Research and analysis

Impact of interconnectors on decarbonisation

This report explores the impact of interconnection and associated cross-border electricity trading on carbon emissions at a regional level.

• From: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
• Published: 14 December 2020

Documents

The impact of interconnectors on decarbonisation

Ref: BEIS Research Paper number 2020/056

PDF, 1020 KB, 83 pages

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Details

Following the government legislating for net zero emissions by 2050, the potential role of electricity interconnectors in decarbonisation requires an evidence base to provide accurate quantification of the potential benefits of increased interconnection capacity and cross-border trade to lowering carbon emissions.

This report considers the decarbonisation implications of electricity interconnection at a European regional level, in both the near- and longer term, as decarbonisation policies are implemented in the UK and across Europe.

It takes a methodological approach of running models of the Great Britain and Europe electricity markets – including different decarbonisation scenarios in both GB and Europe - and measuring the change in carbon emissions in GB and Europe as a result of changing the level of interconnection between them.

BEIS commissioned Aurora Energy Research to undertake this work.

Published 14 December 2020