Conrad Energy

Today, Great British Energy released its inaugural strategic plan, outlining key priorities for scaling low-carbon generation and storage across the UK. Key highlights include: • Local Power Plan: New support for communities and public services through grants, loans and blended finance to accelerate local renewable projects. • Significant build-out targets: Onshore wind increasing to 36-39 GW and solar to 56-62 GW by 2035, with re-powering and better use of public and private land central to delivery. • A major boost for storage: Battery capacity set to more than triple, reaching 25-33 GW, alongside 7-10 GW of long-duration storage by 2035. Achieving these ambitions will require close collaboration between Great British Energy, community partners and the private sector. We’re committed to playing our part in delivering flexible, reliable and low-carbon power for the UK’s future energy system.

It’s been three years since 18 battery units arrived in Swindon, marking a key step in delivering our 20MW battery energy storage site. Fast forward to today and the project is energised, operating, and supporting the electricity needs of around 40,000 homes for two hours. Working with GE and Green Frog Connect, the site now provides essential frequency and stability services to the UK grid. Take a look back at how it all came together.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) World Energy Outlook 2025 projects that global electricity demand could rise 40–50% by 2035. This increase is largely driven by continued electrification across transport, heating, manufacturing, and everyday appliances, alongside the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure. Read the report via https://lnkd.in/gYBcsGT7. One notable trend is the expected tripling of data centre electricity consumption, with the U.S., EU and China accounting for most of this growth. While data centres will still represent less than 10% of total demand expansion, their influence on grid requirements will be significant. For Conrad Energy, these insights align with the growing need for flexible, reliable and efficiently delivered power solutions. As demand patterns evolve, so does the importance of flexible generation and smarter energy management. It’s an interesting moment for the sector. One that highlights the value of bespoke, flexible and scalable approaches to supporting the energy transition.

If you’re an Energy Intermediary, you might like to join us for our next Intermediary Academy webinar: Smart Switching — The Fundamentals of Flexible Electricity Supply. The energy market is more dynamic than ever and understanding how to navigate that volatility is essential for intermediaries and their clients. That’s why the next training webinar we’re offering is focused on the opportunities and practicalities of flexible electricity supply. Date: Wednesday 10 December Time: 11:00am Register via: https://lnkd.in/efBP3h32 What you’ll learn: • The energy market landscape: current trends, volatility, and why flexibility matters • Flexible vs fixed contracts: what flex really means and how timing influences cost • The benefits of flex: improved control, better risk management, and support for sustainability goals • What to consider before switching: market knowledge, common pitfalls, and how suppliers can support TPIs • How TPIs can add value: using data to educate clients and strengthen trust, plus partnership opportunities Whether you’re new to flexible supply or simply looking to refresh your understanding, this session will provide clear, practical insight you can take straight back to your clients. Please feel free to share the invite to your colleagues. We look forward to seeing you there.

Climate ambition is back – and this time, it’s serious. Accenture’s latest survey https://lnkd.in/eVS7BdrS shows the world’s largest companies are resuming net zero commitments after last year’s pause: • 41% now have full value-chain targets • Europe leads at 65%, Asia Pacific fastest growth • 90% link decarbonisation to business value But only 16% are on track for 2050 goals. The gap between ambition and action is real. Conrad Energy is stepping up: • Building a range of renewable generation, battery storage and grid stability projects to sit alongside our existing flexible generation assets • Larport Solar Farm: 40,000 MWh/year, cutting >9,000 tonnes CO₂ • Driving a more efficient and resilient grid through machine learning-enabled technology Net zero isn’t just about compliance – it’s about competitiveness.

As the winter weather takes hold, Thomas Hardman in our Trading team gives us a view on this week's cold snap: Market conditions are still broadly comfortable and well balanced. This week temperatures are falling to comfortably below the seasonal norm for the first time this winter, as a cold snap hits the UK and Europe. Lows of around 2°C are expected on Thursday 20th. This has driven large increases in national demand, expecting to peak at 43.2GW on Thursday, 12.8% higher than last week's peak of 38.3GW. Renewables continue to provide resilience. Wind generation is forecast to average 10.0GW this week, with highs of ~15.0GW midweek. Solar output is also comfortably above seasonal expectations, peaking at ~7.0GW. These contributions are helping to balance the system despite elevated demand. Power and Gas markets have firmed in response to the cold snap, reflecting higher local demand. UK gas now trades at a premium to Dutch TTF, reducing exports to northwest Europe. Comfortable storage and LNG remain a stabilising factor, with five cargoes expected before month-end. European storage sits at 82%, though withdrawals are likely to accelerate. Beyond the front month, the curve remains largely stable, underlining comfortable fundamentals. Looking ahead, there are several risks that could shift the current balance. A colder-than-expected winter in Asia would increase LNG demand and tighten global supply, potentially reducing the volumes available to Europe and the UK. Geopolitical tensions, particularly around energy infrastructure in Ukraine, remain a source of uncertainty and could disrupt flows. Prolonged periods of low renewable output, despite current forecasts, would also test system margins. While fundamentals remain comfortable for now, these external factors highlight the importance of flexibility and preparedness. For flexible generators and battery traders, these conditions highlight the importance of agility. Rising demand, volatile renewables, and shifting gas dynamics reinforce the critical role of peaking assets and storage in maintaining system stability and capturing value.