Cost to rewire Great Britain’s electricity network could reach £90bn in 2030s

The cost of rewiring Great Britain’s electricity networks through the 2030s is now 50% higher than before the Labour government came to power, and could reach almost £90bn in the next decade, according to the energy system operator. Building new high-voltage transmission lines and infrastructure to connect low-carbon energy to the grid in the 2030s was initially forecast by the energy system operator to cost £58bn. Updated forecasts from the National Energy System Operator (Neso) now recommend network investments of £89bn could be needed to deliver the government’s clean power targets while meeting the country’s rising demand for electricity, including from datacentres . Neso, which is owned by the government, said the scale of investment was “broadly consistent” with its initial recommendations but had evolved to align with the UK government’s 2030 clean power action plan, an accelerated rollout of new low-carbon energy projects and rising inflation. Michael Shanks, the energy minister, said: “We are taking a strategic approach to building an energy system fit for the future – that safeguards our energy independence and keeps bills down while driving economic growth in every corner of Britain. …