Recommendation 26

Demand on the grid is likely to grow due to the increased demand for electric cars and heat pumps and a rising number of data processing centres, as well as the move to building more new homes.78 In addition, the Department also has plans to achieve a decarbonised, or clean, energy system by 2030, which might impact on the stability of the grid because of the increased reliance on intermittent renewable sources of energy, such as wind and solar power. The Department recognised that it needs to make sure that, across the grid, it has sufficient flexible generation to accommodate variations in supply from intermittent renewables which vary according to weather conditions. It also noted the need to ensure that the grid can sustain a consistent pace of operation.79