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NETWORK / 14 / DECEMBER 2019 / JANUARY 2020 EVENT PREVIEW The steep path to net-zero 2050 Meeting the challenge of 2050 is already top of the sector's agenda, and is likely to be in clear focus for the new government too. In February, at the Future Networks and Future of Heat conferences, the sector will have the chance to debate its response and the path ahead F ebruary brings twin conferences for the sector: the Future Networks event on 25 Febru - ary, followed by the Future of Heat on 26 February. The events will allow the sector to debate its response to the huge challenges it faces: the net-zero by 2050 target, combined with the ad - ditional pressure it has created ahead of the RIIO-2 regime, then the abandonment of natural gas and heat decarbonisation. Speaker David Watson, direc - tor of group strategic planning at Centrica, says the event will be about the "exchange of ideas". He tells Network: "No-one has a monopoly on the truth right now – it's through discussion, debate and dialogue at events like these that the answer will be found." Watson also says that the government's net-zero commit - ment has been a game-changer. "It makes it clear that all sectors, and all users of heat must decar- bonise. Beforehand, with an 80 per cent target, it was possible for some areas of the economy to assume they were in 'the 20 per cent'. Now everyone knows they need to take action, it focuses the mind on solutions." Programme for the future The Future Networks conference has a high calibre speaker list, including Akshay Kaul, direc- tor of network price controls, Ofgem; Frank Mitchell, chief ex- ecutive at Scottish Power Energy Networks; Helen Boyle, strategic decarbonisation manager at Electricity Northwest, Rob McDonald, managing director of transmission at SSEN. The day's agenda will ad - dress achieving the "extra 20 per cent" of the 2050 target in a tight price control environment; the regionalisation and localisa - tion of energy systems; and the growing importance of data and smart systems in network management. Speaker Chris Clarke, energy systems director at Wales and West Utilities, will discuss the changing role of the gas net - work as it becomes an "energy battery". A panel including speakers from National Grid, Northern Ireland's NIE Net - works, Western Power Distribu- tion and Keele University will discuss the sector's progress in establishing a smart, flexible energy system, and the implica - tions of low-carbon transport. Heated debate The next day, at the Future of Heat event covers the full range of decarbonisation strategies, including biomethane produc - tion, heat pumps, heat storage solutions, and how regulation can help to facilitate market development. Speakers will include experts from National Grid, SSE and E.On, as well as academia, government and the key representative bodies. Speaker Dr Tom Knowland, head of sustainable energy and climate change at Leeds City Council will be sharing an update on Leeds' own heat networks programme. As with its fellow energy innovator, Bristol City Council (see page 18), Leeds is highlighting the social justice aspect of reforming heat markets, and reducing fuel poverty. The event will also share an international awareness: the UK isn't facing this challenge alone. Knowland draws inspiration from Scandinavia, while Watson says that the Netherlands provides valuable templates. Centrica's David Watson: net-zero by 2050 has been a "game-changer" Dr Tom Knowland, head of sustain- able energy at Leeds City Council