Keeping the power on: our future energy technology mix

Whilst the net-zero goal is of huge international importance, it is vital that the UK’s plans are efficient and effective in the long term, rather than directed towards potentially misleading short-term targets or attractive gains.

The security of the UK’s past energy system could largely be taken for granted due to the abundant availability of natural gas. However, the future UK energy mix needs an urgent, and robust assessment of the technologies, both existing and in development, to meet the most demanding conditions driven by the requirements of a net zero world.

There is a need for a mix of substantial non-intermittent sustainable generation capacity to operate in conjunction with intermittent production from renewable sources.

The IET Energy Panel and Future Power Systems Architecture (FPSA) make the following recommendations:

• A Centralised Strategic Whole System Plan must be developed by an independent, appropriately resourced, and authoritative body to provide early direction and leadership.
• The Centralised Strategic Whole System Plan must:
• Establish pathways and options for the transition of the future UK energy system.
• Guide system transition and incorporate all significant energy sources, vectors, storage, interconnection, and applications.
• Analyse the role of renewables and the associated requirement for low-carbon, non-intermittent power, linking to the production, storage and potential applications of hydrogen, and CCS requirements.
• Deliver the major 2050 objectives, maintaining accepted levels of security during transition, with more detailed shorter-term stages informed by the ultimate 2050 goals.
• Be mindful of the development of adjacent energy systems and potential exploitation opportunities of UK resources for other markets.