to accelerate decarbonisation while strengthening their commercial position. By enabling on-site generation and efficiency projects without upfront capital investment, behind-the-meter PPAs align sustainability objectives with operational resilience and cost control. We'll explore how PPAs are helping organisations reduce energy costs, cut carbon emissions, and future-proof their operations in increasingly volatile energy markets.
- How behind-the-meter PPAs unlock renewable and efficiency projects by removing capital constraints and delivering immediate sustainability impact.
- The role of on-site generation in reducing exposure to volatile grid prices and improving long-term cost certainty for energy-intensive industries.
- Practical examples of how behind-the-meter PPAs are turning net-zero commitments into measurable operational outcomes.
10:20AM - 11:00AM
Simplifying Complexity –The Future of PPA Design in the UK & Ireland Market
PPA structures are being reshaped by increased price volatility, evolving policy frameworks, and changing buyer risk appetite. The UK and Ireland provide timely case studies of how these pressures are influencing PPA design, while insights from other power markets with comparable characteristics help illuminate which challenges are structural, which are transitional, and which solutions are transferable. This opening keynote panel focuses on how PPAs are being redesigned to remain bankable, flexible, and scalable in a rapidly changing market environment.
- Which approaches to negative pricing, price caps, and market intervention are most effective for responding to volatility in PPA pricing and execution across different market designs?
- Managing Multiple Stakeholders in PPA Transactions
- What are the implications of next-generation PPAs with shorter tenors, hybrid structures, and embedded flexibility for buyers, sellers, and financiers?
11:00AM - 11:30AM
Morning Networking Break
11:30AM - 12:15PM
The PPA Pricing Reset: What It Means for the UK & Ireland
PPA pricing dynamics are shifting across Europe, with declining capture expectations and rising negative price exposure reshaping deal economics. As these pressures filter into the UK and Ireland, buyers and sellers must recalibrate pricing models, structures and risk allocation to sustain transaction momentum.
- How are falling capture rates and widening discounts affecting UK & Ireland PPA valuations?
- Are negative prices and curtailment now central commercial risks rather than contractual edge cases?
- What new structures can bridge the growing gap between buyer fair value and seller return thresholds?
12:15PM - 1:00PM
From Annual Matching to Hourly 24/7 Strategies: Opportunities and Risks
Corporates such as hyperscalers and data centres are shifting from annual REC accounting to 24/7 matching for greater ESG credibility. In the UK and Ireland, this trend intersects with grid congestion and locational pricing reform.
- Why 24/7 matching is gaining traction under Scope 2 frameworks.
- Risks and system impacts: location constraints, flexibility requirements, and cost exposure.
- Practical strategies for implementing hourly matching in constrained UK grids and Ireland’s I-SEM system.
Moderator
1:00PM - 2:30PM
Networking Lunch Break
Day 1 - Energy Buyer Stream
Track:
Day 1 - Energy Buyer Stream
2:30PM - 3:00PM
Managing Risks in Corporate PPAs: Lessons from BAE Systems
Power Purchase Agreements offer long-term price certainty and energy security, but only when risk is clearly understood and managed. In this case study, BAE Systems shares how it set clear PPA guidelines, assessed real versus perceived risk, and aligned commercial, legal, and technical teams to structure successful renewable energy contracts.
- Setting the guardrails: Defining PPA criteria, red flags, and decision thresholds early
- Understanding real risk: Bridging physical energy realities with legal and commercial terms
- Making PPAs work: Structuring wind, solar, and on-site solutions for long-term value
Track:
Day 1 - Energy Buyer Stream
3:00PM - 3:30PM
Case Study: Bristol Port — Unlocking Floating Wind Supply in the Celtic Sea
Bristol Port is creating the infrastructure to support over 260 floating wind turbines, unlocking 4.5GW of renewable energy for the UK market. This case study explores how port-led investment de-risks project delivery, strengthens supply chains, and accelerates the availability of renewable energy for buyers and sellers.
- How does Bristol Port’s infrastructure enable large-scale floating wind projects and reliable energy supply?
