Network Investment and Electric Vehicle Rollout Required for 2050 Net Zero: the Importance of Electricity Price Impacts in Driving Policy Trade-offs

This research briefing is the first of two generated by a new research project funded by the National Centre for Energy System Integration (CESI) which focuses on addressing the question of ‘Who ultimately pays for and who gains from the electricity network upgrade for EVs to support the UK’s net zero carbon ambitions?. This research builds on a body of work produced through projects funded by CESI, Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN), and the Bellona Foundation. Generally, addressing the question of ‘who ultimately pays’ involves consideration of a range of indirect, unanticipated and unintended, consequences of network development for EVs through impacts on markets, prices and incomes across the economy. Our integrated scenario simulation approach reflects consideration of how consumers respond to ‘smart charging’ capability that in turn determines required levels and timing of investment in different timeframes to support the network upgrades necessary to enable the projected EV rollout, and to realise the sustained expansion of the UK economy that can ultimately be supported. We also consider scenarios where the pace of EV rollout for net zero may not actually be achievable if, for example, there are constraints on EV manufacture at UK and/or global levels both absolutely and/or in different timeframes.