Powered On

In this thought-provoking episode of the Powered On Podcast, we delve deep into the heart of the UK's current energy conundrum, focusing on the recent government declaration that gas power plants will continue to play a critical role in the nation's electricity generation for the foreseeable future. With the UK committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, the decision to build new gas power stations—as replacements for aging ones—has sparked a widespread debate on how to balance immediate energy security needs with long-term environmental goals.Join us as we explore the nuances of the UK's reliance on gas amidst a push for renewable energy sources. We discuss the government's admission, highlighted by Rishi Sunak in The Daily Telegraph, that renewable energy alone cannot yet ensure a steady electricity supply, especially on "cloudy, windless days." This acknowledgment comes despite a vigorous push towards nuclear power by the UK Government in recent months.With 32% of the UK's total power generation still coming from gas in 2023, and the oldest of the current 32 gas power stations dating back to the early 1990s, we examine the strategic importance of gas in the transitional phase towards net zero. Additionally, we'll discuss the Government's plans to make new gas plants "net zero ready", raising critical questions about the viability of retrofitting them with carbon capture and storage or converting them to use hydrogen fuel.

Join us as we look back at the biggest stories of 2023 and discuss the big issues that impacted the electrical industry this year. From grid connection delays to breakthrough recyclable wind turbine blades, and wind power overtaking gas as the UK's primary electricity source, there's a lot to talk about in this episode. Also we'll discuss how the UK can stay competitive in the global race for green investment and the ambitious target of tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030. Don't miss this chance to recap 2023: A Year in (Electrical) Review with the Powered On team, and we'll be back in the new year with all new episode. But for now, have a great holiday season! 

Electrical Review's Powered On podcast is back, focusing on transport electrification. The episode dives into the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) in the UK, discussing the surge in numbers and the challenges in electrifying larger vehicles like trucks.Railway electrification is also a key topic. The slow progress and the need for more robust strategies to meet decarbonisation goals are highlighted, emphasising the Government's role in this transition.Maritime electrification gets attention too, with discussions on reducing emissions from cruise ships through onshore power facilities. The challenges and environmental impacts of this shift are explored before we go into more detail in the next episode.This episode of Powered On offers an overview of the electrification across various transport sectors, making it a valuable listen for anyone interested in sustainable transportation. For more information or to share feedback, contact hello@electricalreview.co.uk.

In the latest episode of the Powered On Podcast,  we delve into the persistent skills crisis shadowing the electrical industry. Following a preliminary discussion in our previous episode, we were privileged to have Andrew Eldred, Director of Workforce and Public Affairs at the Electrical Contractors Association, share his expert insights on this pressing matter.The current skills gap in the electrical industry has broad implications, with a recent ECA survey highlighting labor shortages as a growing concern for nearly half of the firms within the engineering services sector. The decline in employment within skilled trades between 2019 to 2021 further accentuates the crisis.We explore the possible myriad of factors that could be contributing to this shortfall, such as the ripple effects of Brexit, the pandemic, and a notable generational gap in the industry. The demographic challenge is stark, with the average age of an engineer in the UK being 55, spotlighting an imminent crisis as a significant portion of the workforce approaches retirement.Discussing potential remedies, the episode examines proposals from the IET for National Curriculum reform to foster early interest in engineering careers, as well as making Continuous Professional Development (CPD) courses more accessible for industry professionals amidst their demanding schedules.Be sure to tune into this enlightening episode of the Powered On Podcast to garner a deeper understanding of the skills crisis and explore the pathway towards a more electrified and skilled future in the electrical industry.

