In response to the publication, Ross Easton, Interim Chief Executive of Energy Network Association (ENA), which represents the UK’s energy network operators, said:
“This Review is an important shot in the arm for the national debate around reaching our net zero goals. It highlights the pressing need for government to rapidly accelerate key decisions and regulatory changes, so that energy networks can build the right infrastructure, in the right places, at the right times, to help make net zero a reality.
“We must recognise the scale of the net zero transformation and the leading role networks will play in enabling decarbonisation, therefore we must ensure they are fully enabled and empowered to deliver.”
Notes to editor
- To keep up the pace towards net zero, ENA has been advocating for three things:
- Firstly, there needs to be urgent reform of the regulatory system to allow operators to strategically invest in building new network capacity in places we know will need it, rather than doing so reactively.
- Secondly, we need government to accelerate the development of investment models for hydrogen network infrastructure, which is needed for the UK to hit our 2030 hydrogen production target.
- Finally, we need certainty around plans for network innovation funding, so network infrastructure can continue to adapt to the needs of low carbon technologies and help ensure all schemes can connect successfully.
About us
Energy Networks Association (ENA) is the industry body representing the energy networks. Our members include every major electricity network operator in the UK. The electricity networks are at the heart of the energy transition. They directly employ more than 26,000 people in the UK, including 1,500 apprentices. They are spending and investing £33bn in our electricity grids over the coming years, to ensure safe, reliable and secure energy supplies for the millions of homes and businesses reliant on power every day.
Press contacts
You can contact ENA's press office by emailing press@energynetworks.org. For urgent or out-of-hours enquiries from journalists, please call 0204 599 7691.