Sector: Renewables

By Myrna Rickards
April 30th 2025

Building Green Britain – The projects we need, in a culture that delivers Highlight Report

 

As Britain moves towards a greener future, the infrastructure we build today will shape the sustainability of tomorrow, but delivering major projects successfully isn’t just about what we construct, it’s about how we do it. This virtual seminar brings together industry leaders, project professionals, and sustainability experts to explore the critical projects driving the green transition and the cultural shifts needed to ensure their success.

Join us on Wednesday 30 April, for a dynamic discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing major projects in the UK. From strategic policy changes and infrastructure investment to practical tools for embedding sustainability, this event will provide valuable insights into the future of project delivery. Through expert talks, interactive discussions, and knowledge-sharing, we’ll examine the big questions: What must change? How do we scale sustainability? And what role can each of us play in making it happen?

Be part of the conversation that will shape Britain’s sustainable future. Register now and join us!

Our Sustainability themed events are open to non-members of the Association. If you are a non-member and would like to attend this event, please contact mpa@majorprojects.org to set up your registration.

By Myrna Rickards
April 30th 2025

Building Green Britain – The projects we need, in a culture that delivers Full Report

 

As Britain moves towards a greener future, the infrastructure we build today will shape the sustainability of tomorrow, but delivering major projects successfully isn’t just about what we construct, it’s about how we do it. This virtual seminar brings together industry leaders, project professionals, and sustainability experts to explore the critical projects driving the green transition and the cultural shifts needed to ensure their success.

Join us on Wednesday 30 April, for a dynamic discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing major projects in the UK. From strategic policy changes and infrastructure investment to practical tools for embedding sustainability, this event will provide valuable insights into the future of project delivery. Through expert talks, interactive discussions, and knowledge-sharing, we’ll examine the big questions: What must change? How do we scale sustainability? And what role can each of us play in making it happen?

Be part of the conversation that will shape Britain’s sustainable future. Register now and join us!

Our Sustainability themed events are open to non-members of the Association. If you are a non-member and would like to attend this event, please contact mpa@majorprojects.org to set up your registration.

By Jonathan Norman
November 10th 2016

UK Energy Approach to 2025 – getting major projects moving Full Report

The UK energy sector is in a period of uncertainty that is stifling investment and preventing major projects from moving forwards. As politicians attempt to unravel the implications of leaving the EU, the energy sector continues to battle with tight reserve margins and low investor confidence. But there is no doubt that investment is needed in both generating capacity and new revolutionary approaches to transmission and system management. At this full day seminar the Major Projects Association considers the measures that could be implemented to ensure that the UK moves forward on new energy investments and maintains a leading technical position in a world that is heading towards a digital energy revolution.

The likely topics to be covered:

– Policy – The impact of new Department for Business, Energy and Industry.
– Political overview – The impact of Brexit upon the single market; Renewables policy.
– Generation – What is the optimum approach for the UK nuclear power projects? Potential and barriers to the use of SMRs? What can be done to support the sector and ensure that hydropower, wind and solar schemes can come to fruition?
– Smart Power* – The impact of Virtual energy storage and Network development.
– Finance – How can (and should) the UK plug the energy investment gap to get much needed finance for generation and distribution? Which projects and sectors are in most need of financial incentives?

* Delegates may wish to read the NIC’s recent report on Smart Power which can be found via this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/505218/IC_Energy_Report_web.pdf

By Jonathan Norman
November 10th 2016

UK Energy Approach to 2025 – getting major projects moving Highlight Report

The UK energy sector is in a period of uncertainty that is stifling investment and preventing major projects from moving forwards. As politicians attempt to unravel the implications of leaving the EU, the energy sector continues to battle with tight reserve margins and low investor confidence. But there is no doubt that investment is needed in both generating capacity and new revolutionary approaches to transmission and system management. At this full day seminar the Major Projects Association considers the measures that could be implemented to ensure that the UK moves forward on new energy investments and maintains a leading technical position in a world that is heading towards a digital energy revolution.

The likely topics to be covered:

– Policy – The impact of new Department for Business, Energy and Industry.
– Political overview – The impact of Brexit upon the single market; Renewables policy.
– Generation – What is the optimum approach for the UK nuclear power projects? Potential and barriers to the use of SMRs? What can be done to support the sector and ensure that hydropower, wind and solar schemes can come to fruition?
– Smart Power* – The impact of Virtual energy storage and Network development.
– Finance – How can (and should) the UK plug the energy investment gap to get much needed finance for generation and distribution? Which projects and sectors are in most need of financial incentives?

