On 3 February Ofgem, the independent National Regulatory Authority for protecting the interests of existing and future electricity and gas consumers, announced their Decarbonisation Action Plan. The plan is designed to support the achievement of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
With the United Nations Climate Change Conference in the UK this November, Ofgem are gearing up to support major changes in the way homes are powered and heated and to ensure that the network infrastructure is in place to recharge the anticipated 46 million electric vehicles on UK roads in 2050.
Amongst the developments Ofgem will support are:
- An expansion of the offshore wind farm network and making it easier and cheaper for the electricity generated to reach the shore
- More flexible energy system to balance supply and demand using battery storage
- Offering grid capability for the recharging of millions of electric vehicles and creating incentives to homeowners to charge their electric vehicles when there is more supply on the system
- Supporting significant changes to the way we heat our homes. The best way forward is not yet clear, but it could include the development of hydrogen gas networks to replace natural gas and the electrification of space heating in new well insulated homes with heat pumps.
Read the full report at: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/system/files/docs/2020/02/ofg1190_decarbonisation_action_plan_web.pdf
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