The UK’s push for decarbonisation combined with Government policy in other areas such as housing will increase demand on the country’s electrical network, according to VisNet from EA Technology, a UK-based real-time low voltage asset management expert.
Dave A Roberts, Managing Director of VisNet Monitoring, says, “With Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Angela Rayner, doubling down on Labour’s promise to build 1.5 million homes in the next five years with an annual of target of 370,000 new homes, it is imperative that we adapt to new technologies that will help ease the impact on the electricity of the added demand this will create.
“These targets are an important step towards solving the UK’s housing shortage. However, such a rapid increase of new homes will have implications for owners and operators of the electrical network, with increased demand for new connections placing additional pressures on the grid.”
The drive for house building follows a string of legislation to supports the country’s net zero obligations and facilitate the uptake of low-carbon technologies (LCTs).
Dave continues, “Since June 2022, all new homes in the UK are required to have electric car charging points under Part S of the Building Regulations. Similarly, starting in 2025, gas boilers will be banned in all new build properties as part of the Future Homes Standard, which will favour the installation of more sustainable heating solutions such as heat pumps.”
Initiatives for existing housing are also driving demand for new grid connections. Programmes such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) offer grants to eligible homeowners to upgrade the energy performance of their properties, including the installation of appropriate renewable technologies.
Dave adds, “Whether new build or retrofit, one thing is certain: the increase in homes and the growth of LCTs will mean more pressure on the owners and operators of the network. Monitoring existing networks and accurately modelling new connections will be essential to future-proof our electricity networks.
“While it’s clear that the coming years present many challenges, there are numerous opportunities too, and we’re looking forward to helping our customers develop stronger, futureproofed networks as we take this next step on the journey towards net zero.”