Nearly half of energy-sector professionals identify grid infrastructure and storage capacity as the main barriers to achieving net-zero emissions, according to a survey conducted by Cornwall Insight.
The poll, taken from 103 attendees at the CI Live conference, found that 48% view grid and storage limitations as the most significant challenge. A further 26% pointed to policy uncertainty and investment conditions, while 21% cited consumer engagement and behavioural change. Workforce capacity accounted for 5% of responses, the organisers said.
David Stevenson, lead analyst for renewable generation at Cornwall Insight, said the findings underline mounting concern over the pace of network development. “What this survey shows is a growing frustration that the grid simply hasn’t been keeping pace with the energy transition,” he said.
Stevenson noted that recent regulatory steps are welcomed but not sufficient. “Reforms such as the creation of NESO and the shift to a ‘First Ready, First Needed, First Connected’ approach are encouraging, yet they only tackle part of the problem,” he added.
Speaking at the event, Centrica chief executive Chris O’Shea warned that administrative delays risk slowing progress. “The clean energy transition cannot be slowed down by bloated bureaucracies,” he said.
Sonia Brown, group head of strategy, innovation and market analytics at National Grid, emphasised the link between infrastructure investment and the country’s decarbonisation goals. “What we are investing is very much needed, because we can’t have clean power coming through without the investment in the wires that are going to take it from the offshore wind, through to the customers that want to be consuming it,” she said.
