UK's Journey to Net Zero

    Dr Alan Jones, PhD, CEng, FIET.    Summary The expansion of Great Britain’s renewable generation has identified constraints with a significant number of existing high-voltage electricity transmission networks and associated substations which, coupled with the age of many of these systems, means new infrastructure with larger capacity will be required.   This can cause problems for communities in both accepting such infrastructure and dealing with the consequences.  This paper attempts to provide a credible explanation for how people and communities within rural Scotland in general and one specific region in particular are likely to perceive these impacts and the possible consequences. The outcomes of this paper, if aided by further research, may be used to achieve ‘greater acceptance’ of future electrical transmission infrastructure projects by awareness of the socio-economic sensitivities at the early development stage of a project lifecycle....

  Dr Alan Jones, PhD, CEng, FIET.   Introduction Most campaign groups begin life because of some external developer planning an activity or development that is perceived by local people to result in unwelcome consequences for the community. This usually results in individuals coming together with the aim of objecting, of stopping the development, of making a noise and getting their views into the public domain as if to shame the developer in the hope they will go away.  Sadly, this tactic tends not to work too well with large developments, especially if they are of national importance. The result – disappointed residents who must resign themselves to both having failed in their endeavour as well as having to live with the consequences once the development receives planning permission and begins to take shape. Sadly, the probability of success will always lie with the developer, but campaign groups can enhance their arguments and effectiveness, and thereby their chanc...