John Pettigrew: We must tackle green skills gap ahead of COP

As part of our Countdown to COP campaign, Utility Week talks to National Grid’s chief executive about his hopes and fears ahead of the UN’s climate conference.

What opportunities does COP26 represent for the utilities sector, and how can we capitalise on them?

The lead up to COP26 is a huge opportunity to galvanise broader enthusiasm and ambition towards tackling climate change across the UK and find consensus on how the sector can collectively speed up the transformation needed for a net zero future.

It’s a chance for the sector to showcase the readiness of the industry to lead the way on decarbonisation, work closely with the government on delivering aspects of the ten point plan, and importantly, agree tangible actions across utility companies which will support UK climate ambitions in the long-term.

We can also use it as an opportunity to focus on the green skills gap – if we don’t address it, it could hold back progress. The UK needs to recruit 400,000 jobs in the UK to meet the 2050 net zero timeframe according to National Grid research. COP26 provides an opportunity to raise the profile of climate change issues, demystify roles in the energy sector and encourage people to be part of the net zero workforce.

What does the UK need to achieve in the next nine months to present itself as a world leader in tackling climate change? What role can utilities play in that?

The UK must maintain momentum and be bold on how we will deliver on recently announced climate plans and targets. We’ve seen real political will and ambition, and this must now translate into concrete action.

In the next nine months the UK needs to bring everyone in the country on the journey to COP26, engaging with consumers on what climate change means for them, how they can play their part in tackling the issue, and engage with businesses too on the important role they have in driving this agenda.

For the utilities sector, the focus needs to be on how we turn government plans that have put the UK at the forefront of this agenda into a reality. Following on from the Energy White Paper, further details will be published this year and will be critical in providing direction and clarity on key areas such as heat decarbonisation and the future of hydrogen.

Where do you see further opportunities for pan-utilities co-operation on the path to decarbonisation?

There is a huge amount that we can learn from each other. For example, National Grid is partnering with Northern Gas Networks (NGN) and Fluxys Belgium to build a first of its kind offline hydrogen test facility in the UK, to understand how hydrogen gas could be used in the future to heat homes and deliver green energy to industry. Working with Fluxys Belgium allows us to draw on their own research to document the reliability, safety and integrity of the existing gas infrastructure when used to transport hydrogen.

We’re also collaborating with our European partners to develop Multi-Purpose Interconnectors (MPIs) which will transform how offshore wind farms connect to the shore. For example, we’re working with Dutch TSO TenneT to develop an MPI that will simultaneously connect up 4GW of British and Dutch offshore wind between the British and Dutch electricity systems by 2029. This development would be the first of its kind for the UK and the Netherlands in the North Sea.

If we partner and come together as an industry globally, we will be able to achieve so much more.

What is your principle ask of government and/or regulators to unlock the sector’s potential to accelerate the green transition?

We’re really encouraged by the government’s roadmap to net zero and we’re excited to work with the government, industry, regulator and our customers to achieve the UK’s ambitious climate goals.

What the energy sector needs now is the right regulatory, planning and policy framework to drive investment in infrastructure. This will be important to ensure we can develop energy networks fit for the shift to clean energy and the long-term, and in a way which minimises the impact on the communities which often house our infrastructure.

How can utilities help to encourage all consumers to be more active participants in the net-zero journey?

I think a big part is translating what it all means for everyday life. So, for example, how will moving from petrol or diesel cars to electric vehicles impact consumers? What does it mean for hydrogen to heat UK homes? Making this relatable and tangible for consumers will help raise awareness of why the net zero journey is something everyone can be a part of and that we all have a role to play in achieving a clean energy future.