Key takeaways from this podcast episode
- Why clean power targets like 2030 require monumental levels of investment and where that capital should come from
- How Local Government Pension Schemes (LGPS) can deliver on net zero and drive local impact
- What role investment managers like Downing should play in making access to energy infrastructure investing simpler, more transparent and more aligned to local goals
- How initiatives like Great British Energy could unlock stalled development and help local projects take off
We’re proud to sponsor the latest episode of the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Investment Podcast, where our Head of Energy & Infrastructure, Tom Williams, joins Martin George (Deputy Editor, LGC) and Laura Colliss (Pension Fund Manager, North East Scotland Pension Fund).
The conversation dives into one of the biggest challenges and opportunities of our time: the UK’s clean energy transition.
“We are in the middle of the industrial revolution of our time. We are completely redesigning the energy system in the world today. It is a massive transformation.”
“I see it as the role of the investment manager, the private sector investment management, like ourselves, to be part of the solution here. To be going to the pools, going to the individual schemes” - Tom Williams.
Listen now
Timestamps
01:55 – Tom and Laura introduce themselves.
02:46 – Tom outlines the scale of the clean energy challenge and how LGPS can be part of the solution.
"We are in the middle of the industrial revolution of our time. We are completely redesigning the energy system in the world today. It is a massive transformation."
03:28 – Tom explains Clean Power 2030 and the level of investment needed to reach it.
07:48 – Laura shares examples of her fund’s clean energy investments and their impact.
10:45 – Tom reflects on how far the sector has come investments can now offer strong returns and real-world impact.
11:56 – Laura discusses how LGPS typically access these investments and the barriers they face.
14:27 – Tom outlines how investment managers can better support LGPS access to opportunities.
"I see it as the role of the investment manager...to be part of the solution here."
16:00 – Laura agrees: fund managers need to proactively bring LGPS the right opportunities.
17:17 – Tom compares pooled and individual LGPS funds, and how this affects achieving local impact.
20:56 – Discussion turns to new local investment targets and the challenges they create for pooled funds.
21:32 – Tom explains why Downing set up its own renewable development arm - to create local impact and support the net zero push.
22:55 – Introduction of Great British Energy (GBE) and its role in the clean energy transition.
24:00 – Tom shares Downing’s early engagement with GBE and how it could support planning and development.
26:04 – Tom believes GBE could be a game-changer for project development across the UK.
28:32 – Laura gives her take on GBE and how better communication could help LGPS connect with national initiatives.
30:12 – Final advice from Tom and Laura on what LGPS managers should consider when investing in renewables and infrastructure.
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