The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has released its comprehensive and independent analysis of how to achieve Clean Power by 2030; a feat which it describes as “a huge challenge” but “achievable.”
This advice 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.
The CP30 report sets out both the challenging 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. Other factors could reduce electricity bills in 2030, including a reduction in legacy policy costs (as contracts expire) and energy efficiency improvements. Government policy decisions could also reduce bills by 2030.
Significant investment in making Great Britain’s energy system clean and fit for the future is needed. With this investment 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 and significantly reduces Great Britain’s exposure to potential energy price shocks from spikes in international gas prices.
The analysis shows that clean sources can 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 for a secure energy system expected in Great Britain.
Swift action needed
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 says: “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 we take to school and work; that drives the businesses of today and catalyses the innovations of the future.”
Next steps
Government will now consider the advice in developing its Clean Power action plan later this year.
Alongside this report, NESO is also 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.
