Cambridge University Energy Network (CUEN) Conference: Rethinking Energy for a Changing World

The 10th annual CUEN conference, hosted in collaboration with the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL).

The Cambridge University Energy Network (CUEN) and the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) invite you to the 10th annual CUEN Conference.

The energy transition has entered a new phase. The easy wins are behind us, infrastructure bottlenecks are real, and the capital landscape is shifting. This year's conference brings together academics, industry leaders, policymakers, and investors to confront the tensions shaping the next decade of energy — and to find practical paths forward.

All tickets include lunch and refreshments (tea and coffee) throughout the day.

• Cambridge Student: £10
• Professional: £40

Register: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cambridge-university-energy-network-cuen-conference-tickets-1985080822176

Five sessions spanning the critical questions facing energy today:

Session 1 | Setting the Scene A snapshot of 2026 energy dynamics — from tech-cost divergence to the AI power crunch. Do we double down on mature technologies or preserve capital for the next generation of breakthroughs?

Session 2 | Bridge Fuel or Carbon Trap? Natural gas has moved from temporary fix to central pillar. Is this a necessary bridge to stability, or a dangerous detour that locks in emissions for decades?

Session 3 | Three Tensions, One Story Interactive breakout groups tackling the physical, political, and ethical trade-offs of the green supply chain: Nature vs. Extraction, Geopolitics vs. Tech, and Equity vs. Speed.

Session 4 | The New Era of Energy Capital The "easy wins" in renewable investing have passed. How is institutional capital evolving to solve the transition's most pressing hurdle — system integration?

Session 5 | Scaling Local Innovation Spotlight on high-impact business innovation where key climate and energy challenges meet Cambridge-born solutions.

• Energy and sustainability professionals
• Investors and fund managers active in the transition
• Academics and researchers across energy, climate, and policy
• Students with an interest in the future of energy
• Anyone working at the intersection of technology, capital, and climate

CUEN - The Cambridge University Energy Network brings together prominent academics, business and industry leaders to discuss solutions to the challenges of proliferating clean energy. An institution of the University of Cambridge, CUEN is stewarded by students at Cambridge Judge Business School. This year marks our 10th anniversary.

CISL - The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership works with leaders and organisations to build a sustainable economy. For over 30 years, CISL has provided interdisciplinary research and leadership programmes addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion, with a global network of over 30,000 alumni.