Conference

IGEM Policy Conference 2026

9:30am – 4:30pm BST 1 July 2026 + Add to calendar London No 11 Cavendish Square Free for IGEM members
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08.45  

Registration

09.30

Welcome and Introduction
Darren Elsom, IGEM President 
09.40

Keynote Speech
Claire Dykta, Director of Strategy and Policy, NESO

10.00

Session 1 – Demand-Side Flexibility
Chaired by Sarah Williams, Special Adviser - Strategy & Regulation, SGN

 

Gas-powered data centres - a flexibility opportunity for the energy system?
James Earl, Chief Executive Officer, Future Energy Networks

 

How one hundred hybrid heat pumps can balance the local electricity grid
Josja Roest, Director Corporate Affairs, Rheem

 

Panel Question and Answer

11.15

Refreshments

11.45

Session 2 – Hydrogen Blending and Hydrogen Networks
Chaired by Sikander Mahmood, Operational Transition Project Manager, Cadent

 

Hydrogen Blending: Commercial Readiness Temperature Check
Tommy Isaac, Director, Energy and Natural Resources, KPMG
 

Pragmatic Progress
Luke Rowlands, Director of Business Development, Natural Gas

 

Hynet - decarbonising industry and power in the Northwest
Dr Angela Needle, Director of Strategy, Cadent

 

Panel Question and Answer

13.00

Lunch

14.00

Session 3 – Unlocking Biomethane: Energy & Agriculture - Panel Discussion
Chaired by Charles McAllister, Director, Green Gas Force

 

Panel Members
Sian Hamson, UK Supply Chain Sustainability Senior Manager, PepsiCo
Lucy Hopwood, Principal Consultant and Director, Alder Bioinsights
Chris Huhne, ADBA Chair, Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association
Dr Nick Primmer, Head of Policy and ESG, Future Biogas
15.00 Refreshments
 
15.15 Session 4 - Whole System Cost
Chaired by Oliver Lancaster, Chief Executive Officer, IGEM
 
  The potential for biomethane in the energy transition
Tom Carlucci-Davies, Senior Manager, Baringa
 
  The role and value of biomethane in supporting the 2050 GB net-zero energy system
Professor Goran Strbac, Chair in Electrical Energy Systems, Imperial College London
 
  Presentation title tbc
Dr David Joffe, Expert Adviser, Clean Power Unit, DESNZ
 
  Panel Question and Answer
 

 

Closing Remarks
Darren Elsom, IGEM President
16.30

Depart