Early sceptics declared wind and solar impossible, but today's grid runs on 60% renewables. So in this episode, we track Britain's move towards renewable energy.
We discover the S-curve of clean energy adoption: the slow beginnings plagued by doubt, then explosive growth driven by feed-in tariffs, which rewarded early adopters, and finally, the accelerating race toward net zero.
Energy researcher Chris Goodall, Ofgem's Sophie Thorpe and Chair Mark McAllister reveal how battery storage, offshore wind and rooftop solar are transforming Britain's energy landscape—and why the UK's control over half the North Sea could power all of Europe.
Tell Sid he started a revolution. The 1986 privatisation of British Gas kicked off a transformation of Britain's energy landscape, from state monopoly to competitive marketplace. With it, a need for strong regulation. Ofgem's Jenny Boothe and Akshay Kaul reveal the regulator’s story from its inception 25 years ago.
Meanwhile, 2024 was Earth's hottest year, and carbon dioxide concentrations are rising faster than ever. Met Office scientist Dr Emily Wallace delivers stark truths on the climate crisis and how the energy industry needs to lead the way.
Clare Nasir is joined in this episode by
In this episode, the pivotal decisions and explosive moments that shaped our energy system in the 20th Century.
Built in recession, battle-tested in war, we learn about the foundation of the National Grid and how it came to provide energy to homes and businesses across Britain.
We also hear how the OPEC Crisis of the mid-1970s caused oil prices to quadruple overnight and led to decisions to diversify energy production to reduce vulnerability. But with bills skyrocketing during the Russia-Ukraine war, have lessons been learned? And were these past energy shocks a precursor to today's green transition?
Clare Nasir is joined in this episode by
Journey through Britain's remarkable energy transition, from depleting woodlands for fuel in the 16th Century, to becoming an industrial superpower in the 19th and 20th Centuries.
With the help of three leading experts, this first episode of Inside Energy tells the interconnected tales of innovation, conflict and transformation that shaped modern Britain. How coal fueled the British Empire, how oil helped to transform the Navy in the First World War, and how natural gas revolutionised how we heat our homes.
We also hear from Ofgem Chair, Mark McAllister, on the role the regulator plays in helping people understand the energy system as it undergoes its biggest transition yet.
Clare Nasir is also joined in this episode by