Electrification of the UK is the backbone of economic growth, it underpins success in every sector. The recent electricity outages in Spain and Portugal are illustrative of the importance of a secure and reliable electrical infrastructure. Without understanding the interrelated nature of the electrical landscape, the UK is equally vulnerable.
Yet, the electrical sector sits uncomfortably between construction and energy. As such we are often squeezed out of conversations with policymakers where we could offer practical industry solutions, preventing unintended consequences and red faces in Government. Across the industry we are in remarkable accord with the issues that matter; skills, regulation, electricity pricing, poor payment practices, and educating consumers.
For the government’s Clean Power 2030 mission, electricity is king. It is vital to energy security, and industrial renewal. Sarah Jones, Minister of State for Industry said recently, the upcoming Spending Review will tackle ‘how we shift people over to electricity’.
The opportunities of the energy transition are huge. It will reshape the way we power our homes, businesses, and infrastructure, unlocking new opportunities while protecting households and industries from the volatility of fossil fuel markets. The UK’s journey to net zero will be defined by its ability to electrify.
Earlier this year the CBI reported a 9% growth in in the green economy, while other sectors remain stagnant. Much of that success is down to the drive to electrify.
Yet, despite clear ambition, delivery is falling behind. Policy conversations tend to focus on energy generation - on where power will come from - while paying too little attention to the systems and workforce needed to deploy and integrate that energy across the built environment.
The transition to electrification is complex, shaped by a mosaic of interconnected challenges – a shortage of competent, qualified electricians risks slowing deployment; lack of consumer confidence affects demand; grid infrastructure capacity and planning constraints together with an unstable business environment hinder investment - each challenge reinforcing the next.
ECA's recently launched Blueprint for Electrification report brings everything into one place - a comprehensive, practical roadmap for electrification through the lens of those who will deliver much of it: electricians. It draws on wide-ranging insights from across the sector – network operators, energy providers, manufacturers, certification bodies, and installers – to show the holistic picture of the steps needed to achieve electrification.
The number one obstacle to electrification, identified by the independent Climate Change Committee, is the price of electricity. There is an increasing clamour among business and consumer groups for a review of electricity taxation, which is four times higher than gas.
But, electrification isn’t just an infrastructure challenge - it’s a behavioural one. Households must be confident, informed, and supported to adopt new low-carbon technologies. New national polling conducted by YouGov for ECA’s Blueprint shows a clear answer: the public trusts electricians to help them make the switch.
When asked who they would most trust to advise them on installing clean home technologies such as heat pumps, solar panels, or EV chargers, UK adults chose qualified electricians above all others. Almost a quarter (24%) of UK adults say they would trust a qualified electrician more than any other source – including authorities – to advise on which clean technologies to choose. This trust was highest among the youngest respondents aged 18-24, at 35%.
The Blueprint for Electrification makes it clear, it is worth talking to the electrical industry, we are key to the energy transition. The UK has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to be a global leader in electrification, creating a stronger, more resilient economy in the process.