Charting a practical path for Wales’s electricity grid
Reflections from an IET representative
By Grant Spence, member of the IET’s Sustainability and Net Zero Policy Centre
The recent launch of the Future Electricity Grid for Wales report marks an important moment in Wales’s journey towards a cleaner, more secure electricity system. As an IET member and representative on the Independent Advisory Group that developed the report, I was pleased to contribute technical insight and engineering perspective to a discussion that sits at the heart of Wales’s net zero ambitions.
The Independent Advisory Group was established to consider how Wales’s electricity grid must evolve to meet rapidly growing demand while supporting decarbonisation and maintaining public confidence. From the outset, it was clear this would not be a purely technical exercise. The group brought together a wide range of expertise and viewpoints, recognising that decisions about electricity infrastructure affect communities, landscapes, industry and future generations.
My role on the group was to represent the Institution of Engineering and Technology, particularly by providing technical insights into electricity transmission and distribution system design, construction methods, costs, constraints and the practical realities of delivering large-scale infrastructure. Engineers understand that there are no simple answers when it comes to grid development. Choices between overhead lines and underground cables, for example, involve careful consideration of cost, constructability, environmental impact, system performance and long term resilience. Ensuring these trade offs were clearly understood and accurately reflected in the group’s discussions was a key contribution from the IET.
The report highlights why action is needed. Demand for electricity in Wales is set to rise significantly as transport and heating are electrified and as renewable generation expands. Without timely investment in the grid, these ambitions will be harder and more expensive to achieve. At the same time, public concern about the impact of new infrastructure is real and valid. The report places strong emphasis on greater, more transparent, and earlier engagement; supported by clearer communications which are substantiated by comprehensive and accessible evidence so that decisions are better understood and more trusted.
The report reflects a broad consensus that Wales needs a clearer, more robust framework for planning and decision making, underpinned by sound technical evidence and honest communication about costs and impacts. This work demonstrates the value of bringing engineering expertise into policy conversations at an early stage. The future electricity grid will shape Wales’s economy, environment and energy security for decades to come. This report provides a vital foundation for making informed choices that are technically credible, socially aware and focused on long term outcomes.