The UK’s electricity sector is at the heart of the nation’s transition to net zero. Meeting climate goals while ensuring energy security and affordability presents a complex set of challenges — and requires fresh thinking, joined-up systems approaches, and deep collaboration between policymakers, academics, and industry.
To support this ambition, the Environmental Change Institute (ECI) in partnership with Eclipse Power, hosted a two-day, high-level workshop at Oriel College, Oxford. The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders from across the energy sector to map challenges, share insights, and co-design potential solutions for a resilient and decarbonised electricity grid.
Dr Jan Rosenow, Energy Programme Leader at the ECI, said:
Preparing the electricity grid for a net zero world is one of the most important and complex challenges the energy sector faces today.
Through the workshop ECI, Oriel College and Eclipse brought together a diverse set of people with very different perspectives. When you put grid operators, renewable energy developers, regulators and academics in the same room magic happens and novel ideas emerge.”
Tackling complex systems with collaborative tools
The workshop was built around two innovative, participatory methods: systems mapping and role playing.
On day one, participants worked together to develop a causal systems map of the UK’s electricity grid and net zero landscape. This shared visual tool helps identify key drivers, relationships, and pressure points within the system — providing a foundation for informed, coordinated action.
Day two shifted focus to a legislative theatre exercise. Participants took on different stakeholder roles — from regulators to grid operators to consumers — and explored how policy decisions and competing priorities intersect in practice. This immersive experience highlighted the complexity of real-world decision-making and the importance of cross-sector understanding.
Outcomes and next steps
The workshop aimed to build a shared understanding of the UK's current position, critical challenges, and potential pathways forward.
Outputs from the event will include:
- A shared system map of the UK electricity grid and net zero system
- A contextual report capturing key themes and insights
- Editable versions of the system map tailored to stakeholder needs
- A script and reflections from the legislative theatre activity
These resources will help inform future policy discussions and provide a practical foundation for follow-up engagement.
A cross-sector initiative
Participants included academic experts, senior policymakers, regulators, and representatives from across the energy industry. The event was co-convened by Professor Michael Obersteiner, Director of the ECI, and Professor Jan Rosenow, Energy Programme lead at the ECI and also Director of European Programs at the Regulatory Assistance Project, with organisational support from Eclipse Power.
The Environmental Change Institute is pleased to support this initiative and looks forward to helping amplify the insights and outcomes from the workshop.