Report highlights resilience of the UK energy networks

The energy networks in the UK have been highlighted in a Committee on Climate Change report published on Wednesday 9th July for its resilience and preparedness in addressing the risks from climate change and cites the approach taken as an exemplar for other infrastructure areas to follow.

The report ‘Managing climate risks to well-being and the economy’ commends the work in addressing flooding and the ability of infrastructure to withstand long term climate change related impacts. By designing in resilience and implementing the recommendations following the reviews of previous flooding incidents, no major networks infrastructure was adversely affected in the recent winter flooding.

Energy Networks Association Chief Executive David Smith said: “The UK networks are some of the most resilient in the world and that has been achieved through effective investment and preparedness. As this winter showed, however, severe weather incidents can pose major challenges and the energy networks are proactively looking at how to address other weather related risks.

“The energy networks maintain a long term record of weather impacts as part of a shared database and we have initiated studies with the Met Office into the future risks due to wind and gale, lightning and snow, sleet and blizzard. There is also an extensive preventative tree cutting programme and with further enhanced information on surface water flooding, is planning for this risk too.”

A copy of the report is available from the Committee on Climate Change.

www.energynetworks.org