E-FWD coming to Hull with energy industry on ‘knife edge of opportunity’

Richard Gwilliam, Chamber Board Member and Director, Drax Group

Leading lights from the energy industry will descend on Hull next month for an event hosted by Energy Voice’s sister brand E-FWD.

‘E-FWD Hull: The knife edge of opportunity’ will feature eminent speakers including Dr Emma Guthrie, CEO of the hydrogen energy association, Remi Ahmed, senior associate at Pinsent Masons, Sven van den Bedem, the Humber expansion manager at the Northern Endurance Partnership and Drax director Richard Gwilliam.

The strategic briefing will be held at 2.30 pm at The Hull & Humber Chamber Expo 2026 event on June 2 at the Mercure Hull Grange Park Hotel.

A number of key questions will be under the microscope, including:

• How can the UK navigate between maintaining energy security and achieving net zero ambitions?
• What policy interventions could unlock stalled projects?
• Can traditional energy companies pivot successfully to renewables, or is this work better suited to new energy specialists?

Lively debate

E-FWD editor Ed Reed will be in hotseat and is looking forward to a lively debate.

“Renewable energy capacity, hydrocarbon opportunities and the UK’s evolving grid economics will all be on the agenda,” he explained.

“The UK energy sector stands at a critical juncture with the government focused on decarbonisation, including Clean Power 2030.

“However, energy transition projects face mounting challenges.”

Reed cited inflation, investor uncertainty, supply chain disruptions and grid connections as potential deal-breakers.

“As a result, major developers are scaling back investments, and a number of projects have been cut,” he said.

A delicate balancing act

It all comes as the hydrocarbon sector confronts its own issues.

Windfall taxes have undermined North Sea investment confidence, threatening thousands of jobs and energy security.

“Despite this domestic gas remains crucial for grid balancing and industrial needs,” Reed explained.

“This panel will examine the stark choices facing energy companies, investors, and policymakers.”

For more information, or to register for the event, click here.