‘Bringing it All Together’ for a Circular Energy Future
How can we transition to a clean energy system when the technologies we rely on are themselves resource-intensive, difficult to recycle and often designed without end-of-life in mind?
This question brought Zero Waste Scotland together with industry and academic experts at the SPEERI Annual Conference 2025 – highlighting how simple knowledge sharing opportunities can spark meaningful collaboration.
From a Conference Conversation to a Shared Opportunity
Too often, progress on complex, ‘wicked’ challenges is slowed by organisational and sector silos. This collaboration presented an opportunity to look beyond those boundaries and explore the bigger picture of circularity within the energy transition.
Building on existing relationships, Zero Waste Scotland was invited to join an expert panel at the Scottish Partnership in Energy and Engineering Research & Innovation (SPEERI) Annual Conference in November 2025. The organisers wanted to create a space where academic, industry and public-sector perspectives could come together to discuss both the opportunities and challenges associated with a more circular energy system. From SPEERI’s perspective, Zero Waste Scotland was well placed to help frame the circularity challenges linked to the energy transition and contribute to shaping the conversation.
Turning Connections into Collaboration
The panel brought together speakers with complementary expertise and a shared interest in advancing circularity in the clean energy transition. Participants were keen to showcase existing work - from policy and business initiatives from ScottishPower Renewables to innovation projects led by the Remake Value Retention Centre and others - while also creating opportunities to build new relationships and explore future collaboration.
Following a short internal search, former Zero Waste Scotland Energy Infrastructure Partner Kenny Taylor joined the expert panel alongside Remi Zante (NMIS), Jushui Lai (Remake Value Retention Centre, NMIS) and Matthew Pryor (Scottish Power Renewables).
“It started off with a connection – and that’s a main point to raise. Had I or anyone else in this position not gone out for stakeholder engagement, these opportunities wouldn’t arise as easily as they do. By going to these things in the first place, this triggers future potential.” - Kenny Taylor
A Simple Model, Strong Engagement
The collaboration was intentionally straightforward. The conference organisers had a clear ask, while all parties contributed in kind through their time and participation, with free conference access provided. Within a month, panellists had been identified, confirmed and prepared for the session, with additional opportunities for informal networking between organisers and speakers helping to strengthen connections ahead of the event.
This simple approach enabled the partnership to move quickly from invitation to delivery, demonstrating how collaboration can be achieved without complex arrangements when there is a shared purpose and mutual benefit.
Bringing Different Perspectives Together
SPEERI’s mission to connect academia, industry and the public sector was reflected throughout the panel’s design. Each speaker brought a distinct perspective, creating a discussion that was both balanced and dynamic. The session explored the challenge of circularity in the energy transition from multiple angles - policy, innovation and practical implementation - helping the audience understand how different parts of the system can work together.
The format resonated strongly with participants, generating high levels of engagement during the conference and sparking further conversations afterwards.
“The format of the session worked really well here: we set out the challenge, addressed the challenge with what was happening in the innovation space and then heard from an organisation putting this activity into practice. This was a short session; we could have easily carried on the conversation all afternoon and any future session will be designed to give more time for discussion and audience participation.” - Jennifer Smart
Outcomes and Impact
Despite its simplicity, the collaboration delivered clear value for everyone involved.
Executive Director of SPEERI, Claire Ordoyno, reflected that “the insight and different perspectives [the speakers] all brought to the panel were brilliant and added real value to the day.”
The conference proceedings, once published, will provide further detail. SPEERI also found the session format highly constructive, particularly its ability to encourage cross-cutting discussion across different thematic areas, and sees potential to build on this approach in future activities.
For Zero Waste Scotland, the event provided an opportunity to both share and learn. It raised the profile of ongoing work, strengthened relationships with partners and reinforced the organisation’s commitment to circularity in the energy transition. It also offered valuable insight into current research, innovation and emerging thinking across the sector.
Importantly, the event helped strengthen relationships between SPEERI, NMIS, ScottishPower Renewables, and Zero Waste Scotland. Since the conference, new collaborative projects have been explored, joint customer site visits have taken place and connections have continued through other workshops and events. Together, these activities have created a strong foundation for future collaboration.
“We heard of case studies, we heard of people’s journeys and careers – I’m always fascinated by that, and it helps us as evidence, advice and for potential influencing. It makes what we try to achieve more credible and more realistic.” - Kenny Taylor
Lessons Learned
The collaborators identified several factors that helped to make knowledge sharing opportunities such as this one successful:
- Take time to consider and explore what all collaborators are looking for and whether everyone has the resource, capacity and skillset to be involved.
- Be clear on your messaging and keep it simple – when knowledge sharing, it is important to understand what the audience needs and what you want them to walk away with.
- There is real value in networking and building connections from knowledge sharing activities. The knowledge exchanged is useful, but the softer aspects of the relationship are also really important.
- Short challenge-led discussion opportunities like this one are great for bringing together different perspectives but it is important to dedicate enough time to fully explore ideas with collaborators (and audiences).
“The panel provided a great platform to bring academic, industry and public body together to explore both opportunities and challenges with implementing circular economy principles in the energy sector.” - Jushui Lai
Who was Involved
- Kenny Taylor – former Energy Infrastructure Partner, Zero Waste Scotland
- Jennifer Smart – Deputy Director (Energy), Scottish Partnership in Energy and Engineering Research & Innovation (SPEERI)
- Remi Zante – Interim Chief Technology Officer, National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS)
- Jushui Lai – Centre & Industry Engagement Manager, Remake Value Retention Centre
- Matthew Pryor – Sustainability Manager (Onshore), ScottishPower Renewables
- Conference photos - image credit: Scottish Partnership in Energy and Engineering Research & Innovation (SPEERI)