- The E&U Review
- Posts
- Issue 02: Resilience, Renewables, and Reform
Issue 02: Resilience, Renewables, and Reform
How pricing reforms, battery storage breakthroughs, and a green jobs push are creating new risks and opportunities for technology suppliers.
Hello E&U Crew,
Welcome to this week’s edition of the E&U Review. As we reach 23 June 2025, the latest developments in the UK’s energy and utilities sector remind us of the delicate balance between resource management and environmental sustainability. Read on to hear about England’s river water extraction levels, which have reached record highs, an urgent signal of the growing pressures on our natural water resources. Join us as we explore the implications of this trend, what it means for policy and communities, and how the sector is responding to safeguard the future. Let’s dive in together.
Octopus Energy likens UK pricing reform to Netflix disruption ⚡
TL;DR:
Octopus Energy CEO likens UK zonal electricity pricing reform to Netflix disruption, promising millions in industrial savings, reduced consumer levies, improved market efficiency, and support for renewables despite opposition.
Why Should you Care?:
Zonal electricity pricing could revolutionise the UK energy market by reflecting true local costs, cutting billions in subsidies, boosting renewables, and lowering bills, transforming inefficiencies into economic growth much like Netflix disrupted Blockbuster’s outdated model.
Overview:
Octopus Energy CEO compares UK's zonal electricity pricing reform to Blockbuster vs Netflix disruption.
Current national pricing causes inefficiencies, paying wind farms to curtail while gas plants increase output.
Zonal pricing could save millions annually for industries and reduce consumer levies by £900 million in a decade.
Reform aims to boost renewable investment, market efficiency, and lower energy bills despite sector opposition.
UK energy infrastructure modernised via £5bn digital contracts ⚡
TL;DR:
Sypro manages £5bn in contracts for SSEN Transmission, supporting over 250 UK energy projects with real-time updates and collaboration, enhancing risk management and aiding the low-carbon transition through transparent, timely delivery.
Why Should you Care?:
Sypro’s digital contract management is crucial in delivering £5bn of UK energy infrastructure, enabling real-time collaboration and risk management across 250+ projects. This partnership accelerates the low-carbon transition by ensuring transparency, governance, and timely delivery of critical transmission networks vital for energy security and sustainability.
Overview:
Sypro manages £5bn in contracts for SSEN Transmission, supporting UK energy infrastructure modernisation.
The partnership spans over 250 projects, including major HVDC subsea cable installations in Northern Scotland.
Sypro’s platform enables real-time updates, risk management, and collaboration across contractors and clients.
This digital contract management aids UK’s low-carbon transition by ensuring transparency and timely project delivery.
North Sea Link trip shows batteries stabilise grid 🔋
TL;DR:
The 2025 North Sea Link trip caused a 1.4GW power loss, with battery storage providing 40% of backup, highlighting batteries' crucial role and Quick Reserve's value in grid stability and renewable integration.
Why Should you Care?:
The North Sea Link trip underscores battery storage’s critical role in swiftly stabilising grids during major power losses, validating new market services like Quick Reserve and emphasising the need for expanded storage and interconnectors to ensure reliable, renewable-driven energy systems and cross-border resilience.
Overview:
The North Sea Link trip on 13 June 2025 caused a 1.4GW power import loss, dropping UK grid frequency below limits.
Over 60 battery storage assets provided 40% of lost power, alongside gas turbines and rarely used frequency services.
Quick Reserve service, launched in 2024, enabled rapid battery dispatch, creating new revenue streams and enhancing grid stability.
The event highlights the need for more battery storage and interconnectors to support renewable integration and energy security.
Labour commits to net zero, creating thousands of jobs 🌍
TL;DR:
Ed Miliband vows Labour will defeat net zero critics, aiming to quadruple offshore wind by 2030, creating 112,000 jobs mainly in Reform party regions, amid rising political opposition to the 2050 target.
Why Should you Care?:
Labour’s commitment to net zero and offshore wind job growth aims to counter political opposition by linking climate goals to economic revival, especially in regions vulnerable to anti-net zero sentiment, potentially shaping UK climate policy and voter support ahead of future elections.
Overview:
Ed Miliband vows Labour will overcome critics opposing the UK’s legally binding net zero by 2050 target.
The government plans to quadruple offshore wind capacity by 2030, creating up to 112,000 jobs.
Job growth is expected mainly in east England, Yorkshire and the Humber, and Scotland, Reform party strongholds.
Political opposition grows with Conservatives pledging to scrap net zero, while Labour promotes green energy investments.
Closed coal mines can power 300GW solar energy future ☀️
TL;DR:
Repurposing closed coal mines into solar plants could add 300GW renewable capacity by 2030, create over 577,000 jobs, and aid a just transition with policy support, transforming polluted lands into clean energy sites.
Why Should you Care?:
Transforming closed coal mines into solar plants offers a massive, practical opportunity to boost renewable energy, create more jobs than coal losses, restore degraded lands, and support a just transition. Making it a key strategy for accelerating clean energy adoption and combating climate change globally.
Overview:
Converting closed coal mines into solar plants could add nearly 300GW of renewable capacity by 2030.