- What role does port-led investment play in reducing construction and delivery risk for developers and buyers?
- How can the port support the growth of the offshore wind market while contributing to Net Zero 2040?
Day 1 - Energy Generators/IPPs Stream
Track:
Day 1 - Energy Generators/IPPs Stream
2:30PM - 3:00PM
Revenue Stacking in UK Renewables: Maximizing Returns in a Shifting Market
- How battery storage operators combine energy arbitrage, balancing mechanisms, ancillary services, capacity markets, and local flexibility to maximize asset profitability
- Navigating declining revenues from saturated services and grid connection delays
- How capacity contracting and aggregation can serve as tools to navigate revenue volatility
Track:
Day 1 - Energy Generators/IPPs Stream
3:00PM - 3:30PM
The Importance of Bankability in a Volatile Time
The renewable energy market has gone through a tumultuous 2 years, completely changing its dynamics. This session will discuss:
- Overview of global manufacturing
- Changing manufacturing dynamics
- The growing importance of bankability
- Forecasts of the renewable market
3:30PM - 4:00PM
Afternoon Networking Break
Day 1 - Energy Buyer Stream
Track:
Day 1 - Energy Buyer Stream
4:00PM - 4:30PM
Aston Martin F1 case study: Energy Efficiency – Sustainable Campus
Track:
Day 1 - Energy Buyer Stream
4:30PM - 5:10PM
The PPA Negotiation Challenge: Aligning Developer, Offtaker, and Investor Priorities
Power Purchase Agreements involve multiple parties with competing priorities. Developers seeking revenue certainty, corporate offtakers demanding price stability and flexibility, and lenders requiring bankability. This session explores practical strategies for managing these conflicting interests, identifying common friction points, and structuring deals that achieve financial close while creating value for all stakeholders.
- The distinct objectives of developers, corporate offtakers, lenders, and equity investors and where their interests align and diverge in PPA negotiations
- Where stakeholder interests conflict including contract duration, price indexation, volume risk, curtailment, and termination rights and strategies to find acceptable compromises
- Practical approaches such as hybrid structures, flexible offtake mechanisms, and credit enhancement solutions to balance competing demands and achieve financial close
Moderator
Day 1 - Energy Generators/IPPs Stream
Track:
Day 1 - Energy Generators/IPPs Stream
4:00PM - 4:30PM
Diversifying Revenue: Why Developers Can't Rely on CfDs Alone Post-AR7
AR7 delivered record capacity but exposed a critical challenge for renewable developers: government-backed CfD auctions alone cannot meet the pace and scale required for net zero delivery. With strike prices rising (offshore wind at £90.91/MWh, floating at £216.46/MWh), growing competition for limited CfD budgets, and persistent auction delays, developers must diversify revenue strategies. This session explores how AR7's outcomes are driving increased reliance on Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPAs) and hybrid revenue models, and what this means for positioning projects in AR8 and beyond.
- Rising strike prices, constrained budgets, and growing competition mean CfD support alone cannot sustain the renewable pipeline needed for UK net zero targets
- How CPPAs provide developers with additional revenue certainty, faster routes to market, and reduced dependency on auction outcomes and delays
- Combining CfD bids with corporate offtake agreements, optimizing project bankability, and adapting to evolving market dynamics and buyer demand
Track:
Day 1 - Energy Generators/IPPs Stream
4:30PM - 5:10PM
Price Cannibalisation in 2026: Managing Revenue Risk in Pay-As-Produced PPAs
High solar and wind penetration in early 2026 is driving wholesale prices to zero or negative during peak generation periods, creating substantial revenue risks for developers with pay-as-produced PPAs. This session explores the drivers and financial impact of price cannibalisation, and how developers can adapt their commercial strategies to protect project returns.
