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Follow undergraduate student Maria Ahmed as she reflects on how the British Institute of Energy Economic Conference provides valuable insights for her studies and future career.
Fueling my ambitions for a career in energy
As a student interested in pursuing a career in sustainability, hearing directly from professionals is invaluable for deeply enhancing my understanding of the real-world challenges facing the industry. I'm Maria Ahmed, an undergraduate student on the Sustainable Built Environments, Energy and Resources BSc going into my second year on the course. At this point, I'm still unsure what career I'd like to puruse, although the multidisciplinary nature of the course allows me to explore various different paths within sustainability. In fact, that is the reason I chose to study on the course; I can appreciate the intersection of environmental impact with various sectors including the built environment and technology. So far, the course has provided me with a solid foundation in environmental, social and governance issues, as well as a comprehensive understanding of sustainable systems in buildings and cities.
Why I jumped at the chance to attend the 2024 BIEE conference
On 18 September 2024, I had the unique opportunity, due to sponsorship from UCL, to enhance my learnings on the course by attending the British Institute of Energy Economics (BIEE) conference on ‘Delivering the energy transition: Pace over perfection’ with my two friends on the course, Elliana and Rachel. This conference aimed to address crucial decisions necessary in the short-term to meet net zero targets, and tackled urgent questions on the energy transition - the global shift from reliance on fossil fuels to sustainable energy practices through integration of renewable energy sources like wind, solar and biomass into our existing systems.
Insights, innovations, and inspiring talks
One panel discussed the complexity of navigating net zero through policy. It highlighted the the gap between policy design and execution, a challenge to the pace of the energy transition that I did not fully understand before attending the conference. Panelists emphasised the difficulty in balancing political support, investment and practical implementation, which poses a significant barrier to achieving the ambitious net zero targets for 2030 and requires complex co-ordination across sectors.
Bringing conference knowledge back to the classroom
In addition to policy challenges, the conference featured panel debates on attracting private investment and strategic planning within the UK energy system. The panelists stressed the need for private sector involvement to finance the development of energy infrastructure, highlighting the need for private investment in developing technologies to accelerate the pace of the energy transition. These discussions around policy, investment and planning linked directly to the key concepts from my Year 1 modules on the 'Environmental and Resource Economics and Sustainable Policy: Principles and Practice' module which introduced key concepts such as cost-benefit analysis and the role of government regulation, which were relevant in the conference's discussion on the necessity of private sector investment in sustainable technologies. Similarly, the 'Sustainable Policy: Principles and Practice' module focused on evaluating the effectiveness of policy frameworks, which linked to the discussions on the importance of coordination across sectors to bridge the gap between policy design and execution.
Why every student should experience a conference like BIEE
Attending the British Institute of Energy Economics conference provided me with a deep insight into the diverse challenges of the energy industry, which plays a critical role in the private and public sector sustainability efforts. It was inspiring to interact in a space with industry professionals who are at the forefront of the energy transition and tackling real-world challenges. This experience has reinforced my interest in sustainable energy systems and has made me consider careers in the energy industry, where I can contribute to overcoming the challenges discussed at the conference.
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