10:00 Welcome and introduction from the chair
George Middlemiss, project manager, Regen
10:10 REACH: Rural Energy and Community Heat – progress and plans
Laurence Hunter, innovation engineer, National Grid
Matt Osborne, solutions manager, Passiv UK
James Whale, general manager, VEPOD
10:30 The role of our community partners
Jessica Hogan, project manager, Regen
10:35 A proposed tool providing options for projects in grid-constrained areas.
Gary Swandells, director, Smart Grid Consultancy
10:45 Q&A
Attendees are invited to stay on the call for a 15-minute Q&A
11:00 Close
10:00 Welcome and introduction from the chair
George Middlemiss, project manager, Regen
10:10 REACH: Rural Energy and Community Heat – progress and plans
Laurence Hunter, innovation engineer, National Grid
Matt Osborne, solutions manager, Passiv UK
James Whale, general manager, VEPOD
10:30 The role of our community partners
Jessica Hogan, project manager, Regen
10:35 A proposed tool providing options for projects in grid-constrained areas.
Gary Swandells, director, Smart Grid Consultancy
10:45 Q&A
Attendees are invited to stay on the call for a 15-minute Q&A
11:00 Close
10:00 Welcome and introduction from the chair
George Middlemiss, project manager, Regen
10:10 REACH: Rural Energy and Community Heat – progress and plans
Laurence Hunter, innovation engineer, National Grid
Matt Osborne, solutions manager, Passiv UK
James Whale, general manager, VEPOD
10:30 The role of our community partners
Jessica Hogan, project manager, Regen
10:35 A proposed tool providing options for projects in grid-constrained areas.
Gary Swandells, director, Smart Grid Consultancy
10:45 Q&A
Attendees are invited to stay on the call for a 15-minute Q&A
11:00 Close
The ESN Winter Conference served as a platform for key industry players and policymakers to come together and engage in debate over what’s needed to attract the billions of investments required for this crucial asset class – from supportive policy and regulatory frameworks, shifting revenue strategies, and evolving business models.
We now have over 3.3 GW and 4.1 GWh of battery storage operational and GWs in construction. Grid-scale electricity storage is well-established as key to a zero-carbon energy system, a testament to the success of our 85+ Electricity Storage Network members.
We heard directly from ESN members and key decision-makers – from DESNZ, Ofgem and National Grid ESO – on the latest changes across a range of topics critical to the storage sector, including the Balancing Mechanism, grid connections, fire safety, and long-duration energy storage policy development. This was also an opportunity to learn about the ESN’s work to ensure policy, markets and regulation are geared to enable the storage sector to flourish and grow at the pace and scale required.
This replaces the Electricity Storage Network (ESN) Annual Conference usually held every January, established as one of the most popular industry events in the calendar leading the debate on the future of grid scale electricity storage.
10:00 Welcome and introduction from the chair
George Middlemiss, project manager, Regen
10:10 REACH: Rural Energy and Community Heat – progress and plans
Laurence Hunter, innovation engineer, National Grid
Matt Osborne, solutions manager, Passiv UK
James Whale, general manager, VEPOD
10:30 The role of our community partners
Jessica Hogan, project manager, Regen
10:35 A proposed tool providing options for projects in grid-constrained areas.
Gary Swandells, director, Smart Grid Consultancy
10:45 Q&A
Attendees are invited to stay on the call for a 15-minute Q&A
11:00 Close
10:00 Welcome and introduction from the chair
George Middlemiss, project manager, Regen
10:10 REACH: Rural Energy and Community Heat – progress and plans
Laurence Hunter, innovation engineer, National Grid
Matt Osborne, solutions manager, Passiv UK
James Whale, general manager, VEPOD
10:30 The role of our community partners
Jessica Hogan, project manager, Regen
10:35 A proposed tool providing options for projects in grid-constrained areas.
Gary Swandells, director, Smart Grid Consultancy
10:45 Q&A
Attendees are invited to stay on the call for a 15-minute Q&A
11:00 Close
10:00 Welcome and introduction from the chair
George Middlemiss, project manager, Regen
10:10 REACH: Rural Energy and Community Heat – progress and plans
Laurence Hunter, innovation engineer, National Grid
Matt Osborne, solutions manager, Passiv UK
James Whale, general manager, VEPOD
10:30 The role of our community partners
Jessica Hogan, project manager, Regen
10:35 A proposed tool providing options for projects in grid-constrained areas.
Gary Swandells, director, Smart Grid Consultancy
10:45 Q&A
Attendees are invited to stay on the call for a 15-minute Q&A
11:00 Close
This annual event is a platform for key industry players and policymakers to gather and debate what’s needed to attract the billions of pounds of investment required for this crucial asset class – from supportive policy and regulatory frameworks to shifting revenue strategies and evolving business models.
