Key Learning Areas will include:

• Introduction to the National Grid
  
  • History and evolution from the 1930s to a decentralized system
  • Role in energy security and decarbonization
• Key Energy Concepts
  
  • Understanding energy units (watts, kilowatt-hours, joules)
  • Carbon intensity and its impact on net-zero targets
  • Energy conversion: primary vs. secondary sources
  • Interactive exercises on household energy use
• The Physical Structure of the Grid
  
  • Power stations, transformers, transmission, and distribution networks
  • Virtual tours and case studies on grid infrastructure
• Electricity Generation
  
  • Fossil fuels: their decline and environmental impact
  • Renewable energy: wind, solar, hydro, biomass, and tidal
  • Comparing carbon intensity of different generation methods
• Energy Storage
  
  • Battery storage (lithium-ion, flow batteries)
  • Pumped storage hydroelectric (e.g., Dinorwig in Wales)
  • Emerging trends: hydrogen and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) solutions
• Grid Operation and Management
  
  • Balancing supply and demand in real-time
  • Role of the Electricity System Operator (ESO)
  • Smart grids, digitalization, and demand-side management
  • Interactive simulations on grid balancing
• Future of the Grid and Net Zero
  
  • Integration of renewable projects and offshore wind
  • Modernization and reinforcement of grid infrastructure
  • Decentralization, local energy plans, and interconnectors
  • Guest speaker from a Distribution Network Operator (DNO)

Who Should Attend?

• Local authorities
• Sustainability leaders
• Anyone interested in the future of the UK’s energy system
  
  

  Date: June/July

  Location: TBC

  Pricing: £TBC