Call to upgrade UK grid amid warnings of 'clean energy crunch'  

The Telegraph reports that there are calls to expand the UK electricity grid to handle expanded clean energy generation (like everywhere else) - Call to upgrade national grid amid warnings of 'clean energy crunch'.

The Electricity Networks Strategy Group, that advises the Government on energy issues, said the biggest expansion in the national grid since the 1960s is needed over the next decade.

If the upgrade does not go ahead then it will be difficult to meet the UK's target to generate 30 per cent of electricity from new renewable because new power sources like wind farms and tidal power projects will be unable to connect to the nation's homes. The upgrade, including 1,000 kilometres of new cables, will need to start now with work to install high voltage subsea cable links between Scotland and England.

The warning came as a separate report from New Energy Finance predicted a "clean energy crunch" will follow the credit crunch. The analysts warned that investment in low carbon energy will need to increase in order to meet climate change targets, despite the economic downturn.

Global investment in renewable energy sources, efficient energy use and carbon capture and storage, increased from £24 billion in 2004 to around £106 billion in both 2007 and 2008. But the NEF Global Futures report said investment needed to reach £355 billion in the next decade to ensure that carbon emissions peaked before 2020.

Friends of the Earth's executive director Andy Atkins said if investment is not made now then the UK will fall behind the rest of the world in green energy. "The UK could be a world leader in green power – we are the windiest country

Plans for a £780million series of major investments designed to carry green wind, wave and tidal power from the north of Scotland south to England were outlined last night.

The UK Government’s Electricity Networks Strategy Group wants an upgrade to the Dounreay to Beauly to Kintore line costing £180million and a strengthened east coast line costing £150million to follow the completion of the controversial proposed Beauly to Denny line.

A second wave would include a Caithness to Moray reinforcement costing £450million.

The report also proposes undersea links north and west to collect power from the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland and south from Kintyre and from Peterhead to the central belt, without attaching a price tag.

Further proposals would boost the Scottish/English inter-connectors, currently operating at or near capacity, all part of an investment programme costing a total £4.7billion designed to collect and distribute power from windfarms and other renewable forms of generation spread across the UK.

The group issued a statement claiming their proposals will lead to “the largest single expansion of the grid since the early 1960s”. Energy and Climate Change Minister Mike O’Brien said: “This report marks the start of the electricity grid’s makeover to accommodate new low carbon power generation which is needed by 2020.