Flexibility in Great Britain
The race to achieve net zero is on. Around the world, the enormity of
this challenge is coming clearly into focus. The move to accelerate
action to meet this target is highlighted in the UK’s latest commitment
to reduce emissions by 78% from 1990 levels by 2035, incorporating
international aviation and shipping emissions for the first time.
Concurrent decarbonisation at pace and scale, beyond the energy
sector, of heat, transport and industry is critical, requiring large
amounts of sustained investment. As we move away from direct use
of fossil fuel, these sectors will become increasingly coupled to the
electricity system via direct electrification and hydrogen use.
This economy-wide effort will no doubt put stresses on the energy
system, at a scale not seen previously in its history. While this
increased coupling brings new and complex challenges, it also
presents us with an opportunity to super-charge the net zero transition.
The energy system must become both smart and flexible to handle
these increasing linkages effectively, both in terms of cost and security
of supply. Security of supply is particularly important in the context of
being resilient to extreme weather events. A portfolio approach, such
as using CCS and hydrogen together with electrification underpinned
by energy system flexibility, will help create a more resilient future
energy system.
This Flexibility in Great Britain report led by the Carbon Trust unpacks
these complex dynamics between achieving net zero, decarbonising
heating and whole energy system flexibility at all scales. This analysis
is underpinned by Imperial College London’s cutting-edge modelling of
the power, heat, transport and industry sectors in the UK, providing an
integrated whole systems approach.
Online Resource details
Websites:
Link to Report
Publisher: The Carbon Trust
Keywords: Transport - Security of supply - Heat - decarbonisation - Energy system
Countries: UK -
Organisation: The Carbon Trust
Subjects: Emission control, Decarbonisation, Smart systems, Digitalisation, Net zero