* Delegates may wish to read the NIC’s recent report on Smart Power which can be found via this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/505218/IC_Energy_Report_web.pdf

By Jonathan Norman
November 10th 2016

UK Energy Approach to 2025 – getting major projects moving Short Report

The UK energy sector is in a period of uncertainty that is stifling investment and preventing major projects from moving forwards. As politicians attempt to unravel the implications of leaving the EU, the energy sector continues to battle with tight reserve margins and low investor confidence. But there is no doubt that investment is needed in both generating capacity and new revolutionary approaches to transmission and system management. At this full day seminar the Major Projects Association considers the measures that could be implemented to ensure that the UK moves forward on new energy investments and maintains a leading technical position in a world that is heading towards a digital energy revolution.

The likely topics to be covered:

– Policy – The impact of new Department for Business, Energy and Industry.
– Political overview – The impact of Brexit upon the single market; Renewables policy.
– Generation – What is the optimum approach for the UK nuclear power projects? Potential and barriers to the use of SMRs? What can be done to support the sector and ensure that hydropower, wind and solar schemes can come to fruition?
– Smart Power* – The impact of Virtual energy storage and Network development.
– Finance – How can (and should) the UK plug the energy investment gap to get much needed finance for generation and distribution? Which projects and sectors are in most need of financial incentives?

* Delegates may wish to read the NIC’s recent report on Smart Power which can be found via this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/505218/IC_Energy_Report_web.pdf

By Jonathan Norman
November 11th 2015

Energy Sector Transformations for a Low Oil-price world Full Report

After a 5 year period of unprecedented stability, global oil prices appear to have re-entered their normal commodity price cycle with a fall from over $100 to less than $60 in the last 15 months, with most predicting that prices will stay lower for longer than in the last price downturn in 2008. There have been at least 5 similar price fall events in the last 30 years, but will the response of the energy sector and host governments be different this time?

Energy sector investment plans are being scaled back with most companies significantly reducing, their capital investment programmes in new projects by an average reduction of approximately 30%. At the same time Operators are seeking to drive deflation into both capital and cash costs to secure competitive returns to investors and to shore up weakened balance sheets. Key questions facing the energy sector are:

1) What are the short and longer term impacts of this for Governments, Operators, and the Supply Chain?
2) Will there be a ‘mind-set’ shift to a drive for standardization on industry-led development project solutions, and will the sector learn how to collaborate more efficiently and effectively together (e.g. on technology, resource access, engineering process and solutions) to deliver more consistent competitive investment returns performance to shareholders and stakeholders?
3) Will the energy sector use the current price environment to re-invent itself as more efficient and less wasteful against a backdrop of still needing to be able to manage big risks in exchange for preferential returns?
4) Is today’s low price environment the catalyst the energy sector needs to address reform and evolution of energy sector practices and behaviours that could deliver more consistent and competitive long run performance?

Members from all sectors are encouraged to attend this seminar which will be addressing the topic of organisational and sectoral transformation within an environment of budget cuts.

Event timings 9.00 – 16.30. Detailed programme to follow.

By Jonathan Norman
November 11th 2015

Energy Sector Transformations for a Low Oil-price world Highlight Report

After a 5 year period of unprecedented stability, global oil prices appear to have re-entered their normal commodity price cycle with a fall from over $100 to less than $60 in the last 15 months, with most predicting that prices will stay lower for longer than in the last price downturn in 2008. There have been at least 5 similar price fall events in the last 30 years, but will the response of the energy sector and host governments be different this time?

Energy sector investment plans are being scaled back with most companies significantly reducing, their capital investment programmes in new projects by an average reduction of approximately 30%. At the same time Operators are seeking to drive deflation into both capital and cash costs to secure competitive returns to investors and to shore up weakened balance sheets. Key questions facing the energy sector are:

1) What are the short and longer term impacts of this for Governments, Operators, and the Supply Chain?
2) Will there be a ‘mind-set’ shift to a drive for standardization on industry-led development project solutions, and will the sector learn how to collaborate more efficiently and effectively together (e.g. on technology, resource access, engineering process and solutions) to deliver more consistent competitive investment returns performance to shareholders and stakeholders?
3) Will the energy sector use the current price environment to re-invent itself as more efficient and less wasteful against a backdrop of still needing to be able to manage big risks in exchange for preferential returns?
4) Is today’s low price environment the catalyst the energy sector needs to address reform and evolution of energy sector practices and behaviours that could deliver more consistent and competitive long run performance?

Members from all sectors are encouraged to attend this seminar which will be addressing the topic of organisational and sectoral transformation within an environment of budget cuts.

Event timings 9.00 – 16.30. Detailed programme to follow.

By Jonathan Norman
November 11th 2015

Energy Sector Transformations for a Low Oil-price world Short Report

After a 5 year period of unprecedented stability, global oil prices appear to have re-entered their normal commodity price cycle with a fall from over $100 to less than $60 in the last 15 months, with most predicting that prices will stay lower for longer than in the last price downturn in 2008. There have been at least 5 similar price fall events in the last 30 years, but will the response of the energy sector and host governments be different this time?

