Keith Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of ScottishPower, has called for “the biggest rewiring this country has ever seen since the grid was first built” to meet the UK’s growing energy demand and support economic growth.
Speaking at Energy UK’s Annual Conference, Mr Anderson emphasised that “if we want any form of economic growth, what this country needs is more electricity.”
Keith Anderson said: “If we want more homes in this country, we need more electricity.
“If we want low carbon heating and transport, we need more electricity. If we want more jobs, if we want gigafactories, data centres, if we truly want to be a leader in AI technology, if you want any form of economic growth, what this country needs is more electricity.
“Demand is increasing and we need to be able to deliver on it.”
Mr Anderson highlighted the impressive progress in renewable energy, noting that while coal once accounted for a third of the UK’s energy, “renewables is now 30 gigawatts on the system” with significant investments in offshore and onshore wind.
However, Keith Anderson stressed that the grid itself must undergo a substantial upgrade to accommodate new energy sources and industrial expansion.
The boss of ScottishPower praised the UK’s shift from coal to wind power, citing the upcoming closure of the last coal-fired power station as a pivotal moment.
Despite these advances, Mr Anderson warned against the potential negative impact of significant policy changes, such as “zonal pricing,” which could introduce uncertainty and hinder progress.
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