Net zero by 2050
The UK has set a world-leading target to tackle climate change, which is to achieve net zero by 2050. Put simply, this means that we will remove the same amount of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere as we produce.
As a country we are already making progress. The UK has the largest offshore wind capacity in the world, with some 8.5 GW operating and a further 1.9 GW under construction.
2020 was the greenest year on record for Britain’s electricity system. Spring 2020 saw the longest run since the industrial revolution without burning coal, stretching almost 68 days. 2020 was also a record-breaking year for renewables. Wind generation records were broken several times during the year, peaking at 59.9 per cent of the electricity mix on August 26. Solar power too set new records with 9.7 GW of power being produced, and its highest share of the electricity mix reaching 34 per cent on several occasions in May.
In April 2021, Great Britain’s electricity transmission network set a record for being the greenest it has ever been and in May 2021, wind power generated more than it ever has with 17.7 GW contributing to meeting our energy needs.
But more needs to be done. A healthier, greener future for Britain requires significant upgrades to our energy infrastructure to deliver clean green energy from where it is produced to where it is needed.
Our mission at National Grid is to support these aims. We believe by acting now, the UK can become the world’s first major clean economy, with net zero carbon emissions by 2050, creating growth and jobs for communities across Britain.