Well now, after a blissfully unstructured two-week pause—largely due to life having its own agenda (and no, it wasn’t me being lazy!), I’m back, tea in hand, kettle on, and ready to share some thoughts from my recent trip to the IET Powering Net Zero Conference, where I had the pleasure of speaking as an invited guest.
It was a beautifully choreographed confluence of three distinct tracks: power systems, decarbonisation pathways, and innovation; each feeding into one another like well-oiled cogs in a grand net-zero machine. Truly a celebration of systems thinking, which, if you’ve read any of my previous ramblings, is rather close to my heart.
The keynote came courtesy of none other than Chris Stark, Head of Mission Control, whose calm, data-driven presence was both reassuring and slightly intimidating. He reminded us that progress isn’t measured in isolation; it’s about context. For instance, when we look at renewable electricity generation from 2000 to 2025, the UK made impressive strides between 2010 and 2020… only to plateau since then. Meanwhile, China’s growth has been nothing short of exponential across the same period. So, for the UK to catch up and truly join the global clean energy league table? We’ll need more than ambition—we’ll need cost trajectories that match the pace of change. (See attached figure—yes, it’s dramatic, but also very real.)
Chris also touched on the Clean Power Mission and how streamlining the connections process could unlock much-needed capacity. But what really caught my eye was the slide on consumer-led flexibility—a gap of around 8 GW. Now, back-of-the-envelope maths suggests that, if this relies solely on smart EV chargers, we’d need roughly 3 million households onboarded by 2027. That’s about 10% of all UK homes—or nearly every single EV in the country!
I’ll admit, I blinked twice. How on earth are we supposed to do that in under four years? Then I remembered: most new home chargers are already smart. So perhaps it’s not quite as daunting as it first seemed. A small victory for progress, perhaps?
🎤 On Stage: Why Hydrogen Isn’t Just a Technology Problem — It’s a Systems Challenge
In my session, titled “Why Hydrogen isn’t just a technology problem — It’s a systems challenge”, I shared PNDC’s whole-energy systems approach to hydrogen adoption. Let me be clear: it’s not enough to build better electrolysers or fuel cells. The real magic—and the real risk—lies in how these technologies integrate across production, storage, transport, and end-use.
Drawing from hands-on testing of a hydrogen fuel cell truck and analysis of green hydrogen injection into the UK gas grid, we explored how system-level thinking can uncover hidden interdependencies before they become costly failures. Spoiler: de-risking deployment isn’t just technical—it’s systemic.
The talk was warmly received, with several thoughtful follow-up questions (including one asking whether our model could scale to regional grids—yes, but only if we stop treating each sector like a silo!). Honestly, it felt like being part of a conversation rather than a lecture—a rare and lovely thing at conferences!
📸 Conference Snapshots
Other delightful nuggets from the day:
- 🏺 Archaeologists are now essential in nuclear development! Yes, before any site can be commissioned, there must be an archaeological survey. With a shortage of skilled archaeologists, these surveys risk becoming lengthy delays in an industry already known for its… let’s say, leisurely pace.
- 💻 The generational divide in AI perception is fascinating. Younger engineers seem to treat controllers like Xbox remotes—no second glance needed, just press play and trust the robot knows what’s up. It’s both charming and slightly terrifying.
- 🔋 And finally, CIGRE’s definition of resilience hit me right between the eyes: “The ability to limit the extent, severity, and duration of system degradation following an extreme event.”
Quite poetic, really—like a power grid with emotional intelligence.
And because we’re all about balance here (and because no conference would be complete without a book or podcast recommendation), here are some gems I picked up:
- The Thinking Game (documentary) – described as “a masterclass in how decisions get made at scale” — very compelling indeed.
- The Rest Is Classified (podcast) – called “the hidden stories behind policy and security”, which sounds utterly gripping.
- Beyond the Wall by Katja Hoyer – recommended as “a vivid portrait of East Germany’s quiet revolutions” — already halfway through, and it’s brilliant.
I’ve added all three to my list, and honestly? They’re exactly the kind of content that makes you pause mid-cook, sip your tea slowly, and wonder how we got here—and where we go next.
So, dear reader — if any of these sound familiar, or better yet, if you’ve read them or listened to them already… I’d be absolutely delighted to hear your thoughts! What did you take away? Any others you’d recommend along similar lines?
After all, sharing ideas is half the fun — whether they’re about hydrogen systems or history told through the eyes of a former border guard. 😉
On my current reading list? Halfway through Thriving in a Male-Dominated Workplace (HBR Women at Work Series). It’s insightful, honest, and occasionally infuriating in the best way. Expect a proper blog post on it soon — unless something even more exciting comes along… like, say, a surprise garden gnome invasion. (We’ve had one before.)
So there you have it—a little science, a touch of whimsy, a sprinkle of reality check, and a whole lot of tea.
Thank you for being here. Whether you’re tuning in from a lab bench, your kitchen table, or somewhere between a crocheting session and an audiobook break—I’m so glad we’re sharing this journey together.
Until next time,
Warmest regards,
Priya