5 April 2023
Bridging the Gap
National Grid ESO, the electricity system operator for Great Britain, has unveiled its newest Bridging the Gap report, which considers how to make flexibility from domestic customers and from hydrogen possible, at scale, by 2035.
This year’s Bridging the Gap report tackles domestic end consumers and hydrogen. The latter is a key focus area for Xoserve, following our involvement in a series of hydrogen gas trials, which determine how hydrogen communities could work in practice and understand what’s needed to deliver these at scale.
The new Bridging the Gap report asks two key questions:
- How do we increase end consumer awareness of - and engagement in - energy, which will help the operation of a fully decarbonised electricity system?
- How do we deploy hydrogen as a source of flexibility to help the operation of a fully decarbonised electricity system?
Engaging with a broad range of stakeholders from across the energy industry, National Grid ESO asks what good might look like by 2035, what progress is already underway, and what barriers need to be overcome to achieve the 2035 vision.
Clarity key for consumers
The report uncovers a range of learnings. On the domestic end consumer side, it became apparent that a better understanding of different consumers, their motivations and ability to provide flexibility was required, in order to accomplish an energy transition that benefits all.
Other key messages included the need to develop new tariffs and products that all end consumers benefit from, so they have a role to play in a decarbonised electricity system, and a campaign clearly promoting how households can contribute to Net Zero ambitions, with consistent messaging about energy flexibility and efficiency.
Making hydrogen happen
When it comes to the adoption of hydrogen as part of Great Britain’s energy mix, the report prioritises the need to urgently develop the commercial frameworks and market design which will help develop the appropriate business models, while ensuring the right infrastructure is in place too.
It also stresses the importance of accelerated decision-making on hydrogen and its networks for production and transportation. The report recommends an independent body is established to oversee this.
Finally, it advocates the industry needs a flexibility roadmap, outlining what’s required to make hydrogen a reality between now and 2035, so the necessary investment can be made.
When looking to the future of Great Britain’s energy industry, it’s clear that flexibility is truly the key word. With gas producing 738 TWh of energy a year, there’s no question that a range of alternative sources - from hydrogen and renewable electricity, to nuclear generation - will be needed.
On that note, Xoserve welcomes this new report from National Grid ESO, which seeks to contribute to finding a way forward. With less than 30 years until the Net Zero deadline, the findings from the latest Bridging the Gap report has plenty to offer in how the future of the energy system might be shaped.
Click the link below and read the report in full to find out all the details.
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Spotlight on hydrogen
As part of UK Hydrogen Week, we shared a range of information covering hydrogen topics spanning across the energy sector.
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