CurrentResearch:DeliveringEnergyInfrastructure

Making a low carbon energy system a reality depends on the development of shared infrastructure to enable affordable access to low carbon energy sources. This research theme is concerned with methods used in identifying infrastructure need and impacts arising from its development.

The UK Government has commissioned the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to produce a “Strategic Spatial Energy Plan” (SSEP) that sets out what needs to be built, where and when, to inform investment in energy system capital assets. This includes energy production, energy storage, networks across all energy vectors and carbon capture and storage infrastructure, as well as firming-up the need case for such infrastructure.

At the point at which the Government commissioned the production of an SSEP from NESO, there was very little experience in the UK of the production of anything resembling it. Particular challenges include how to include environmental considerations and how to develop and disseminate a Plan in a way that builds confidence with stakeholders. In addition, while many parties have assessed likely changes to demand for electricity and fossil fuels from buildings and for mobility, there is much less understanding of how greenhouse gas emissions in industrial processes might be reduced what impacts different options would have on energy network infrastructure and the need for it.

This Theme addresses these issues via two work packages led by initial partners in UKERC’s 2024-29 research programme, exploring energy system modelling and the incorporation of factors related to natural capital in the first, and industrial decarbonisation in the second. A third, on Building Social Consensus, will be led by new partners who will be sought early in 2025.