10:00 Welcome and introduction from the chair
George Middlemiss, project manager, Regen
10:10 REACH: Rural Energy and Community Heat – progress and plans
Laurence Hunter, innovation engineer, National Grid
Matt Osborne, solutions manager, Passiv UK
James Whale, general manager, VEPOD
10:30 The role of our community partners
Jessica Hogan, project manager, Regen
10:35 A proposed tool providing options for projects in grid-constrained areas.
Gary Swandells, director, Smart Grid Consultancy
10:45 Q&A
Attendees are invited to stay on the call for a 15-minute Q&A
11:00 Close
10:00 Welcome and introduction from the chair
George Middlemiss, project manager, Regen
10:10 REACH: Rural Energy and Community Heat – progress and plans
Laurence Hunter, innovation engineer, National Grid
Matt Osborne, solutions manager, Passiv UK
James Whale, general manager, VEPOD
10:30 The role of our community partners
Jessica Hogan, project manager, Regen
10:35 A proposed tool providing options for projects in grid-constrained areas.
Gary Swandells, director, Smart Grid Consultancy
10:45 Q&A
Attendees are invited to stay on the call for a 15-minute Q&A
11:00 Close
10:00 Welcome and introduction from the chair
George Middlemiss, project manager, Regen
10:10 REACH: Rural Energy and Community Heat – progress and plans
Laurence Hunter, innovation engineer, National Grid
Matt Osborne, solutions manager, Passiv UK
James Whale, general manager, VEPOD
10:30 The role of our community partners
Jessica Hogan, project manager, Regen
10:35 A proposed tool providing options for projects in grid-constrained areas.
Gary Swandells, director, Smart Grid Consultancy
10:45 Q&A
Attendees are invited to stay on the call for a 15-minute Q&A
11:00 Close
The Electricity Storage Network, managed by Regen, is an industry group and voice for grid-scale electricity storage in GB
10:00 Welcome and introduction from the chair
George Middlemiss, project manager, Regen
10:10 REACH: Rural Energy and Community Heat – progress and plans
Laurence Hunter, innovation engineer, National Grid
Matt Osborne, solutions manager, Passiv UK
James Whale, general manager, VEPOD
10:30 The role of our community partners
Jessica Hogan, project manager, Regen
10:35 A proposed tool providing options for projects in grid-constrained areas.
Gary Swandells, director, Smart Grid Consultancy
10:45 Q&A
Attendees are invited to stay on the call for a 15-minute Q&A
11:00 Close
10:00 Welcome and introduction from the chair
George Middlemiss, project manager, Regen
10:10 REACH: Rural Energy and Community Heat – progress and plans
Laurence Hunter, innovation engineer, National Grid
Matt Osborne, solutions manager, Passiv UK
James Whale, general manager, VEPOD
10:30 The role of our community partners
Jessica Hogan, project manager, Regen
10:35 A proposed tool providing options for projects in grid-constrained areas.
Gary Swandells, director, Smart Grid Consultancy
10:45 Q&A
Attendees are invited to stay on the call for a 15-minute Q&A
11:00 Close
10:00 Welcome and introduction from the chair
George Middlemiss, project manager, Regen
10:10 REACH: Rural Energy and Community Heat – progress and plans
Laurence Hunter, innovation engineer, National Grid
Matt Osborne, solutions manager, Passiv UK
James Whale, general manager, VEPOD
10:30 The role of our community partners
Jessica Hogan, project manager, Regen
10:35 A proposed tool providing options for projects in grid-constrained areas.
Gary Swandells, director, Smart Grid Consultancy
10:45 Q&A
Attendees are invited to stay on the call for a 15-minute Q&A
11:00 Close
If you're not sure which membership option is best for you, reach out to our stakeholder manager, Hannah Stanley.
Contact HannahIf you're not sure which membership option is best for you, reach out to our stakeholder manager, Hannah Stanley.
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Since joining Regen, Jessica's research has focused on community energy and achieving a just transition. She is particularly passionate about finding avenues to more meaningfully engage and bring communities along on the net zero journey.
Jessica holds a PhD in geography and sustainable development from the University of St Andrews, where she demonstrated how community ownership and local context influence acceptance of onshore wind energy projects in Scotland and Newfoundland, Canada. Drawing on this background, she leads Regen's stakeholder research support team, providing support and methodological guidance to ensure high-quality stakeholder research across projects.
When not working, Jessica can be found outside – usually spending time by the sea or hiking in the hills.
George plays a key role in Regen's support for community energy organisations and efforts to advance opportunities for localised energy solutions.
George leads work supporting Distribution Network Operators with the delivery of community energy engagement programmes – and leading Regen’s involvement with REACH (an innovation project funded by the Strategic Innovation Fund). George’s work also includes running online and in-person events, collating and writing quarterly newsletters and supporting the delivery of community energy funding.
George plays a significant role in the Devon Community Energy Network, supporting local community energy organisations in developing their expertise, sharing knowledge, and collaborating.
Before joining Regen, George studied sustainability at the University of Leeds and graduated in 2019. George’s previous professional experience has included working for a start-up energy supplier and a social housing provider.
A huge congratulations goes to all those shortlisted for the 2024 Green Energy Awards.