Energy sector investment plans are being scaled back with most companies significantly reducing, their capital investment programmes in new projects by an average reduction of approximately 30%. At the same time Operators are seeking to drive deflation into both capital and cash costs to secure competitive returns to investors and to shore up weakened balance sheets. Key questions facing the energy sector are:

1) What are the short and longer term impacts of this for Governments, Operators, and the Supply Chain?
2) Will there be a ‘mind-set’ shift to a drive for standardization on industry-led development project solutions, and will the sector learn how to collaborate more efficiently and effectively together (e.g. on technology, resource access, engineering process and solutions) to deliver more consistent competitive investment returns performance to shareholders and stakeholders?
3) Will the energy sector use the current price environment to re-invent itself as more efficient and less wasteful against a backdrop of still needing to be able to manage big risks in exchange for preferential returns?
4) Is today’s low price environment the catalyst the energy sector needs to address reform and evolution of energy sector practices and behaviours that could deliver more consistent and competitive long run performance?

Members from all sectors are encouraged to attend this seminar which will be addressing the topic of organisational and sectoral transformation within an environment of budget cuts.

Event timings 9.00 – 16.30. Detailed programme to follow.

By Jonathan Norman
May 12th 2011

The challenges of delivering renewable energy projects – using examples of offshore wind Full Report

Delivering Renewable Energy projects, especially those in an off-shore location has been with us for a number of years. Whilst not just limiting this to Wind Farms specifically, there are a number of options that exist which need to be analysed in order to allow the 2020 Carbon Reduction Targets and Vision of Zero Carbon to be achieved. The current energy policy appears not to acknowledge key issues of affordability and funding for renewable energy projects, and yet the scale of wind farms in particular provides new challenges for engineering and financing.

Through the direction of the Chair for the Event, we will see a strong holistic approach in how the National and European suppliers are exploring off-shore resources specifically how the “Source to Customer” issue is being addressed. We will hear from the Chair of the HSE how they intend to set the fundamentals of Policy and Strategy for Safety, this will provide the foundation for all that follows and underpin with a positive intent the way that these types of projects are delivered. Following this, we look again to government through DECC to share current thoughts on the Strategy for Financing and to outline the commercial opportunities that we know are currently being pursued. Pivotal will be the Policy and Strategy for Integration of the new ‘Super Grid’ with the existing National Grid and the author and developer of that Strategy will share his thoughts. Implementation of these projects, both from a technical and commercial viability standpoint is crucial and key messages will be shared to inform the overall analysis and discussion set against the Policies and Strategies that are being established.

Given the sheer scale of these projects (£150bn+), members from all sectors will be involved in the schemes’ development and delivery. Members will take away a very clear and valuable understanding on the current Policies and Strategies that will be in place and more specifically how they can work with this knowledge in positioning their organisations to help drive towards successful outcomes.

By Jonathan Norman
September 23rd 2009

27th Annual Conference, Sustaining the UK’s Energy – preparing for the big agenda Full Report

This conference begins at 18.45 hrs on 23rd September and concludes at 16.30 hrs on 24th September 2009. 30% of the UK energy generation capacity retires in the next 15 years, and we must find ways to replace this and add yet more capacity. Demand for power in the UK grows at 1% per year, equivalent to 800 wind turbines, or one nuclear plant every two years! This means several large scale generation projects will need to be built over the next two decades. New power generation facilities will require connection to the National Grid, which itself faces extreme challenges.

It has been estimated that the UK will have to find £200BN of investment over the next 40 years to fund the supply side. This presents serious challenges for resourcing, experience and expertise. Key issues for member organisations include significant challenges such as the scale of new facilities required, whether the UK is up to the challenge, obtaining consents and shortening initiation times, future prices of energy, carbon capture and storage, and many others.

Government, through last year’s Energy White Paper, has recognised the national importance of what faces us. But are we ready? What do our member organisations need to do now to facilitate this level of investment?

We will hear from experts covering matters such as the politics of low carbon energy, technical update on carbon capture, pathways to a low carbon future, re-engineering our delivery capability, pricing uncertainty, public acceptance and integrating with local communities, renewables’ quota, regulation, legal frameworks, and criticality of the national grid.

• You should attend this Conference because it provides you, and your organisation with an understanding of the business opportunities which will occur in the energy sector. This sector is projecting significant growth and capital outlay over the next 30 years and more, not just in the UK, but globally.

• You will be able to consider how this sector may impact on your organisation and how your top team should adjust to the opportunities and impacts ahead.

• Andrew McNaughton, Chief Operating Officer, Balfour Beatty, will sum up the day and provide delegates with some lessons to take away.