The latest episode of the Beyond Brunel podcast explores the future of the region’s electricity grid and what needs to change.
With electricity demand expected to double or even quadruple by 2050 to support decarbonisation, the South West faces significant challenges in readying its electricity network for the future.
From electric vehicles to domestic heat pumps, electricity is critically important in the journey to net zero, so major changes to the region’s grid and infrastructure are needed to keep pace.
In the latest episode of Beyond Brunel, Christopher Ackland explores some of the issues around electricity connectivity and capacity with Mark Holmes, Head of Environmental Partnerships and Climate Change at Cornwall Council and Emily Taylor, Regional Decarbonisation Manager at National Grid.
The conversation delves into the transformation required to meet the South West’s electricity needs while balancing environmental and social considerations.
The renewable revolution
With its rapidly growing renewable energy sector, the South West exemplifies both the promise and the challenges of clean energy generation.
Connecting new solar, wind, and other renewable projects to the grid has become increasingly complex, with the traditional one-way electricity flow now moving to a dynamic two-way exchange.
Emily Taylor told Beyond Brunel:
“People want to export electricity back into the grid as well as import it to power what they need. We need something called active network management which involves much more monitoring of our electricity network. That’s a big change to how it has been historically run. And with change comes a lot of planning and investment.”
Coordinating local energy planning
To address these challenges, some areas are developing local area energy plans to forecast demand and streamline infrastructure planning and investment.
By bringing together local authorities, community groups, energy suppliers and the National Grid, the idea is to ensure a cohesive approach.
Mark Holmes thinks this will become increasingly important in future:
“We’re really trying to use the local area energy plan to inform our planning process, but also our engagement with communities and businesses about what might be coming. It will show what are those investment opportunities as well.”
Engaging the public
Encouraging widespread adoption of low carbon technologies is another hurdle.
Consumers must not only embrace new technologies but adapt their energy consumption habits.
Emily said:
“If we take a heat pump as an example, if you’ve currently got a gas boiler and it fails, it is still far easier and cheaper to replace it with a gas boiler than go out and get a heat pump. So that’s a big transition that as a country we need to go on.”
Protecting landscapes while building infrastructure
As one of the UK’s most scenic regions, the South West faces unique challenges in balancing the development of new energy infrastructure with the preservation of its rural and coastal landscapes.
For example, 30% of Cornwall is designated as a National Landscape, requiring protection and consideration.
Mark emphasised the need for a sensitive, balanced approach:
“Consider the wider land use challenges, for food, environmental recovery and nature recovery. In Cornwall, we talk about our three-pillared approach, which is our response to the climate and ecological emergencies and the need to adapt to a changing climate. We consider this in all of our different policymaking to balance the different competing priorities that might be out there.”
Listen now
The latest episode of Beyond Brunel offers valuable insights into the evolving electricity network in the South West and the collaborative efforts needed to ensure it meets the demands of the future.
A new episode of the current podcast series will be released each month until April 2025. Upcoming topics include hydrogen, inclusive design, and the circular economy.
Beyond Brunel is produced in Plymouth by Fresh Air Studios for the SWIP and the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) South West.
Listen and follow now to discover how the South West is gearing up to power its future.