Cambridge University Energy Network Conference 2026: Rethinking Energy for a Changing World

Join the Cambridge University Energy Network (CUEN) on Thursday 11 June 2026 for our 10th annual energy conference. Hosted in partnership with the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), Rethinking Energy for a Changing World is about navigating the friction between resource extraction, nature-based solutions, and the urgent need for a resilient, electrified economy. Our confirmed speakers include Octopus Energy, Gore Street Capital, Bloomberg NEF, Aurora Energy Research, NESO, IONATE and others. You can expect five sessions spanning the critical questions facing energy today: Session 1 | Setting the Scene A snapshot of 2026 energy dynamics — from tech-cost divergence to the AI power crunch. Do we double down on mature technologies or preserve capital for the next generation of breakthroughs? Session 2 | Bridge Fuel or Carbon Trap? Natural gas has moved from temporary fix to central pillar. Is this a necessary bridge to stability, or a dangerous detour that locks in emissions for decades? Session 3 | Three Tensions, One Story Interactive breakout groups tackling the physical, political, and ethical trade-offs of the green supply chain: Nature vs. Extraction, Geopolitics vs. Tech, and Equity vs. Speed. Session 4 | The New Era of Energy Capital The "easy wins" in renewable investing have passed. How is institutional capital evolving to solve the transition's most pressing hurdle — system integration? Session 5 | Scaling Local Innovation Spotlight on high-impact business innovation where key climate and energy challenges meet Cambridge-born solutions.