Accelerating the net zero transition at a local level

Following a recent roundtable with regional mayors, Ofgem chief executive Jonathan Brearley gives his thoughts on accelerating the transition to net zero at a local level. Writing for Utility Week, Brearley argues that there is a “once in a generation opportunity to transform the way energy is planned and delivered at a local and national level”.

To accelerate the transition towards a net zero energy system that can protect energy customers from high and volatile gas prices, we need to make big changes: a rapid and well-planned transformation of our energy generation, the pipes and wires that support it, as well as the way we as consumers use energy.

At the national level, we have helped set up a new organisation, the Future Systems Operator, to plan out the infrastructure we need, but this also needs to happen at the local level.

The practical steps of planning, building, and maintaining things like increased transmission lines and local grid capacities to power cleaner alternatives to gas boilers like heat pumps, and making more electric vehicle charging points available in a particular area as we move away from petrol and diesel cars, has to be rolled out region by region, city by city, and street by street. Getting this done at the pace required, while also reflecting local needs, means engaging with local communities at every level – from regional and local government, to public and private sector organisations, to consumers themselves. We need to work together to make sure we can deliver cleaner, greener energy to every city, street, home, and business.

So last week I was delighted to host a roundtable with Mayors from across England, alongside representatives of the Electricity System Operator, focusing on what we can do together to empower and support cities and regions to make the energy transition, and how new regional planning roles will help bring together the current patchwork approach to planning.

Through democratic accountability, cutting red tape, and ensuring expertise and local priorities are at the forefront of planning decisions, we can help regions create roadmaps for how local energy system can support our goals of a net zero system by 2035, and net zero economy by 2050, in a much more efficient and coordinated way.

It is clear there is real enthusiasm and commitment from local government to play their part in making the energy transition we need to see. Metro Mayors have set out ambitious plans to meet every region’s net zero targets, and it was great to hear first-hand about their regions’ particular needs, and how we can work together to enhance decision-making and cooperation. In particular, we will continue to work closely with local government to end unacceptable delays to getting renewable power on to the grid, and halving the time to build new transmission lines to get renewable energy from where it is generated and into people’s homes and businesses.

We will continue to work closely with local governments across Britain to co-design our proposals, tighten up coordination and accountability, and share best practice, so that our communities can be more quickly and effectively plugged into a more decentralised, decarbonised energy system. Key to this will be a new series of independent regional energy strategic planners. These planners will consider both the national targets set by government, the local needs of each area, and to coordinate how the investments that will be needed can be made in those areas at the right time.

We are now entering a new and exciting phase, with a once in a generation opportunity to transform the way energy is planned and delivered at a local and national level. These changes will protect Britain from future gas market shocks, meaning geopolitical events can’t put our economy at risk, and enable customers to save money by having more control over when they use energy, for example, by charging their car during off peak times either when demand is low or when it’s windy or sunny.

The last two years have been very tough for consumers, many of them struggling to afford the energy they and their families need. But working closely with local leaders to create a joined-up roadmap, I am optimistic that we can shape cleaner, affordable, and reliable energy systems across every region of Britain.