Can the Electricity Grid support Net Zero in Great Britain?

The Great Britain (GB) electricity grid is in a state of transition. In 2019, the UK became the first major economy in the world to legislate a binding target to reach net zero emissions by 2050. This commitment is known as the ‘Net Zero Target’. The UK Net Zero Strategy published in 2021 highlights the decarbonisation of the UK power system by 2035. To accomplish these targets, the UK power system in the future will inevitably be complex and multifaceted. This requires action focused analysis for informing decision makers to avoid risk of missing the net zero target.

GE Vernova has explored alternative generation and transmission investment pathways considering the economic build out of renewables, nuclear, storage and lower carbon thermal generation across GB. This quantifies the cost and impact to the system of ensuring energy security, while respecting the physical constraints of the grid on a ‘zonal’ basis considering the potential locations of electricity generation resources. Our analysis demonstrates a significant expansion of the power system in GB that demands urgent action to meet the 2050 net zero target thus avoiding regret of no or delayed actions.

Join this on-demand session with power systems experts from GE Vernova’s Consulting Services business to learn more about our analysis, key findings and recommendations.

• LEARN more about GB’s electricity system and emerging challenges
  
  
• DISCOVER key findings and least cost pathways to meet net-zero targets
  
  
• UNCOVER modelling approaches to inform your #energytransition planning