UK energy system ‘must face challenges towards low carbon’

The UK energy system needs to face “significant” challenges to ensure an economic and secure electricity system. A report by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) looks at what […]

The UK energy system needs to face “significant” challenges to ensure an economic and secure electricity system.

A report by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) looks at what the country’s energy system needs to do to assure it is moving to a low carbon system.

It considers developments such as the smart grid and smart cities, which are likely “to include autonomous zones embedded within the electricity system”, it added.

According to the IET, not facing those challenges could have serious consequences for system resilience in the near-term and the delivery of low-carbon targets in the mid-term.

To achieve the challenges a coordinated response from stakeholders across the electricity supply chain is necessary the report stated.

Simon Harrison, Chair of the IET Energy Policy Panel said: “The report considers such things as a large increase in the number and locations of small generators such as solar panels and community energy schemes being connected to the grid. These modelling capabilities help us understand and identify what the implications and potential solutions could be to such scenarios.

“There is a significant need for new energy modelling capabilities looking into things that have not needed to be investigated before. Without these modelling capabilities we will struggle to adapt our electricity system effectively meaning costs and carbon emissions could go up and resilience could go down.”

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