The Energy Crisis can be Averted Immediately!

Can we immediately reduce the costs of power and heat? Yes is the view of DEI Associate Fellow Dr Andrew Crossland and Professor Andrew Wright, who has held board-level positions at Ofgem. In this short talk and questions, the reasons why will be explored including how the markets can be used to immediately subdue this crisis.

The UK is in an extended and prolonged energy crisis which is exasperating entrenched poverty.  In this talk, Andrew and Andrew will look at measures the UK can enact immediate measures to reduce energy costs, inviting critical analysis from the audience and from each other.

The present policy to address the crisis sees taking on massive national debt to in effect subsidise energy companies and to burden consumers over the long term. This policy misses that the UK does not enjoy all of the benefits of domestic production, despite being a world leader in renewables and being a major gas extractor. Andrew and Andrew will look at whether electricity and gas prices can be decoupled from international markets, and show what impact and consequences that might have for UK households, business and public services. 

This will be a compelling talk by two industry leaders.

Dr Andrew Crossland is a low carbon energy specialist who has spent a decade working in the industry across three continents. He runs energy tracker MyGridGB.co.uk, was formerly Director of consultancy Advance Further Energy Ltd and is Associate Fellow of the DEI. Andrew has a PhD in energy storage for power networks from Durham University. He has developed first of a kind battery projects in the UK, East Africa, New Zealand and The Pacific.

Professor Andrew Wright is an independent energy consultant and a Professor in Practice at Durham University. He has over 30 years of experience in energy, including in industry, the City and as a regulator. Most recently he held board-level positions at Ofgem, the gas and electricity regulator for Great Britain.

Event:  Wednesday 12 October 2022, 6.30-7.30pm

Drinks reception: 7.30-8.15pm room PG21

Registration: via EventBrite for both in-person and online tickets, or by emailing lynn.gibson@durham.ac.uk

The Venue: The Pemberton Building, also known as the Pemberton Rooms, was designed by W. D Caroe in the Tudor style and built in 1929. In addition to housing lecture rooms, the Pemberton Building is also home to the Durham Union Society, one of the oldest student debating societies in the world, the Union Society was in established in 1842 and soon acquired a reputation for controversy. In 1914, for example, it pushed for women to have the right to vote – 14 years before universal suffrage.