Caption: The boom in solar power and offshore wind farms need to be harnessed to the national grid quickly, a new report says. Photo: Phil Noble/ Reuters.The UK’s electricity grid needs a £58bn upgrade to help meet demand for green energy by 2035, a report has warned., said without the investment the country’s electricity system – described as the “backbone of the economy” – would not be fit for the future.
“Investment in renewable energy generation has exceeded investment in transmission capacity over the past decade, resulting in bottlenecks on the electricity network,” the report said. Proposals include an expansion of the offshore grid and a new north to south electrical spine. Offshore wind farms in development off the coast of Scotland will have their green energy transported via a new electrical spine spanning potentially from Peterhead to Merseyside, supplying homes and businesses across Scotland and north England.
It says engagement will take place to ensure the needs of different communities and wider economic and system security needs are balanced. “Transformational investment in the electricity network is needed to ensure we can make the most of low-cost, low-carbon wind power. Getting this right will help to reduce energy bills and enable the deployment of electric vehicles and heat pumps.