Durham Energy Institute to welcome industry leaders and communities at landmark conference on renewable energy transition at restored Redhills.

The event which marks four decades since the end of the 1984/85 miners’ strike will showcase cutting-edge research on how Durham's rich industrial heritage can once again drive the region's transformation into a leader in clean energy. The communities of County Durham will be represented, with pioneering intergenerational workshops led by primary school children.

The conference will receive a range of keynote addresses from political, industry and academic leaders, including:

• Chris McDonald MP, Minister for Industry
• Chris Stark CBE - Head of UK's Mission for Clean Power at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, former CEO of the UK's Climate Change Committee
• Dr Fiona Hill, Chancellor of Durham University and Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, daughter of a County Durham coal miner

The conference will examine new opportunities to utilise Durham’s rich coal seams for a sustainable future, providing clean heating from mine water and new hydrogen technology for power, transport and energy storage. The future of offshore wind development, clean shipping and sustainable energy for the NHS will also be addressed by industry leaders and academics.

Energy Days 2025 will focus on the needs and aspirations of local communities, with workshops led by pupils from Prince Bishops Primary School, creative writing on climate crisis, and community energy consultations. It will also showcase the work of the Durham Energy Council, made up of 30 County Durham residents who have explored where our energy comes from and what we wish to pass on to future generations.

Professor Simone Abram, DEI Executive Director, said: 

"The Durham coalfield once powered a nation. Today, it holds remarkable potential for our clean energy future. This conference brings together world-leading research with the voices of communities who understand what transformation means. Together, we're charting a path that honours our industrial heritage while building a green, just future.”

Andrew McIntyre, CEO of Redhills said:

“This is a vital conference for the energy sector in County Durham and the United Kingdom. For many decades the Durham coalfields were recognised across the globe for world-leading innovation in coalmining. Forty years on from the strike, Redhills is focused on building a clean and just future for our communities, with new technology and sustainable energy, from our rich coalfield. This conference brings everyone together - young and old, industry leaders and local communities, inspired by the miners’ motto- ‘The Past We Inherit, The Future We Build’.”

Energy Days 2025 takes place 3-4 November 2025, 9:30am-6:00pm at Redhills Durham Miners Hall.

To register visit www.redhillsdurham.org/event/dei-conference or email dei.events@durham.ac.uk.