Local authorities have key role to play in energy transition

“Local authorities have the power to act as positive disruptors and have a key role to play in the energy transition, which some may find surprising.”

That was the message Matthew Rhodes, chairman of Energy Capital, had for an audience at Utility Week Live at the NEC in Birmingham this week.

By way of explanation he cited the more focused nature of local economics, sensitive to culture, geography and community, and added the ability of local energy solutions to integrate with transport, construction, digital and health structures “far outstrips that of national government”.

In being more locally-focused, he argued decentralised energy propositions had greater scope for customer engagement, as he said “being local makes it so much more possible to build tailored, bespoke markets, as opposed to relying on finite government grants.”

Different technologies work better in different places too, he added, not simply in terms of geography (for example in the cases of solar and wind), but also dependant on the people, their history and culture.

He said national government solutions are “too slow, too far removed and less effective as they have to take a broader stance.”

“Local government are best-placed to lead, as they quite literally have to live with the consequences of their actions and decisions – the argument for decentralisation has never been stronger.”