Net Zero Power Scenarios

By Paul Homewood

https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/net-zero-the-uks-contribution-to-stopping-global-warming/

I’ve obtained a bit more detail from the Committee on Climate Change about their Net Zero plan.

First of all, the generation mix. This of course is only one of several scenarios, but it is regarded as being close to a likely one.

The following stand out:

Gas still plays a significant role. Indeed, last year gas only generated 119 TWh. This is only compatible with the Net Zero plan if CCS is used. (Which raises the question, why even bother with renewables?)
Gas capacity of 33 GW is slightly higher than now. Given retirement of a large chunk of present capacity, there would need to be a large scale rebuilding programme of CCGT.
Taking bio and nuclear as well, but excluding peakers, dispatchable capacity amounts to 51 GW. According to the CCC however, peak demand could be up 150 GW by 2050. This simply does not stack up with the capacity available, even with peakers included.

https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/net-zero-technical-report/

Electric Cars

The second bit of information concerns EVs.

The CCC have assumed that there will be about 46 million electric cars and vans on the road in 2050, with electricity demand of 76 TWh additional to now.

Peak demand for EVs is assumed at 40 GW. This is equivalent to 13 Hinkley Points.

Claims from sceptics to this effect have been rubbished by the National Grid and the likes of the ECIU, who have argued that smart meter charging would largely solve the problem. It seems they were wrong.

The CCC confirm that this extra demand is built into their power scenarios above.

As an estimated 43% of households don’t have off street parking, a large number of public charging points will be needed: