Britain will only unlock the benefits of net zero by 2050 in an affordable and secure way if bold action on clean energy is taken now and beyond 2030, a new report by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) has said.

NESO’s first ‘Future Energy Scenarios: Pathways to Net Zero 2025’ (FES 2025) report said more needs to be done to empower households and businesses to switch to low-carbon heating, adopt effective energy efficiency measures and come to view demand flexibility as a normal everyday activity.

It revealed that electricity demand could rise nearly threefold from 290 terawatt-hours (TWh) today to between 705 and 797 TWh in 2050, becoming the main source of clean energy.

The study also examined the choices facing government, industry and households and considers three net-zero pathways with varying levels of electrification, hydrogen, bioenergy and consumer engagement. Read More