Can Flexible Energy System Facilitate A Net Zero Economy?


06/26/2020

Transitioning into a net zero carbon economy in the U.K. would need significant “action and investment”.


Dailycsr.com – 26 June 2020 – An attempt is being made to arrive at a “net zero economy” through the exploration of a “flexible energy system”. Likewise, a “cross-sector consortium” has launched a key project to support the said initiative while the Carbon Trust is leading the group in association with the “Imperial College London”, a “world-class university”.
 
The project called the “Flexibility in Great Britain” will be examining the possibilities of an integrated and flexible “energy system” which will bring down the cost of U.K.’s target of arriving at a “net zero economy” by 2050. Moreover, in-depth analysis will be carried out for seeing the pattern of various “flexibility sources” from “heat, power and transport sectors” could contribute in reducing the costs for consumers besides looking into business model suitable for delivering in a flexible structure.
 
Interviews with stakeholders, modelling as well as research analysis on the projects work will go into the project report which is scheduled to come out sometimes “early next year”. The findings will help the stakeholders of energy systems as well as the policy makers with more information on “net zero commitments”. Eventually, creating the road towards “heat decarbonisation” and facilitating “rapid transition to low emission transport options”.
 
The above mentioned project will take forward the work featured in Carbon Trust reports which estimated that the cost of a “future energy system in Great Britain” could be slashed by “£40 billion” by enforcing “greater flexibility” and implementing storage capacity. The consortium is made of various organisations such as “EDF Energy, the Greater London Authority, the Institution of Gas Engineers & Managers, SBM Offshore, Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks, UK Power Networks and Western Power Distribution”. Moreover, the “Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Ofgem, the Committee on Climate Change, the National Infrastructure Commission and National Grid” will collaborate with the Imperial College London, heading the modelling of “advanced energy systems”.
 
In the words of the Director of Carbon Trust, Andrew Lever:
“Significant action and investment are required to transition our energy system to help achieve net zero emissions for the UK economy by 2050.
“As the focus moves towards the decarbonisation of heat and transport sectors, it is essential that new sources of flexibility are explored to ensure the shift to net zero is achieved at lowest cost.
“This update to our previous work aims to create a robust evidence base that energy system stakeholders and policy makers can use to plan and invest confidently and efficiently. We are delighted that it is being supported by such a large number of organisations across the energy sector and beyond.”
 
 
 
References:
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