Great engagement from our champions at the latest Energy & Utilities Action Group meeting, which focused on the group’s Energy and Water White Papers, as well as the Clean Energy South project.
The Action Group’s Chairs, Shaun Stevens and Sam Clough, provided an update on the Water and Energy White Papers, both of which are now in their final stages of development. These papers aim to reflect regional business needs and provide recommendations on how the region can become cleaner and more efficient. Once published on the Business South website, they will also be shared with regional MPs via a future All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Central South.
The session also welcomed Ben Asher from the University of Southampton, who is working on the Clean Energy South project. This research initiative is bringing together data, existing literature and stakeholder insights to produce a clear, practical report for policymakers and businesses. The report will focus on key themes including energy demand and capacity, the transition to renewable energy, and the role of regional collaboration in delivering change.
The project was well received by group members, who welcomed the opportunity to contribute their perspectives. Attendees and readers are encouraged to take part in a short survey to help ensure the report reflects real-world priorities and challenges across the sector: https://forms.gle/353jp1zZ811ymNma9
The meeting highlighted the importance of continued collaboration between industry, academia and policymakers to support the region’s transition to a more sustainable and resilient energy and water system.
