Answering your questions on energy

Find out more about how energy works, from its history to the innovations and technologies that could help us build a cleaner, greener energy system for the future.

What is the clean energy transition?

The transition to clean energy involves shifting energy production away from sources like fossil fuels to sources of energy that release fewer or no greenhouse gases, like renewables. Find out why it’s so important and how it’s being made possible.
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What is National Grid?

We’re the largest electricity transmission and distribution business in the UK, delivering electricity safely, reliably and efficiently to the customers and communities we serve, while working towards a cleaner, greener energy future.
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What role does National Grid play in my energy bill?

We receive a lot of questions about how your household energy bills are made up, and which parts of your bill relate to National Grid. The bill you receive from your energy supplier is made up of a number of separate charges. Some of these charges are based on the different stages through which electricity makes its way from the producers to your home, so we explain this journey and where National Grid fits in.

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Net zero and carbon emissions

You may have heard the term net zero, but what does it mean? And why is it so important that we reach net zero carbon emissions? Find out the answers to these questions and much more in this section.

What is net zero?

Why is net zero so important?

Carbon neutral vs net zero – understanding the difference

What are scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions?

What are greenhouse gases?

Carbon capture technology and how it works

What is carbon capture and storage (CCS)?

What is carbon intensity?

What is carbon sequestration?

What is SF6? Sulphur hexafluoride explained

What is a heat pump?

How do heat pumps work?

Renewable, clean and green energy

What’s the difference between renewable, clean and green energy, and how are different energy sources helping the clean energy transition? Find out more in this section.

What happens when the wind isn't blowing and the sun isn't shining?

What are the different types of renewable energy?

What is renewable energy storage?

What is green energy?

The North Sea: a clean energy powerhouse of the future

How does a wind turbine work?

Can wind turbine blades be recycled?

What is offshore wind power?

Onshore vs offshore wind energy: what’s the difference?

Wind power: your questions answered

What are electricity interconnectors?

What are Offshore Hybrid Assets?

How does solar power work?

Solar power: your questions answered

How much of the UK’s energy is renewable?

What is renewable natural gas (RNG)?

What is biogas?

What is hydrogen?

The hydrogen colour spectrum

Heating our homes with hydrogen

What is battery storage?

What is LNG?

What is nuclear energy (and why is it considered a clean energy)?

Your electricity supply and the electricity network

National Grid is the largest electricity transmission and distribution business in the UK. Find out more about where your electricity comes from and how the electricity systems work.

How are our UK Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects approved?

Where does electricity come from? The journey of electricity to your home

How will our electricity supply change in the future?

What’s the difference between electricity transmission and distribution?

What is a pylon?

Facts about electricity pylons

What is a T-pylon?

What is a substation?

Is living next to a substation safe?

Energy: past, present and future

In this section we take a look at the history of energy and the key discoveries and inventions along the way, from where it all started to our energy present and future.

The history of wind energy

The history of energy in the UK

The history of energy in the United States

The history of the supergrid in Britain

What is a smart city?

Electric vehicles and the journey to net zero

Electric vehicles (EVs) are growing in popularity across the globe and are instrumental in helping to reduce global carbon emissions and reach net zero. But there are still many uncertainties and even misconceptions about their capabilities. Find out more in this section.

Can the UK grid cope with the extra demand from electric cars?

What is EV charging anxiety – and is range anxiety a thing of the past?

Net Zero know-how: Charging EVs on the move could end range anxiety

Smart ways to shift the journey towards EVs for everyone into the fast lane

Stories

Energy is changing. Meet the people driving this transformation, discover the tech and engineering solutions helping us deliver a cleaner, greener energy system and explore what the future might look like.
 

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