Enabling sustainable electrification of the UK economy

Environmental Audit Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 4 May 2023 Closed: 24 May 2024 Parliament page
The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) is to launch a new inquiry examining the challenges and opportunities arising from the increasing use of electricity to power the economy of Net Zero Britain. Read the call for evidence for more information about this inquiry.
28 Recommendations
25 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
5 Events
Activity timeline 12 events
12 Mar
2024
12 Mar
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
7 Feb
2024
7 Feb
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
17 Jan
2024
17 Jan
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
15 Nov
2023
15 Nov
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
19 Jun
2023
Oral evidence
19 Jun
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
Eleanor Warburton · Ofgem Emily Bourne · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Rt Hon Graham Stuart MP · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
panel one; panel two
Chris Hewett · Solar Energy UK Ed Porter · Modo Energy Kate Gilmartin · British Hydropower Association Olivia Powis · Carbon Capture and Storage Association Peter McCrory · RenewableUK Professor Sir Chris Llewellyn Smith · University of Oxford Susie Elks · E3G
panel one; panel two
Barbara Hammond MBE · Low Carbon Hub IPS Ltd Councillor Bridget Smith · District Councils Network Craig Dolan · Heat Pump Association Dan Stone · Centre for Sustainable Energy Dr Rebecca Windemer · Regen Rachel Fletcher · Octopus Energy Tom Glover · RWE Generation
panel one; panel two
Akshay Kaul · Ofgem Claire Dykta · National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) Craig Dyke · National Grid Electricity System Operator Eleanor Warburton · Ofgem Gareth Hislop · Scottish Power Energy Networks Roisin Quinn · National Grid Electricity Transmission Susana Neves e Brookes · Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution
panel one
Joanna Campbell · National Infrastructure Commission Nick Winser CBE · Independent Government Advisor
Recommendations & Conclusions
4 results
22 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Sixth Report - Enabling sustainabl…
Ensure developers can access the fullest range of providers for grid connection facilities.
We recommend that Ofgem work with the NESO, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Energy Networks Association to ensure that developers can call on the fullest possible range of providers when seeking to connect their generation … Read more
Government Response
Ofgem and DESNZ recognize the value of competition and are working with Ofgem and NESO to begin the first competition for onshore electricity transmission network build. However, for a fuller range of providers at transmission level, they welcome proposals from industry through the code modification process.
31 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Sixth Report - Enabling sustainabl…
Conduct a nationwide electrification skills needs assessment and develop a comprehensive plan addressing gaps.
Ministers must communicate clearly to industry their expectations on the rollout of energy and electrification infrastructure to meet Government policy objectives in a timely fashion. In tandem with this, we recommend that the Government conduct a nationwide electrification skills needs … Read more
Government Response
The government has established the Clean Energy Workforce Office to coordinate skills activity and improve data on the UK's clean energy workforce, which will include monitoring the labor market, but does not explicitly commit to a specific nationwide electrification skills needs assessment or the full range of suggested training and education programmes.
34 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Sixth Report - Enabling sustainabl…
Ensure planning authorities have adequate resources and skills to prevent energy infrastructure bottlenecks.
We urge the Government to ensure that the planning authorities have adequate resources to obtain and develop the skills and capacity necessary to prevent the planning system being a bottleneck to the rollout of energy infrastructure. The increase in planning … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the need for sufficient resources for local planning authorities and has consulted on increasing planning fees and allowing LAs to set their own fees. It is also reviewing how to deploy additional support from increased stamp duty, but does not explicitly commit to additional government funding or ring-fencing finances as requested.
48 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Sixth Report - Enabling sustainabl…
Seek regular independent appraisal of NESO’s role in regional energy system planning
The incipient role of the NESO in local energy planning ought to be subject to periodic review to ensure that its engagement is appropriate. We recommend that the NESO seek regular independent appraisal of its role in regional energy system … Read more
Government Response
The government states that Ofgem will provide oversight of NESO's delivery and that regional Strategic Boards and the price control process will serve as appraisal mechanisms, but explicitly notes that Ofgem has not set out plans for additional independent assessment of NESO’s role.
Government Response AI assessment · 53 of 28 classified

Total 28 recs + 25 conclusions