Will Boris Johnson’s 10‑Point Climate Plan Deliver a UK Energy Revolution?

Boris Johnson

The UK’s energy sector is already moving toward a greener future, according to Rachel Eyres, a business unit leader at Expleo UK. Over the past decade, fossil‑fuel emissions fell by nearly 30%, and during the COVID‑19 lockdown the national grid operated without coal for two months—raising the question of whether the remaining coal‑fired stations should be retired permanently.

Despite this progress, gas (and sometimes diesel) remains the backbone of power generation, especially during peak demand. Boris Johnson’s 10‑point climate plan aims to shift the balance, but achieving this will require sweeping system and process changes, placing technology at the core of the nation’s green industrial recovery.

Technology is already proving to be a powerful catalyst for environmental progress. A recent Expleo survey found that 57% of respondents believe technology will be key to meeting the NetZero target by 2050, while 41% want more renewable innovation over the next decade.

Technology: The Key to Resolving Climate Change

Energy companies are listening. Solar panels, electric heating, batteries, and smart meters have transformed residential energy use, while local trading platforms, low‑carbon heating solutions, and smart EV charging are emerging to further clean the sector.

However, achieving true flexibility across the entire industry demands a broader technology investment—including smart metering, faster switching, and half‑hourly settlement programs.

Greater Use of IoT

Integrating new gas types, such as hydrogen, into the existing network will require a robust monitoring framework. This calls for an expanded Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem—what some are calling an “internet of pipes”—and advanced data analytics to track performance in real time.

Offshore wind offers another growth vector, but its integration poses grid challenges. The UK’s geographic advantage positions it to lead in offshore wind, yet the current grid infrastructure struggles with the variable, bidirectional output of such generation. The 2019 Hornsea One outage underscored the need for a smarter, more flexible grid that can manage these fluctuations while keeping the lights on.

Digital Upgrade Needed

Both low‑carbon sources and a resilient grid hinge on a complex digital overhaul. Energy firms were already accelerating technology transformations pre‑COVID to stay competitive and deliver faster product cycles. The pandemic only hastened this trajectory, compressing several years of change into a few months.

Adding new technologies to an already dynamic landscape amplifies risk. For utilities, where continuity of service is paramount, every new system must be rigorously tested end‑to‑end to ensure reliability across the network.

Independent Assurance

Given the fragmented nature of the energy market, many transformation programmes must be centrally coordinated. Independent assurance mechanisms—automated by Expleo—provide a safety net that ensures rapid, high‑quality delivery while safeguarding against disruptions.

As we recover from COVID‑19, the opportunity to rebuild a greener, more resilient future is clear. By re‑engineering the types of energy we use and how we monitor consumption, we can meet environmental goals while managing inherent risks.

Author: Rachel Eyres, Business Unit Leader, Expleo UK. With over 20 years of experience in energy and utilities, Rachel has guided clients through smart metering, power distribution, smart grids, and smart city initiatives, and remains focused on the rapid technological evolution driving the sector.