The UK’s journey to net zero is being led not by bold slogans, but by the silent transformation of its power systems. In June 2025, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) published its annual statutory assessment of the UK’s progress toward meeting its legally binding climate targets, including net zero by 2050. The report, Progress in Reducing Emissions.
This latest edition reviews the period up to early 2025 and assesses actions taken in 2024 related to achieving UK net zero targets. This new report highlights major strides in electricity decarbonisation, while issuing a stark reminder: without faster action on grid reform, EVs, heat pumps, and digital infrastructure, momentum could stall.
Grid reform: Decarbonised, but demanding much more
Since 1990, emissions from electricity generation have dropped by more than half, an unmistakable success story. Yet there is no time for complacency. The Clean Power 2030 Action Plan sets the right tone for scaling renewables, but the CCC warns that delivery is everything.
The backbone of this energy transition – the UK’s grid infrastructure – needs urgent reinforcement. Smart connections, flexible systems, and rapid deployment of clean capacity are no longer optional.
And, the CCC’s most pointed recommendation? Make electricity cheaper for consumers. Without affordable tariffs, the incentives to switch to electric vehicles or ditch gas boilers for heat pumps lose their edge. Lowering power bills isn’t just economic justice; it’s strategic climate policy.
Transport: Charging ahead, but it’s still a long road
The UK’s transport emissions are finally easing, falling for the second year in a row. That’s largely thanks to a near-doubling of EVs on the road every two years and the fact that nearly 1 in 5 new cars is now electric.
However, the next leap won’t be as easy. The CCC projects that millions more EVs, an extensive public and private charging ecosystem, and robust grid upgrades will be needed by the late 2020s. The report warns that sluggish commercial fleet transitions, weak depot infrastructure, and limited adoption of electric vans and buses could threaten net zero progress if not addressed properly.
Heating homes: Heat pumps rise, but uptake lags
Heat pumps had a bumper year in 2024, with installations up 56%, but the UK still lags behind Europe with less than 1% of homes equipped. That’s a major problem potentially; home heating is one of the most emissions-intensive segments of the UK’s economy.
The CCC recommends three critical interventions: Extending the boiler upgrade scheme, setting a clear end date for new fossil fuel boilers, and building public trust with predictable pricing and accessible information.
The connection between heat and power is clear: cheaper, greener electricity makes the heat pump business case far more appealing. Without aligning these sectors, decarbonisation risks slowing to a crawl.
The quiet load: Data centres and digital electrification
Although they are not always given the spotlight, data centres are quietly shaping the future of the energy system. The CCC flags a broader challenge: every sector is electrifying, and that means electricity demand is set to surge.
Smart planning for grid capacity and integrating digital loads like data centres into flexible, renewables-led systems, will be essential. Research shows that widespread EV adoption can even support the grid through vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and smart charging innovations. The same logic applies to the tech sector: electricity demand can be a burden, or an asset, depending on design.
Final word: Urgency meets opportunity
The CCC’s 2025 message is clear: The UK is not failing, but it is not moving fast enough to decarbonise. Electricity is the cornerstone of the net zero economy. Decarbonised power, connected grids, widespread electrification, and empowered consumers and businesses are no longer future-facing ambitions, they are today’s delivery test.
The positive takeaway is that the infrastructure is coming online, policies exist, and connections reform is underway. The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has published a new timeline for example for the delivery of connections reform across 2025 to provide clarity to developers as part of the once-in-a-lifetime reordering of the electricity transmission connections queue. What’s needed now is greater clarity, and a relentless focus on execution.
