NEWS | Eve Lucas | December 2024
A recording of this event is available as part of our Energy Conversations podcast
Electrification of the UK energy system will be key to achieving net zero targets by 2050. At a compelling guest lecture hosted by the Centre for Energy Policy (CEP) at the University of Strathclyde, Dr David Joffe, newly appointed Chief Energy System Adviser for the Government’s Clean Power 2030 Mission set out why. His insights are reflected in the Government's recently published Clean Power 2030 Action Plan which details the strategic roadmap for transforming the UK's energy infrastructure.
The event, which is part of a series called Energy Conversations and which launches a programme of activities celebrating the Centre for Energy Policy’s 10th Anniversary, was chaired by CEP Deputy Director, Dr Jamie Speirs, and featured an introductory speech by CEP Director and founder, Professor Karen Turner. Professor Turner highlighted the various areas in which Centre for Energy Policy research continues to make an impact, such as industrial decarbonisation, offshore wind, carbon capture and storage, work on equity challenges within the UKRI Energy Demand Research Centre (EDRC), as well as newly funded work on equity challenges within the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC). Professor Turner emphasised the importance of enacting rapid change, and that “Decarbonising the electricity system is really going to be moving beyond ‘business as usual’ and will require a transformative approach in addressing the challenge, including in terms of the challenges of affordable electrification of residential heat and transportation on the demand side”.
Key findings: roadmap to decarbonising the GB electricity system
Dr Joffe’s presentation provided insights from a report he co-authored for the Royal Academy of Engineering on achieving rapid decarbonisation of the GB electricity system. The report highlighted six key findings including:
- Build strong public and industry support by clearly communicating the broader benefits
- Establish strong central leadership with engineering expertise at the core
- Create a more flexible, digitally enabled system
- Adopt a proactive approach to procurement and regulation
- Address planning, consenting, and connection delays
- Maintain a long-term perspective while focusing on near-term actions
Dr Joffe remarked that, “[…] the biggest challenge of all is to tackle each of these pretty difficult things – some at the absolute frontier of what is possible – all simultaneously and achieve this 2030 target. It’s not impossible; it’s very difficult, but that’s the point of a mission driven government.”
Electricity demand and workforce strategy
While Dr Joffe emphasised the importance of decarbonisation, he also stressed that electrification will be vital to achieving net zero. He referenced the Sixth Carbon Budget of the Climate Change Committee (CCC), where he held the post of Head of Net Zero until 2023. The report shows electrification to be the single largest contributor towards achieving the 2050 target, making up 47% of the pathway. Dr Joffe said there will need to be a major focus on electrification, as opposed to just decarbonisation, “Because that is absolutely the backbone of a net zero strategy, is clean power yes, but then applying as much clean power as possible to other sectors in order to decarbonise.”
As the electrification of areas such as transport, heating, and manufacturing and construction takes place, the demand for electricity is expected to double from 2024 to 2050. However, Joffe warned that an uptake of inefficient technologies – e.g., synthetic jet fuel used in aviation, and Direct Air Capture (DAC) for capturing carbon - could cause the demand for electricity to possibly triple or quadruple by 2050, which would be unmanageable to supply.
The Royal Academy report also emphasises the urgent need for a relevant skills, engineering and workforce strategy to underpin the transformation of the system, as it estimates an additional 200,000 workers are needed by 2030 in net zero industries. As Dr Joffe commented, “There are just not enough engineers to do all of this”. Work carried out by the Centre for Energy Policy has consistently shown that the lack of a sufficient and skilled workforce is one of the largest barriers to reaping the potential economic benefits from adopting net zero technologies.
Navigating the path to clean energy transformation
Dr Joffe's lecture underscored the critical importance of a comprehensive and coordinated approach to decarbonising the UK's electricity system. As highlighted by the Royal Academy report, while the challenge of transforming the energy infrastructure is substantial, it represents a pivotal opportunity for national leadership in clean energy innovation. The Clean Power 2030 Action Plan provides a detailed and ambitious roadmap for achieving these transformative goals over the next six years. As Dr Jamie Speirs noted, “These conversations are not just about technical solutions, but about reimagining our entire energy ecosystem in a way that supports economic prosperity and environmental sustainability.”
The Energy Conversations series, relaunching as part of the Centre for Energy Policy's 10th anniversary celebrations, will continue to explore these vital themes through upcoming events and a forthcoming podcast, offering a platform for critical dialogue on the pathway to net zero.
Image Credit: Eve Lucas