- How high renewable penetration during peak generation periods is driving zero and negative wholesale prices, and the impact on developer revenues under pay-as-produced PPAs
- Analysing frequency and duration of price collapse events in 2026, identifying vulnerable generation profiles, and assessing the financial exposure for solar and wind projects
- Alternative contract structures including baseload PPAs, shaped products, battery co-location, curtailment clauses, and hybrid revenue models to mitigate cannibalisation risk and secure bankable returns
5:10PM - 5:10PM
Closing of Stream from Chairs
5:10PM - 6:40PM
Drinks Reception
8:00AM - 9:00AM
Registration and Refreshments
Day 2 - Energy Buyer Stream
Track:
Day 2 - Energy Buyer Stream
9:15AM - 10:00AM
Behind-the-Meter PPAs: Unlocking On-Site Value in a Complex Landscape
Behind-the-meter PPAs offer corporates direct access to renewable energy and cost savings, but come with unique challenges—from spatial constraints and bespoke contracting to capital intensity and regulatory uncertainty. This session explores how developers, corporates, and financiers are navigating these complexities to unlock the full potential of on-site generation and storage.
- Maximizing limited space, integrating storage, and aligning generation with on-site consumption.
- Navigating bespoke legal frameworks, managing site access, and balancing risk between stakeholders.
- Mitigating risks from evolving grid tariffs, policy shifts, and connection requirements while maintaining financial returns.
Track:
Day 2 - Energy Buyer Stream
10:00AM - 11:00AM
Interactive Roundtables
Roundtable 1: Logistics: Cutting Scope 3 Emissions Across Supply Chains
Practical ways for logistics operators to track, reduce, and offset indirect emissions from fleets, warehouses, and distribution networks
Roundtable 2: Public Sector: Simplifying ESG & Energy Reporting
Step through actionable approaches for universities, hospitals, and local authorities to meet RE100, SBTi, and evolving government reporting requirements.
Roundtable 3: Data Centres: Onsite & Private Wire PPAs That Deliver - Hosted by Data Centre Alliance
How data centres can leverage onsite generation and private wire solutions to cut energy costs, secure renewable supply, and achieve 24/7 carbon-free energy.
Day 2 - Energy Generators/IPPs Stream
Track:
Day 2 - Energy Generators/IPPs Stream
9:15AM - 10:00AM
Unlocking Corporate Offtake
- The UK Government’s role in supporting CPPAs
- How BESS off-take strategies can facilitate deals
- Portfolio Optimisation to help CPPAs stack up with CfDs
Moderator
Track:
Day 2 - Energy Generators/IPPs Stream
10:00AM - 11:00AM
Interactive Roundtables
Roundtable 1: Technology: Maximising Impact with Hybrid PPAs
How companies can combine solar, wind, and battery solutions to optimise renewable portfolios, reduce costs, and accelerate net zero goals.
Roundtable 2: Manufacturing: Decarbonising Hard-to-Abate Operations
Practical strategies for manufacturers — chemicals, cement, and industrial production — to integrate renewables and hybrid PPAs to cut emissions and energy costs.
Roundtable 3: SMEs: Making Renewables Work Without Breaking the Bank - Hosted By Ben Martin
How small and medium businesses can access renewable energy, manage cost exposure, and scale sustainability initiatives with minimal complexity.
11:00AM - 11:30AM
Morning Networking Break
Day 2 - Energy Buyer Stream
Track:
Day 2 - Energy Buyer Stream
11:30AM - 12:10PM
Buying Green Under Pressure: The Public Sector PPA Challenge
Public sector bodies face a uniquely complex path to procuring renewable power. From strict procurement rules and CfD market distortions to rising PPA prices and tightening budgets, this session unpacks the real-world challenges public buyers encounter and how they are navigating affordability, fairness, and net zero commitments.
- The procurement and governance constraints that shape how public sector organisations can engage in the PPA market.
- The tension between the CfD and PPA markets, including pricing dynamics, bidder behaviour, and implications for public value.
- The evolving business case for public sector PPAs, balancing cost pressures, CPI-linked pricing, wholesale forecasts, and environmental and social value obligations.
Track:
Day 2 - Energy Buyer Stream
12:10PM - 12:40PM
Energy Procurement Reimagined: Investor Insights, PPA Strategy & Service Evolution
This session unpacks the essential elements of successful energy procurement, from crafting robust strategies and structuring PPAs for high-load operations like data centres, to understanding what drives infrastructure investment and how energy services are evolving to meet tomorrow's demands.
