Future Energy Scenarios (FES)

I am proud to introduce our 2025 Future Energy Scenarios: Pathways to Net Zero. 

This is our fifteenth FES and our first since NESO was established in October 2024 as an independent, public corporation at the centre of the energy system. 

FES provides an independent view of a range of future pathways for the whole energy system. It has become an important publication in the energy sector and is the result of a programme of close engagement with stakeholders across the industry, alongside our own extensive research and analysis. 

This last year has been characterised by action, acceleration and ambition, with the government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan setting out clear intent and pace. Progress is underway to deliver the infrastructure required to support this, with the extensive connections reform programme facilitating the faster connection of new supplies of clean, flexible power. We have also seen the Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan as part of the Modern Industrial Strategy as well as the first revenue support contracts for low carbon hydrogen and carbon capture projects in industrial clusters. 

Our pathways in this year’s FES, however, show the scale of work that remains. Change won’t happen overnight, and success relies on matching the pace and ambition of clean power, while looking beyond the power sector and beyond 2030. This means not only transforming our energy infrastructure but enabling homes and businesses to switch to low carbon energy sources for heat and transport, putting consumers at the heart of a new energy system and in control of the energy they use. Demand flexibility will play an important role here, making more of low-cost renewable generation and helping both consumers and the energy system. 

We are now in a new energy era. This era will be shaped by different waves of action. The last two decades have laid the foundations for the energy transition and the remainder of this decade will see rapid acceleration, followed by growth throughout the 2030s. All this will unlock the benefits of an affordable, secure and clean energy system on the 2050 net zero horizon. 

We need to consider each of these waves now. Success along the route to 2050 will depend on the choices made today. 

FES relies on robust insight and analysis. Our stakeholders are central to this, and I wish to extend many thanks for your input over the past year.