The latest episode of the Powered On Podcast tackles a potent issue that's been buzzing through the circuits of the UK's electrical industry: a palpable skills shortage. This episode delves into how this gap could jolt the UK’s aspirations towards a net zero future, a topic hotter than a live wire in today's climate discourse.The conversation sparks off with a glimpse into the gravity of the skills shortage, tossing some stark figures into the mix that highlight the need for a fresh wave of skilled hands in the electrical and engineering sectors. It’s not just a static issue; it's dynamic and evolving with the UK’s ambitious renewable energy targets.Brexit, the ageing workforce, and the ramifications on achieving net zero – it’s all laid out in a candid discussion that navigates through the intricate web of challenges and opportunities lying ahead.The dialogue doesn’t just stop at identifying the problems but ventures into the realm of solutions, with a spotlight on education, industry engagement, and fostering the next-generation of electrical whizz-kids.The quest for net zero is a collective endeavour, and this episode charges up the discussion around what it’s going to take to bridge the skills gap and keep the UK on track towards a greener tomorrow.The Powered On Podcast weaves a narrative that’s both enlightening and engaging, making it a must-listen for anyone plugged into the UK’s net zero ambitions or the electrical industry. So, tune in, power up your understanding, and get sparked up for a journey into the core of the UK's green-tech future.Plus, don’t forget to check out CPDWeek.co.uk to learn more about Electrical Review’s own initiatives to improve the ongoing skills gap. And join us next week on Powered On as we welcome Andrew Eldred, Director of Workforce and Public Affairs at the Electrical Contractors Association, as a special guest. 

Following Rishi Sunak's announcement that some of the Government's key net zero policies were to be pushed back, many in the industry reacted in disbelief. The UK has long led the decarbonisation charge globally, with the country seen as a beacon of what can be done with the right policy in place. It came out of hosting COP26 optimistic that it would spur a global push for net zero. However, despite its reputation as being bullish on net zero, that was all on the line following Sunak's announcement. He announced delays to the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles, while no longer forcing landlords to make necessary energy efficiency improvements in their rented properties. At the time of the announcement, Ford UK's Managing Director, noted that all they asked for from the Government was "ambition, commitment and consistency," arguing that "a relaxation of the 2030 date could undermine all three."Now that the dust has settled since the announcement, we're joined by Tom Callow, Head of Corporate Communications at myenergi, to explore what impact Sunak's changes will actually have on the industry. Will this delay the UK's transition to electric vehicles, or has reaction to the changes been blown out of proportion given the decision to maintain the ZEV Mandate. You'll find out in this episode of Powered On, as well as a general overview of the UK's direction of travel when it comes to net zero. 

Powered On  is back! After a long hiatus to launch Powered On Live, the popular podcast from Electrical Review is back. Unfortunately our timing couldn't have been any worse! Just as we finished recording the episode, Rishi Sunak went ahead and announced changes to the UK's net zero commitments. While you can find out more about that over on the Electrical Review website, Jordan O'Brien, Editor of Electrical Review, and Kayleigh Hutchins, Editor of Data Centre Review, explore how the UK is progressing towards its net zero goal. While there may be changes afoot, this episode will still be an interesting look at what we've achieved so far. Whether it's the success of offshore wind or the disaster of the recent Contracts for Difference, there's something in this episode for everyone. Also in this episode we announce a brand-new format for the Powered On Podcast -- and you may even recognise a new theme.  This new format should bring you more of what you love about Powered On, such as our informal approach to the latest moves within the electrical industry, while also putting experts in the hot seat to give you all the relevant information. We hope that you'll enjoy this episode of Powered On, and as always, if you want to get in touch, you can reach us at hello@electricalreview.co.uk. 

In this very special episode of Powered On, we’re joined by Stephen Rouatt, the CEO of Signify UK and Ireland. As you can expect from such a collaboration, this episode is all about lighting and its impact on both the environment and consumers’ pockets. Signify has gone all-in on achieving a massive reduction in carbon emissions, whether it’s through ditching plastic packaging or by investing heavily in renewables all around the world. The company is keen to see other companies commit to this decarbonisation, with Stephen positive that the UK will achieve its net zero goal.Renewable power and recyclable packaging aren’t the only ways to reduce your carbon footprint though. Stephen also highlights the importance of LEDs in reducing the impact lighting has on your energy footprint, with further savings coming from smart connected lighting. At this time many consumers may not be thinking about investing in LEDs to save carbon emissions, but Stephen highlights how LED lighting can easily pay for itself within just one year thanks to the huge energy savings. Tune in to this very special episode to learn more, but for those of you wanting to get even more out of Powered On, the upcoming Powered On Live event may be for you! Find out more at poweredonlive.co.uk. 

