Smart Power

A report examining how the UK can balance supply and demand within the electricity market.

Summary

In October 2015, the National Infrastructure Commission was asked to consider how the UK can better balance electricity supply and demand, aiming towards an electricity market where prices are reflective of costs to the overall system.

The Commission’s final report, Smart Power, concludes that innovations, interconnection, storage, and demand flexibility could together save consumers up to £8 billion a year by 2030, help the UK meet its 2050 carbon targets, and secure the UK’s energy supply for generations.

The report makes practical recommendations to this end – not new subsidies or substantial public spending – but towards the creation of a level playing field and a better managed network:

  • government should pursue additional interconnectors with other European countries where the benefits are most significant
  • the UK should become a world leader in electricity storage systems. Two steps are required: a review of the regulatory and legal status of storage, removing outdated barriers to be completed by Spring 2017 and implemented as soon as possible, and Ofgem should encourage network owners to use storage
  • the UK should make full use of demand flexibility by improving regulation, informing the public of its benefits and piloting business models.

At Budget 2016 the government accepted the report in full.

Final Report

Smart Power

Smart Power makes recommendations to ensure our electricity system is fit for the future.

Read the full report

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Latest Updates

Coming up in 2024
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Coming up in 2024

This page shows a calendar reflecting the latest expected dates for Commission reports, publications and events. You can also sign up to receive our quarterly newsletter by entering your email address in the box at the foot of each website page.

1 Feb 2024 By
Costs and benefits of GB interconnection
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Costs and benefits of GB interconnection

Research by Poyry forming part of the supporting evidence for the Smart Power report.

4 Mar 2016
Delivering future-proof energy infrastructure
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Delivering future-proof energy infrastructure

External research by UCL and the University of Cambridge's Energy Policy Research Group on the challenges and opportunities for delivering future-proof energy infrastructure, informing the Smart Power report.

4 Mar 2016
Call for evidence submissions
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Call for evidence submissions

4 Mar 2016

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