Behind the Grid
A look inside our electricity systems
Our lives are powered by electricity; it lets us talk to friends, listen to music, travel to work, cook our meals and so much more. When we flick a switch, the electricity is just… there. But do you ever wonder how that happens?
In our video series ‘Behind the Grid’ we take you behind the scenes of the UK’s electricity system to discover how it all works, from where the electricity is generated right up to where it’s used.
In the series you’ll meet our host James Stewart as he ventures forth into the unknown – join him on his journey ‘Behind the Grid’.
Image: James Stewart (L) visiting the BritNed interconnector site in the Netherlands
Discover the inner workings of our electricity systems
In our four-part documentary series ‘Behind the Grid’, we will lift the curtain to show you:
- the people who make it happen – from monitoring cables under the sea to climbing up 100ft pylons
- how – and why – we share electricity with the Netherlands and other European countries
- the different ways we’re making electricity supplies cleaner and greener
- how we’re making sure there will be enough electricity in the future for what everyone needs
- an exclusive look into our more unique teams and sites, like our helicopter unit and the ‘Power Mountain’ substation
- the upcoming challenges and hurdles with the supply chain for future grid projects.
Episode 1: From Sea to Shore
The Netherlands and many other European countries play an integral role in our electricity grid. Sharing clean energy with our European neighbours through interconnectors is really important for reaching net zero and also helping our resilience and energy security.
Find out what goes on behind the scenes of the remarkable feats of engineering that enable us to share energy with other countries through our interconnectors.
Episode 2: From Shore to Substation
Get ready to dive deeper into the UK's electricity system in this episode, which takes you inside National Grid’s Electricity Transmission network, highlighting the critical roles of our overhead lines teams and helicopter unit.
Join us to explore the unseen world of our transmission infrastructure and the passionate people who keep it running.
Episode 3: From Substation to Socket
Heading to National Grid Electricity Distribution, we uncover how power reaches homes and businesses across the UK and the incredible efforts behind keeping the nation’s lights on as we lead the way towards a net zero future.
Take a behind-the-scenes look at the people and projects powering our daily lives.
Episode 4: Charging the Future
In the final episode, we take to the water for a trip to Waltham Cross substation, exploring why upgrading to 400kV cables is essential for the future of our network and showcasing the harmony between infrastructure and the environment. We also step inside our UK HQ to meet the teams behind the control room, VR tools and detailed mapping that power The Great Grid Upgrade – learning how these innovations and dedicated teams ensure electricity keeps flowing to homes and businesses across the UK.
Watch episode 4 now
