What the energy transition looks like from inside the grid

From 2007 to 2016, Steve Holliday was the CEO of the UK’s National Grid. In that time, the share of electricity generated by renewables in the UK grew from 3% to 16%. Today, that number is close to 40%.

Rebecca and Joe talk to Steve about his time leading the National Grid through the beginning of the energy transition. They also get Steve’s perspective on some of the big questions around the future of the grid, including:

• The untapped potential of demand response and virtual power plants;
• Grid-scale batteries and the persistent issue of long-term storage;
• The role of nuclear in a fully green grid; and
• Whether AI will be a net benefit for the grid.

About our guest: 

Steve Holliday is the former Chief Executive of National Grid plc. He is currently Chairman of Zenobe and Cityfibre. Steve joined National Grid Group as the Board Director responsible for the UK and Europe in March 2001, becoming Chief Executive of the company in January 2007, which he led for almost 10 years, until 2016. Steve is a Fellow of both the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Energy Institute. He holds a BSc degree from Nottingham University and honorary doctorates from Nottingham and Strathclyde universities. His sporting interests include cycling and following the fortunes of the England Rugby team.

A transcript is available on the episode's webpage.

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