Southend-on-Sea City Council Attends APSE Big Energy Summit 2026 with DESNZ to Explore Future Energy Solutions
In February, Southend-on-Sea City Council’s Climate Change team attended the APSE Big Energy Summit 2026. The event was hosted by the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), bringing together local authorities from across the UK to learn from one another and explore new approaches to energy and climate action.
The UK Government has acknowledged the importance of this role, in 2021 stating “local government play an essential role in meeting national net zero ambitions” to decarbonise all sectors of the UK economy and meet their net zero target by 2050. This recognition is reflected in DESNZ partnering with APSE to host the summit and support councils in achieving local climate outcomes.
The summit brought together councils, energy experts and industry representatives to discuss changes in the energy sector, the transition to low-carbon energy, and the role local authorities must play in delivering sustainable energy solutions.
Sessions covered a range of topics including Community Energy, the Warm Homes Plan and emerging technologies. Those who attended also heard about potential future government funding opportunities to support local energy projects.
Attending the summit provided Southend-on-Sea City Council with the opportunity to learn from successful initiatives in other areas and gather ideas that will help shape future energy solutions in Southend.
The insights gained will help inform the Council’s ongoing climate action work as it continues to explore ways to reduce emissions and support a more sustainable energy future for the city.