Leaders from government, industry and cutting-edge research gathered in South Yorkshire for a landmark summit showcasing the region's pivotal role in the nation’s journey to becoming a clean energy superpower.

Hundreds of delegates from across South Yorkshire and beyond joined the UK Clean Energy Summit 2025, hosted by the University of Sheffield and its Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), at the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham on 12 September.

With the Summit focussed on accelerating the journey to net-zero while capitalising on clean energy’s potential to boost the economy, create jobs and attract investment, Secretary of State for Energy, Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband set the tone with a special video message:

“My single most important message is that I accept your invitation to work with you to seize the huge opportunities clean energy presents in South Yorkshire, and indeed our country as a whole,” he said.

“Our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower is about delivering energy security, lower bills and the good jobs and growth that we know people want, and protecting our home for our children and grandchildren.”

With opening addresses from University of Sheffield Vice-Chancellor Professor Koen Lamberts and South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard, the summit delved into key challenges and opportunities in the clean energy sector. 

Professor Lamberts said: “The government has a clear mission: to cement our country’s position as a global clean energy superpower. But this isn't just about hitting a net-zero target. It is about seizing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to turbocharge national and regional growth. To create high-value jobs, build thriving businesses and attract significant investment.

“Everyone in this room has a role to play in achieving that, and that is the focus of today. How can we maximise the power of collaboration to overcome challenges and turn our ambitions into reality?

“South Yorkshire may have powered the first industrial revolution with steel and coal, but it is now home to the largest clean-tech cluster in the UK. As a region, we stand ready to play our part in powering our country’s future growth and prosperity. And it is a role we take seriously at the University of Sheffield.”

Professor Lamberts also highlighted the many clean energy initiatives the University is leading or partnered in, which are already creating jobs and driving economic growth in the region and beyond. These projects span a range of areas, including sustainable aviation fuels, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen, and small modular reactors.

Ben Morgan, interim CEO at the AMRC, said: “When we set out to organise the UK Clean Energy Summit, our focus was on leveraging this once-in-a-lifetime clean energy mission to deliver tangible impact: more and better jobs, greater investment and a more prosperous future for the next generation.

“The summit has proven that the North has the assets, the skilled workforce and the ambition to be the engine of this new green industrial revolution. 

“This is not the time for business-as-usual approaches but rather an extraordinary collaborative effort to translate that ambition into action, ensuring our supply chains are prepared, our skill pathways are robust and our communities can capture the full economic benefits of this moment.”

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard praised the University and its AMRC for working “hand-in-hand” with industry to help develop and build the future of clean energy, while reiterating the importance of the sense of dignity and purpose that good jobs and a thriving economy can bring.

“Today, as we gather to shape the next chapter of the UK's clean energy journey, I just want to leave you with this: now is the time to be bold for places like South Yorkshire, to once again forge and power a new industrial revolution,” said Mr Coppard.

“We'll only do that by doing it together, and rooting that work in place. And I want to ensure that the clean energy transition is not just a national ambition but wherever you are in the country, a local success.”

Lively and informative panel discussions followed, focussing on building a globally-oriented UK nuclear energy and small modular reactor (SMR) supply chain, harnessing hydrogen technology and capitalising on the significant economic benefits of clean energy. 

Steve Bagshaw CBE, Chair, High Value Manufacturing Catapult, said: “The clean energy transition presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform our manufacturing landscape, in South Yorkshire and the whole of the UK. To capitalise, we must harness innovation and collaboration across our supply chains so we can ramp up productivity and global competitiveness.

"With the ambition set out in the government's modern industrial strategy, alongside the support of Innovate UK, we can position UK manufacturers at the forefront of the global net zero revolution, driving economic growth, creating skilled jobs and reinforcing our role as a world leader in sustainable energy solutions, from nuclear SMRs to offshore wind and hydrogen."

Key takeaways

• Demand is global:

The conference emphasised a fundamental reframing of the UK's clean energy goals. Instead of focusing solely on meeting domestic needs, the primary ambition should be to become a global leader. This means aiming to capture a significant share of the worldwide demand to build a scalable, sustainable and export-led industry.

• From projects to production:

To seize this global opportunity, the UK's industrial culture must evolve. This means a crucial shift from a project-based mindset centred on building bespoke, one-off solutions, to a production-based one that establishes repeatable, large-scale manufacturing processes needed to compete internationally.

• The supply chain bottleneck:

Demand for clean energy technologies will soon outstrip supply. This is a direct call for the UK's industrial base to get ready now. It's about practical scale-up, capacity and modernisation to overcome inevitable bottlenecks and lean into the challenges despite competition for resources.

• Place matters for ambition:

South Yorkshire is a critical hub for the UK’s energy ambitions. With over 250 companies in the region to supply into global markets and the presence of world-class institutions like the AMRC and University of Sheffield, the region has enormous capabilities to drive innovation in clean energy technologies. 

As articulated by South Yorkshire Mayor, Oliver Coppard, this is about more than just a national imperative; it's about harnessing a regional ecosystem to drive the UK's broader greener, fairer, more secure vision. The political will is strong, both nationally and locally, and the time for delivery is now.