Happy Earth Day! Today is a day that we should be celebrating the planet that we live on, and looking to ensure that it has a future for years to come. In fact, you’ll likely see celebrations from Governments around the world as they proclaim their commitment to saving our planet from the disasters that await us if we don’t act on climate change.The UK Government is likely to be amongst the most vocal. Boris Johnson made a big deal of his Government’s commitment to fighting climate change, and heralded the UK’s leadership at COP26 as a turning point for this planet.However, is the Government of Boris Johnson actually leading when it comes to climate change? Well, if you were to take a look at the recent energy strategy released under his premiership, you may be having some serious doubts.In the latest episode of Powered On, join Jordan O’Brien and Kayleigh Hutchins as they cut through the noise surrounding the energy strategy and work out whether it will actually help the UK out of the ongoing energy crisis.You find Powered On on all popular podcast streaming services, such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and much more. As always, feel free to get involved with the show by emailing us at hello@electricalreview.co.uk. We'll be back with another episode in two weeks. 

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has called for the establishment of a new Government regulator that will oversee the rollout of electric vehicle charging infrastructure throughout the UK. The group has even come up with a name for this new regulator, dubbed ‘Ofcharge’. Despite the on-the-nose name, is this regulator actually needed? Well, we will discuss this very subject on the latest episode of the Powered On podcast, assessing the current state of EV charging in the UK and what changes need to be made to ensure equitable access to these charge points. 

In his hit song, Kermit the Frog asks ‘Do you know what's green?’ It’s a pertinent question to ask, especially with the world committing to net zero within a few decades. But in order to achieve those goals, we’re going to need to switch to green technologies, right? Well, as the lyrics go, it’s not easy being green. The European Union has positioned itself as a leader in going green, but it appears even it agrees with the Muppet’s bleak assessment. The political bloc has found itself between a rock and a hard place with various different interests to keep satisfied, and rather than admitting defeat, it has announced plans to alter the very meaning of the word green. In this week’s Powered On, we will assess the European Union’s plans to classify natural gas and nuclear as green energy sources, and ask what does it mean to be green? 

The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly known as Cop26, has finally wrapped up and while it was the largest and sixth longest to date, was it a success?That's what we will discuss on this week's episode of Powered On, chewing through the fat and analysing whether any of the new promises will actually result in moving the needle. The climate crisis is a train hurtling towards the end of the line, and governments around the world need to put the brakes on before the train runs out of track. However, despite the UK's leadership and Boris Johnson's hope that Cop26 would be 'the beginning of the end for climate change', things are rarely ever as black and white as they seem. So join us for the second episode of season two as Jordan O'Brien and Kayleigh Hutchins explore Cop26 and answer the question: was Cop26 a success or a total cop out?  You find Powered On on all popular podcast streaming services, such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and much more. As always, feel free to get involved with the show by emailing us at hello@electricalreview.co.uk. We'll be back with another episode in two weeks. 

The UK is currently experiencing an energy crisis, but could renewables be the saving grace to prevent one in the future? We're joined by a brand new hosting team who will explore that very topic. 

At the moment, the UK is rife with failure, mostly emanating from our government. I mean, whilst babies were dying in maternity wards, people were losing loved ones unable to say goodbye, and lifesaving cancer treatments were being pushed to the wayside resulting in yet more deaths, I can’t help but think this might have all been preventable had our Health Secretary had his eye on the ball. The next issue we have to contend with, in fact, an issue we’ve had to contend with for a long time and just haven’t bothered, is the current state of the UK’s power grid. Harping on about ‘net zero by 2050’ is all well and good, but our infrastructure is aging and unfortunately, in order to achieve this target, we’re going to need to drastically change the way we use energy and live our lives. Whether it be in the form of increased renewables, electric vehicles or more environmentally-friendly technologies, if the grid crumbles under the pressure of these new power drains, then what has it all been for? Just like with the current Covid situation, are we going to have diligently done our parts for over a year, making a myriad of changes and sacrifices, only for the powers that be to undo our efforts? Hopefully that won’t be the case here, as in this episode, we are joined by Joël Jaton, co-founder & CTO of depsys and Anja Langer Jacquin, depsys’s CCO, who help us to understand the current state of the grid, and what DSOs, or DNOs as they are known in the UK, should be doing with regards to digitalisation – which has a lot more layers to it than you might think – in order to avoid grid failure and thusly, avoid failing the consumer. As always, you can get in touch with any questions, feedback or suggestions for future discussion via our dedicated podcast email hello@electricalreview.co.uk. We hope you enjoy the episode!

