NESO report says clean power by 2030 is huge challenge but achievable

A report from the newly formed National Energy Systems Operator (NESO) says a decarbonised grid by 2030 is achievable but remains a huge challenge.

Described as comprehensive and independent analysis of how to achieve Clean Power in 2030 (CP30 Report), the report was commissioned by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, as part of the Government’s mission “to make Britain a clean energy superpower”.

CP30 Report sets out both the hurdles that need to be overcome and the benefits to consumers, the economy and society, including Britain’s energy security, that doing so could deliver.

The analysis shows that overall systems costs should not increase for a clean power system, but significant investment is needed in making Great Britain’s energy system clean and fit for the future. With this investment, NESO says Great Britain could also become a world leader in first-of-a-kind technologies.

Delivering a clean power system by 2030 increases the amount of domestic energy production with analysis showing that clean sources could produce at least as much power as Great Britain consumes in total in 2030.

The CP30 Report concludes that a clean power system would be operable and maintain the world-class reliability standards the country expects for a secure energy system.

Nevertheless, delivering clean power by 2030 requires swift action from industry, regulators, government, and NESO, necessitating significant changes in approach. The right supply, demand, networks and flexibility all need to be developed. A key challenge will be making sure all deliver simultaneously, in full and at maximum pace, in a sustainable way to set Great Britain on the right path beyond 2030.

Fintan Slye, Chief Executive, National Energy System Operator said, “There’s no doubt that the challenges ahead on the journey to delivering clean power are great. However, if the scale of those challenges is matched with the bold, sustained actions that are outlined in this report, the benefits delivered could be even greater.

“A clean power system for Great Britian will deliver a backbone of home-grown energy that breaks the link between volatile international gas prices; that is secure and affordably powers our homes and buildings; that decarbonises the transport; that drives the businesses of today and catalyses the innovations of the future.”

Alongside the report, NESO is publishing a consultation on the methodologies which create the architecture for grid connections reform. The consultation proposes specific criteria and processes for reducing and reordering the connections queue. It marks a shift from the current “first come, first served” approach to grid connections, to prioritise those projects which are ready to proceed, and which align to the locational and technological mix needed for the future energy system.

Reforming grid connections to align with plans for the future energy system is a critical step identified in the Clean Power 2030 report.