Future Power System Architecture - Main Report

The functionality of the GB electricity system will need to transform over the next decade to allow us to provide affordable, secure and clean electricity to homes and businesses.

This is not only to accommodate the renewable energy revolution, but also the parallel and equally revolutionary developments enabled by technology and big data – the rise of the smart consumer, smart communities, smart energy and smart cities.Much of the drive and innovation within the electricity system is coming from products and services finding application within consumers’ premises.

This means that developments on the consumer side of the meter, and previously largely ignored by the industry, will be setting the pace of change. There will be much more need for electricity supply, demand and networks to be considered as an integrated whole. This creates an opportunity for a more agile and cost-effective system if we harness the change, or brings new risks to manage if we choose to follow developments as they happen.