ScottishPower and SP Energy Networks have issued a roadmap which illustrates how local communities can play a key role in reaching the UK’s net zero goals. Published on Wednesday 23 October, Zero Carbon Communities provides forecasts from Capital Economics, which reveal that the UK will need to install more than 25mn electric vehicle (EV) charging points and up to 23mn heat pumps, the equivalent of over 4,000 EV charging points and heat pumps each day until 2050. Forecasts also show the total cost of transforming the UK’s transport and heating systems, as well as the electricity grid to manage increased demand by 2050 (£286bn), with £48bn solely allocated to reinforce the UK’s electricity networks. The roadmap also puts forth what is required at a local level: for additional powers to be devolved to allow communities a greater say in setting carbon priorities; to make plans for investments to meet community needs throughout the transition, and to ensure all regulations have ambitions in meeting decarbonisation targets.

ScottishPower