The Great Grid Upgrade
The Great Grid Upgrade is the largest overhaul of the electricity grid in generations. Our infrastructure projects across England and Wales help us move more clean energy from more affordable sources around the country.
Powering the things you love
We’re building the UK’s energy future, switch by switch. Our infrastructure projects across England and Wales are helping to connect more secure, affordable and cleaner electricity to homes and businesses than ever before.
What is The Great Grid Upgrade?
The way we generate energy is changing, while at the same time, demand for electricity is increasing.
We need to build new infrastructure and make upgrades to the grid to transport more secure, cleaner, British energy from more affordable sources to where it’s needed. That’s where The Great Grid Upgrade comes in.
Energy evolution
The UK’s electricity grid was originally built to connect electricity generated by power stations burning fossil fuels, such as coal. As we move towards cleaner energy generation, for example from offshore wind in the North Sea, we need to build new transmission infrastructure, as well as upgrading the existing network.
Making more energy
The existing network lacks sufficient capacity to transport the volume of renewable energy that will be generated offshore. This means we need to upgrade our onshore electricity network through The Great Grid Upgrade, including cables, pylons and substations.
Needing more energy
Demand for electricity is expected to increase by 50% by 2035 and to double by 2050, as we decarbonise sectors such as heating and transport. Significant new infrastructure is needed to move clean energy from where it’s generated to where it’s needed. All of this is to ensure we can transport electricity to homes and businesses across England and Wales, providing secure, cleaner, British-generated energy from more affordable sources.
How are we making this happen?
Our projects fall into three broad categories: new offshore and marine links, new onshore infrastructure, and upgrades to existing infrastructure. Together, they'll help us move more clean energy from more affordable sources around the country.
Working with your local community
Local communities are at the heart of the UK’s transition to more secure, cleaner, British energy, from more affordable sources. We want to work closely with the people and places hosting critical new energy infrastructure to ensure lasting local benefits. By listening to local people, we can help shape community benefit programmes that reflect local priorities and deliver long-term benefits.
Find out more about our live community funds supporting projects connected to The Great Grid Upgrade. Shaped by local people, for local people, these funds are designed to address community priorities and have been developed in line with government guidance.
Keep up to date
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