Electricity network operators are getting set to invest more than £120 billion by 2050 to build a network capable of meeting future energy demands and support the growth of the next generation of smart UK industries.
Alongside this investment, the expertise of 26,000 skilled energy network professionals will play a crucial role in ensuring the UK has access to reliable, affordable and clean domestically produced power in the years to come.
The strategy will be outlined in the forthcoming Electricity Networks Sector Growth Plan, which will map the positive economic impacts of this investment. This major infrastructure project will also enable the of adoption of low carbon technologies that will empower consumers to reduce direct fossil fuel use and lower their total energy demand by 47% by 2050.
The Energy Networks Association (ENA) has emphasised the exceptional resilience of today’s network, with over 99.99% reliability. It has also highlighted the impact of the UK’s approach to network innovation, which supports projects from satellite monitoring of remote infrastructure and the use of AI modelling to help mitigate the effects of climate change.
Lawrence Slade, ENA’s Chief Executive, said:
“Energy infrastructure is evolving quickly to deal with the demands being placed on it, and it’s good to remember the titanic effort that is going into building a grid that can ensure UK homes and businesses can get the affordable, secure and clean home grown power they need. In the 100 years since the UK’s grid formally came into being it has grown into a reliable, cost effective and innovative national network that countries around the world seek to emulate. The next 100 years aim to build on and surpass this heritage.”
Contributors
Rob Shepherd (author)
Rob is Consulting Editor for InstallerELECTRIC. He is a well-respected journalist with a strong history in the electrical sector.
