2022: National Grid's net zero milestones
Every year we work harder than ever to find new innovative ways of decarbonising the energy system and moving closer to reaching our net zero ambitions.
Our vision is to be at the heart of a clean, fair and affordable energy future, and in the past year we’ve achieved some impressive milestones that take us a step closer to making a net zero future a reality for everyone.
1. We announced our vision for a fossil-free future
This aims to fully eliminate fossil fuels from our US gas and electric systems, enabling the customers and communities we serve to meet their heating needs without using fossil fuels by 2050. Our plan is based on energy-efficient buildings, a 100% fossil-free gas network, hybrid electric-gas heating systems, networked geothermal heating and targeted electrification.
Our vision for a fossil-free future
2. We helped to connect the world's largest wind farm
Our substation at Killingholme in Lincolnshire was upgraded to help connect the largest wind farm in the world to Great Britain's electricity system.
Hornsea 2 offshore wind farm became fully operational on 31 August 2022. It generates over 1.3GW of low-cost, clean and secure renewable energy from 165 wind turbines – enough to provide power to more than 1.4 million homes.
3. We retained our place on the Climate A-list for the 7th year running
2022 was the 7th year that we’ve been recognised by global environmental non-profit CDP, securing a place on its prestigious ‘A List’ for leadership in corporate sustainability.
CDP holds the largest environmental database in the world and this year scored nearly 15,000 companies on their climate change, forests and water security disclosures.
The companies they select are seen as are leading the way in environmental transparency and performance on climate change, deforestation and water security.
4. We kicked off the Smart Path Connect project, to add 1GW of renewable energy across New York
In December 2022, we broke ground on the NY Smart Path Connect project in partnership with the New York Power Authority. This $1 billion project is expected to:
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rebuild more than 100 miles of transmission lines
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deliver an extra 1GW renewable energy flow across New York
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avoid more than 1.16 million tons of CO2 emissions each year
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save more than $400 million in transmission congestion annually
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create hundreds of clean energy construction jobs.
Read more about the Smart Path Connect project
5. We saw a record amount of wind power in Great Britain
Britain’s wind farms contributed a record 26.8% of the country’s electricity in 2022. The share of wind power in Britain’s electricity mix was up from 21.8% in 2021, the data showed, as more wind projects came online.*
6. Western Power Distribution (WPD) became National Grid Electricity Distribution
Joining with WPD – the UK’s largest electricity distribution business – means that we’re now the biggest electricity transmission and distribution operator in the UK. This means we’ll be well-placed to make the most of the huge increase in electricity demand that we’ll see in the years ahead, as we continue to work towards a clean, fair and affordable energy future.
Find out more about National Grid Electricity Distribution
7. We were recognised as a European leader on climate change
National Grid Electricity Distribution (formerly WPD) was internationally recognised for its ‘outstanding’ role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and tackling climate change in 2022.
We’ve been listed as one of Europe’s Climate Leaders for 2022 by the Financial Times and independent data company Statista. They identified and assessed thousands of companies across 33 countries and looked at how much the firms had cut scope 1 and scope 2 emissions between 2015 and 2020.
8. We deployed the first pole-mounted EV chargers in Massachusetts
This new kind of electric vehicle charger is mounted on city power poles 10 feet above the street, and will provide EV charging access to those without private garages or dedicated parking, creating a more fair, clean energy future.
This project was the first deployment of pole-mounted EV chargers by an investor-owned utility in the US, and hopes to expand EV adoption, accelerate usage and lower installation costs.
We have also now installed over 3,200 EV charging ports across New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, half of which are located in environmental justice and disadvantaged communities.
9. We became part of a ground-breaking multi-purpose interconnector scheme
To support the UK’s growing energy needs, Ofgem have selected two National Grid projects – Eurolink and Nautilus – to be part of the pioneering Multi-Purpose Interconnector (MPI) Pilot scheme.
MPIs can link offshore wind farms to other countries via high-voltage subsea cables. This will accelerate the delivery of offshore wind, reduce the impact of infrastructure on coastal communities and have the potential to increase British and European energy security in both the medium and long term.
Find out more about multi-purpose interconnectors
10. We celebrated one year of reinvested in our New York communities with Project C
Project C is a program designed to go beyond the safe, affordable energy that we provide to our customers in New York.
On the 1-year anniversary of Project C’s launch, over 2,000 National Grid employees volunteered over 11,000 hours across New York; supporting foodbanks, cleaning up neighborhoods and parks, mentoring children and more.
11. We completed one of the first solar-plus-storage non-wires alternatives in the US
Partnered with Convergent Energy + Power, we completed one of the first solar-plus-storage non-wires alternatives in the United States, in suburban Syracuse, NY.
A non-wires alternative (NWA) removes or defers the need to construct or upgrade components of a distribution and/or transmission system.
The system will deliver more cost-effective, reliable and sustainable electricity to National Grid customers in Cicero, New York, while also leveraging solar energy during non-peak periods.
Read more about this non-wires alternative project
12. We're speeding up the process for connecting to the grid
We’ve commenced work on our Sundon 'grid park' – an innovative, efficient new way to connect renewables to the electricity transmission system. The new grid park, which will be energised in 2023, will connect three separate customers to the same new supergrid transformer.
Read more about the Sundon grid park
BONUS MILESTONE: We celebrated 30 years of customer service excellence
National Grid Electricity Distribution achieved the 2022 Customer Service Excellence (CSE) standard with a record number of top ratings – marking 30 years of outstanding customer service.
We’re one of the few companies assessed by QIA Services Ltd to hold the standard continuously for 30 years. We also continue to have zero non-compliance or partial compliance ratings.
Find out more about our journey to net zero
*Data provided by National Grid ESO