96% of abandoned mines lie within 10km of electricity grids, facilitating solar energy development.
This transition could create over 577,000 jobs, surpassing coal industry job losses by 2035.
Policy support and incentives are crucial for a just transition and maximising this clean energy potential.
NESO predicts stronger, flexible UK grid for winter 2025/2026 ⚡
TL;DR:
NESO forecasts a 6.6GW operational margin for winter 2025/2026, boosted by battery storage and the Greenlink Interconnector. This will improve grid resilience, but NESO warns some tight supply days may need Capacity Market Notices.
Why Should you Care?:
The UK’s winter grid outlook for 2025/2026 shows stronger resilience due to expanded battery storage and interconnectors, reducing blackout risks and supporting energy security despite potential tight supply days, marking significant progress in grid modernisation and the energy transition toward more stable, renewable-based power systems.
Overview:
NESO forecasts a 6.6GW operational margin for winter 2025/2026, the highest since 2019/2020.
Growth in battery storage and the Greenlink Interconnector boost grid flexibility and capacity.
NESO cautions some tight supply days may require Capacity Market Notices to maintain stability.
Improved margins enhance grid resilience, supporting energy security amid global market uncertainties.
UK wind jobs surge; 112,000 projected by 2030 🌬️
TL;DR:
The UK wind sector workforce grew 24% to 55,000, aiming for 112,000 jobs by 2030, urging national training strategies, addressing skill shortages, and improving diversity for a sustainable clean energy future.
Why Should you Care?:
The UK wind sector’s rapid workforce growth and diversity improvements are crucial to meeting net zero goals, driving economic development, and ensuring energy security. Strategic training and cross-industry recruitment will address skill gaps, sustaining momentum in the clean energy transition and creating high-quality jobs for younger generations.
Overview:
UK wind energy workforce grew 24% to 55,000, with projections of 112,000 jobs by 2030.
Report urges national workforce strategy, regional training hubs, and fast-tracked training programs.
Skills shortages exist in turbine technicians, cable specialists, and planning officers; cross-industry recruitment encouraged.
Workforce diversity improves with 22% women and majority under 40, supporting inclusive, sustainable energy growth.
UK plans Thames Water nationalisation amid debt & fines 💧
TL;DR:
The UK government may temporarily nationalise Thames Water amid financial troubles; creditors want fine leniency for restructuring, but the Environment Secretary insists on full regulatory compliance and no easing of penalties.
Why Should you Care?:
The UK government’s firm stance against easing Thames Water’s environmental fines underscores a commitment to accountability, even as it prepares for possible nationalisation to stabilise the utility’s massive debt, signalling a critical balance between financial rescue and upholding regulatory standards in public services.
Overview:
UK government is preparing for possible temporary nationalisation of Thames Water amid financial instability.
Thames Water creditors seek regulatory fine leniency to enable a £5.3 billion debt restructuring plan.
Environment Secretary rejects easing fines, emphasising Thames Water must meet all statutory and regulatory obligations.
Special administration regime could wipe out £20 billion debt, impacting UK water industry and regulatory practices.
UK launches taskforce to boost tidal energy potential 🌊
TL;DR:
The UK’s Marine Energy Taskforce aims to unlock £50 billion tidal and wave power potential, creating 90,000+ jobs by focusing on development, financing, innovation, and supply chain growth to boost net-zero goals.
Why Should you Care?:
The UK’s Marine Energy Taskforce could help the UK unlock £50 billion and 90,000 jobs by harnessing predictable tidal and wave power, accelerating clean energy growth, innovation, and supply chain development, positioning the UK as a global leader while advancing its net-zero and sustainable economic goals.
Overview:
The UK Marine Energy Taskforce aims to help the UK unlock £50 billion tidal and wave energy potential through their 12 month plan.
It focuses on site development, financing, innovation, and supply chain growth with government and industry support.
Marine energy's predictability complements renewables, offering reliable power and boosting the UK’s net-zero goals.
Success could create 90,000+ jobs and position the UK as a global leader in marine renewable energy.
England’s river water extraction hits record high levels 💧
TL;DR:
Water extraction from England’s rivers and lakes has surged 76%, threatening ecosystems and sustainability. Government plans new reservoirs, recycling, and licensing reforms to balance rising demand with environmental protection.
Why Should you Care?:
Record water extraction from England’s rivers threatens ecosystems and sustainability, highlighting urgent need for infrastructure investment and regulatory reform to balance rising demand with environmental protection amid climate change pressures.
Overview:
Water extraction from England’s rivers and lakes has surged 76% over the past two decades, reaching record levels.
River abstraction now accounts for 61% of total water taken, up from under 40% twenty years ago.
Increased water use threatens aquatic ecosystems, wildlife habitats, and long-term water sustainability amid climate pressures.
Government plans include new reservoirs, water recycling, and licensing reforms to balance demand with environmental protection.
And Finally? Did you know, the high-voltage transmission network in Great Britain, managed by the National Grid, consists of over 7,200 km of overhead lines and 2,200 km of underground cables. Stretched end-to-end, the cables would reach from London to Tokyo.
Till next week,