European electricity plan to cut costs and make jobs

Connecting the UK's electricity system with neighbouring countries would allow the National Grid to balance supply and demand more effectively which will become essential as polluting yet flexible fossil fuel generation is phased out, in favour of clean but intermittent sources of renewable energy.

This initiative could also allow the UK to become a net exporter of energy, though the cost of developing such a supergrid could be very high.

Between 80 and 280 wind farms are likely to be constructed in the North Sea in the next 20 years. The cost and size of these new assets would be prohibitive if single connections to the shore were made, according to the report.

The Committee also suggests that offshore connections are developing in a haphazard way and need more coordination from Government if it is to achieve its ambitious plans for offshore wind.

The Government should adopt the advice of the Committee on Climate Change and provide certainty to investors by making a firm commitment to support offshore wind and marine generation through the 2020s in order to create the confidence necessary for anticipatory investment from the private sector.

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