Future energy challenges

Capacity and carbon challenges

Over the next 25 years the population of the North West is expected to grow by 10%. We also face the challenge of making the transition to a low carbon future. To meet government carbon reduction targets we all need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels like gas and petrol and change to renewable sources such as wind and solar power. This means that as a country the demand for electricity could double by 2050 which will have a significant impact on our network.

If we continue to use our electricity network in the same way as we do now, we will need to invest nearly £9 billion in the North West to expand the network and cope with the extra demand as early as 2025. This would be a massively disruptive programme of work which would mean much higher bills for customers in the future.

Impact of a low carbon future

Low Carbon Network Fund

The £500 million Low Carbon Networks Fund (LCN) has been set up by Ofgem, the industry regulator, to provide vital backing for a series of leading-edge projects aimed at developing crucial knowledge and expertise which can be shared across the electricity industry.