In this episode, we discuss the ‘right’ routes into the industry, with insight on avoiding those dodgy online companies that – for a nominal fee – will claim to have you fully qualified and raring to go in a matter of weeks. Unfortunately, that just isn’t the case, and these companies are more than happy to take your money, in exchange for a “qualification” that isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.   Here at Electrical Review, we aren’t big on scamming the young people we need to sustain our future, so we explore the humble apprenticeship, the unsung hero of the electrical industry.   We’re also joined by a special guest, this year’s winner of the Screwfix Trade Apprentice Competition, 21-year-old Kaiden Ashun, who, from his work van no less, will be filling us in on what his apprenticeship involved why he’d recommend them to others and what it was like to bring home the gold – quite literally, he won £10,000 worth of stuff.  As always, you can get in touch with any questions, feedback or suggestions for future discussion via our dedicated podcast email hello@electricalreview.co.uk. We hope you enjoy the episode!   Extra resources:  For details of recommended training routes and qualifications valued by employers, please visit: www.electricalcareers.co.uk or https://www.electricalcareers.co.uk/joining-the-industry/training-routes/ the Electrical Careers website (produced by TESP). For details of the entry requirements for all apprenticeship standards, developed by employers, and where to find providers and current vacancies, please visit:  https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education website. For more detailed guidance on NICEIC changes: www.niceic.com/eas. PDF guide on NICEIC/ELECSA changes to EAS: EAS Entry Scheme Requirements EAS qualifications guide from the IET: https://electrical.theiet.org/media/2560/eas-20-440-eas-qualification-guide-2020-v11.pdf 

In this episode titled, ‘EV for EVeryone?’ contributing editor Jordan O’Brien (proud owner of an electric vehicle) attempts to knock editor Claire Fletcher (owner of decidedly non-electric vehicle) off the proverbial EV fence. Will he succeed? Give us a listen and find out. You never know, you might even learn something yourself.Despite the adoption of electric vehicles featuring as a key part of the UK government’s 10-Point-Plan to ‘build back greener from the pandemic’, there is still widespread misinformation, and general trepidation when it comes to making the switch from an ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicle, to an electric one. After all, most of us have grown up with the former. That said, with a ban on petrol and diesel vehicles coming into place as of 2030 (meaning you will no longer be able to buy a new ICE vehicle) people are going to have to wrap their heads round the prospect of EV’s pretty damn quick, lest they buy second hand until the ICE vehicle well runs dry.  From range anxiety to exploding batteries, EV’s still get a pretty bad wrap in the mainstream media, which is doing nothing to help quash public concern, or the planet for that matter. But, as human beings, generally, we don’t like change, but change doesn’t always have to be a bad thing. In this episode, we go over many of the common misconceptions surrounding electric vehicles, ask the questions we actually want to know the answers to, and find out what it’s really like to own an EV day to day from someone that knows. As always, you can get in touch with us with your feedback, suggestions for discussion and general comments via our dedicated podcast email hello@electricalreview.co.uk, it’d be great to know if any petrol heads have been swayed (even slightly).

What has the UK Government done to achieve net zero by 2050? That's the question we're going to be asking in this episode of Powered On. There have been countless promises and the proclamation of a Green Revolution, but what action has been taken to actually achieve our net zero goal?  We'll chew through the fat, exploring the promise of offshore wind powering every home by 2030, what Government incentives are out there for those wishing to be green, and the disaster that is the Green Homes Grant. 

Powered On, a brand-new podcast from Electrical Review, is finally here. In this episode, we’re discussing all things National Grid and the upcoming target of Net Zero. We’ll look at whether Ofgem is right about further independence for National Grid ESO, or if it’s fine just the way it is.Claire Fletcher, Editor of Electrical Review, and Jordan O’Brien, Contributing Editor, will also discuss what Net Zero means for the UK. Could we be seeing the end of the National Grid as we know it?As this is our very first episode, firstly, we will get better; secondly we want to make sure you’re involved in shaping the future of the show. You can get in touch with us with your feedback, suggestions and general comments at hello@electricalreview.co.uk.We’ll be back in two weeks with another exciting instalment of Powered On, where we will be discussing the Green Revolution and the Government’s current strategy (or lack thereof as the case may be). We hope you enjoy the episode!