- What does good customer service look like in energy today?
- How we frame energy strategy for corporate clients
- An infrastructure investor's perspective on energy investments
- PPAs, data centres, and commercial operations
- How will energy services evolve?
Day 2 - Energy Generators/IPPs Stream
Track:
Day 2 - Energy Generators/IPPs Stream
11:30AM - 12:00PM
Grid Delays and PPA Strategy: De-risking Renewable Procurement in a Constrained Market
Grid capacity and connection delays directly impact PPA availability, pricing, and project delivery timelines, critical factors for both energy buyers securing long-term renewable supply and sellers bringing projects to market. This panel examines the outcomes of recent grid reforms, analysing how connection challenges affect PPA deal flow, contract structures, and risk allocation. Experts will discuss what buyers and sellers need to know about grid constraints, how to navigate connection delays in PPA negotiations, and emerging strategies to de-risk projects and accelerate clean energy procurement in line with Clean Power 2030.
- Understand how grid capacity constraints and connection delays impact PPA pricing, availability, and contract terms.
- Identify which regions and technologies face over- or under-capacity, and how this affects buyer sourcing strategies and seller project pipelines.
- Explore practical risk mitigation strategies for buyers and sellers navigating grid uncertainty in PPA negotiations and project development.
- Discuss how buyers can structure PPAs to account for connection delays, and how sellers can improve project bankability despite grid challenges.
Track:
Day 2 - Energy Generators/IPPs Stream
12:00PM - 12:40PM
Unlocking Premium Value: How Co-Located Battery Storage Transforms Renewable PPAs
Co-located Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are transforming renewable PPA economics by converting intermittent generation into firmer, higher-value delivery profiles. By storing excess energy and discharging during peak demand, BESS addresses solar cannibalisation, reduces curtailment, and enables premium pricing. This session explores commercial and contracting strategies from fully bundled hybrid PPAs to partial flexibility arrangements and examines how market characteristics determine the storage premium across different geographies.
- How to leverage co-located BESS to transform intermittent renewable output into firmer, higher-value delivery profiles by shifting energy to peak-demand periods, reducing cannibalisation and curtailment, and capturing premium PPA pricing
- How to structure hybrid renewable-storage contracts including fully bundled PPAs versus partial bundling approaches, and navigate the risk-return trade-offs for developers, offtakers, and financiers
12:40PM - 2:00PM
Networking Lunch Break
2:00PM - 2:45PM
Powering AI: How Data Centre Energy Demand Is Reshaping the UK Grid
Ofgem has revealed that 140 data centres are seeking grid connections requiring 50GW of peak capacity—five times higher than government forecasts and far exceeding even the most ambitious demand projections. With 71 "mature" projects (20GW) already prioritized for connections, renewable energy developers face a critical challenge: competing for limited grid capacity against power-hungry data centres that could squeeze out clean energy projects and derail the UK's 2030 clean power targets. This session examines the implications for renewable developers and the urgent need for grid connection reform.
- The 50GW pipeline, priority connection status for data centres, and how this unprecedented demand compares to renewable energy grid connection needs
- How data centre projects are potentially crowding out solar, wind, and storage developments in the connections queue, delaying decarbonisation and threatening the 2030 clean power target
- Navigating Ofgem's proposed reforms including developer-funded connections, application fees to prioritize viable projects, and ensuring renewable energy maintains access to grid infrastructure
2:45PM - 3:30PM
Energy Security 2.0: Wind, Solar, Storage, and the Path to Reliable Energy
Wind now delivers around 37% of UK electricity, and solar is scaling rapidly, reducing reliance on imports. Yet intermittency, grid congestion, and infrastructure delays remain critical challenges for cost and reliability. This session explores what true energy security looks like today and how the system is evolving to meet demand.
- How wind and solar are reshaping exposure to price volatility and imbalance risk
- Where investment in generation and storage is improving system reliability and where gaps remain
- The impact of grid constraints and workforce shortages on delivery and cost
3:30PM - 3:30PM
