Where better to stage “The Energy Debate” than on Electric Boulevard, at Battersea Power Station? With the world in the midst of a complex energy transition, TEAM LEWIS brought together leading voices from policy, industry and communications to tackle one of the sector’s most pressing challenges: how to close the “inaction gap” and accelerate meaningful change.
Setting the scene
A keynote from The Rt Hon. The Lord Case CVO set the tone across trust, media, politics and what he calls ‘the great disconnect’ – the gap between the energy people use every day and any understanding of what it takes to deliver it. Mike Scott, a freelance journalist who regularly contributes to Reuters, guided the subsequent panel discussion.
“The energy transition is one of the most significant infrastructure challenges this country has faced since the post-war reconstruction. And just as we’re grappling with that, along comes artificial intelligence – potentially the most transformative technology since the internet – placing extraordinary new demands on the very system we’re trying to rebuild. It will only succeed. It can only succeed – if the public is on board.” – The Rt Hon. The Lord Case CVO
Meet the panel
- Steve Smith, Head of Communications and Thought Leadership for Energy Management, Schneider Electric
- Liza Gray, Commercial Marketing Strategy Director, EMEA and Power Markets, Lightsource BP
- Simon Harpin, Head of Policy, BEAMA
- Richard Thwaites, Executive Director and Head of UK, BW ESS
The inaction gap
The panel wasted no time addressing the “inaction gap” – the disconnect between public concern about energy issues and the lack of widespread behavioural change. Drawing on findings from the TEAM LEWIS Global Energy Literacy Index, the conversation revealed that while energy literacy is rising, trust in government and central authorities is at a low ebb. Consumers and industry leaders are equally anxious about costs, reliability and the pace of change, but many feel powerless to act.
Policy, trust and the path forward
Panellists debated the regulatory and physical barriers slowing the transition. Simon Harpin noted that technology needed to be seen as an investment while also noting the absence of regulation can lead to uncertainty. Liza Gray emphasised the importance of clear, targeted communication with engagement needing to start earlier and more locally. In her words, “there is a missing link between solar panels and charging your phone”, while Richard Thwaites called for less talk on high prices and more action.
Steve Smith brought the conversation back to consumer confidence, arguing that “people don’t want ideology and theory but real-life examples”. There was a lot of debate about the trust deficit. The Global Energy Literacy Index highlights that the majority of consumers (globally) do not trust their respective governments to manage energy pricing or supply fairly. This led the panel to debate how to rebuild trust, and whether industry needs to communicate more – with more cohesive narratives.
Reasons for optimism
Each panellist was asked to share a reason to be positive about the energy transition:
- Liza Gray pointed to the reality that there are lots of good success stories already. It’s the role of communicators to find them and tell those stories.
- Richard Thwaites highlighted that the UK has been a leader in this space for a long time. Lots of great companies are born here and will support the transition.
- Simon Harpin celebrated the fact that while we’re making good progress on power decarbonisation, there are still lots of quick wins consumers can make. He used the example of moving from an on / off heating model to temperature-controlled systems.
- Steve Smith ended with the sentiment that all the key topics we’re talking about are coming together, and 70% of the technology we need to reach net zero already exists. We just need to deploy it faster.
Final thoughts
The Energy Debate was a powerful reminder that the path to a sustainable, resilient energy future is not just about technology or policy: it’s about people, trust and communication. As the TEAM LEWIS Global Energy Literacy Index shows, the transition is well underway. The winners will be those who act boldly, communicate clearly, and bring everyone along the journey.
