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Type
Policy

Presidential Roundtable summary: an engineering-led plan to decarbonise the UK’s electricity grid

Date
24 June 2024

Energy and engineering leaders gathered to discuss how to tackle one of the most pressing net zero issues – rapidly decarbonising the electricity system within the next decade.

To achieve that goal, infrastructure development will need to happen at a pace and scale not seen for generations.

At the roundtable, chaired by ICE President Prof Anusha Shah, participants explored what a credible, engineering-led delivery plan to decarbonise the grid would need.

They made suggestions for planning, procurement, and skills development that would drive quick change.

The discussion covered:

  • Learning lessons from the COVID-19 response and the successful development and rollout of the vaccines.
  • The challenge, impact, and solutions for the UK coming from global supply chain competition.
  • Persuading the government and public why grid decarbonisation matters and how the transition will happen.
  • The need for government planning to drive delivery and avoid relying on a market-led ‘wait and see’ approach.
  • Understanding consumers to get the design right, drive efficient delivery, and pass on the benefits.
  • The engineering workforce opportunities that come from the net zero transformation.

Presidential Roundtable summary: an engineering-led plan to decarbonise the UK’s electricity grid

Content type: Policy

Last updated: 24/06/2024

Author: ICE policy team

  • David McNaught, policy manager at ICE