Comment: With great projects come great people - the story of our energy grid

This major overhaul is certainly not an overnight development, but rather sits within the longer story of our electricity network, transforming over the decades into what it is today.

Looking to the past 

The UK energy grid was the first of its kind, born out of necessity following the First World War, a period impacted by uncertainty, economic stagnation, and major social and political change. The country needed a reliable energy system to provide a sense of stability and enable space for recovery. As such, in 1925 Lord Weir proposed the development of a Central Electricity Board, connecting the most efficient power stations in the country. The energy grid as we know it was created 10 years later.

For almost nine decades since, our energy system has been changing, from nationalisation to major infrastructure overhaul, developed through collaboration across industries.

Transformation today 

Today, our energy grid is a fundamental cog in the wheel of our economy, helping us keep the lights on and business moving. And the energy demand continues to rise, set to increase by 50 per cent as consumer habits shift to prioritise electric heating and cars. However, the type of energy required to fuel these changing habits is shifting towards sustainable sources and with this comes increased demand for the infrastructure capable of supplying it, to ensure we are resilient to both climate change and global crises. 

Over the last ten years, our energy sources have fundamentally changed for the better. The entire industry is working towards achieving the net zero goals that remain central to the future of our economy and the people who drive it. While huge strides have already been made, the scale and speed at which we need to transform is far greater if we are to decarbonise electricity generation by 2030. [HB1] 

The Great Grid Partnership (GGP) – an enterprise initiative designed to address the existing supply chain challenges for infrastructure, has been spearheaded by Carl Trowell, president of Strategic Infrastructure at National Grid. National Grid is fully invested in the premise that businesses can work together, sharing responsibility for delivering the huge infrastructure projects, whilst shoring up the supply chain to meet future project demands. The expectation is the GGP will set the gold-standard for enterprise schemes not just in the UK, but around the world. The GGP is a hugely positive step in the journey to overcoming these issues, driving decarbonisation, while adapting our infrastructure to meet demand. It reflects the commitment of those within the energy sector to deliver critical electricity infrastructure across the country by supporting the UK supply chain capacity. 

And it sets the precedent for what is to come. The innovation and collaboration required to transform our electricity network also requires innovative and collaborative people to fulfil it. According to a recent report by the Public Accounts Committee, the UK lacks the skills and capacity to deliver major infrastructure projects, and so driving learning and development remains critical to any approach we take as an industry.  

Removing barriers to entry and supporting new and existing talent, through apprenticeships, graduate schemes and continuous education and training is an industry requirement. Without this talent, our decarbonisation goals will remain simply that: goals.

As an industry, we remain committed to overcoming these challenges and achieving these goals. At WSP, around 350 early-year professionals join us every year and it is projects like the Great Grid Partnership that attract talented people who wish to actively work towards creating the future of our infrastructure and our society. According to Oxford Economics, overall investment in Great Britain’s electricity industry will support around 220,000 jobs each year between 2024 and 2035.  

This partnership is long-term, going until the end of the decade, and part of a £9bn supply chain framework, meaning that not only will it create jobs, but will secure them too. Long-term investment is fundamental to strengthening the UK economy and ensuring it is resilient to climate change and the shift to net zero. The Great Grid Partnership is evidence of certainty and stability, giving businesses and private and public investors alike confidence in the UK’s infrastructure delivery.

Great programmes like this, combined with the great people that make them, come with significant investment and thus the cycle continues. This circular model is critical and should drive the industry to achieve the vision of the UK as a world leader in decarbonised energy production and transmission.

James Rowntree, director of Strategic Growth & Major Projects at WSP in the UK