Electricity networks - handling a shock to the system (position statement)

Decarbonisation of energy is probably the biggest peace-time change to national infrastructure that the UK will have seen.

Ensuring the future stability of the grid while creating a system that can deal with two-way local power flows and less-predictable generation and new demands such as charging of electric vehicles will be a big challenge.

The IET brought together experts from industry, government and the regulator to share learning and knowledge and identify long-term and cost-effective solutions to this challenge. The changes needed across the nation’s power networks are huge and a ‘one system’ approach, rather than one that only looks at parts of the system in isolation, is vital.

Among the recommendations, the report calls for steps to be taken to establish the functionality of an electricity “System Architect”.

For further information please email energy@theiet.org