Net Zero Festival: How to accelerate clean infrastructure deployment post-coronavirus

BusinessGreen staff
clock • 1 min read

VIDEO: National Grid's Nicola Shaw, WSP's David Symons, and Hitachi ABB Power Grids' Ian Funnell discuss the priorities and challenges for building a green Covid-19 recovery

The government has repeatedly tumpeted its desire to "build back greener" from the devastating economic fallout from Covid-19 pandemic, in order to further a green recovery that has the UK's 2050 net zero emissions target at its heart. Green infrastructure investments are therefore set to play a key role in the recovery - but where should governments and businesses be prioritising investments, how much is required, and what are the challenges and opportunities?

To discuss these questions and more, National Grid executive director Nicola Shaw CBE, David Symons, future ready leader at WSP, and Hitachi ABB Power Grids UK & Ireland CEO Ian Funnell joined BusinessGreen editor in chief James Murray for a fascinating discussion ahead of the world's first Net Zero Festival which took place late last month. The wide-ranging conversation can be watch in full above.

All of the panel debates, keynote speeches, and presentations from the world's first Net Zero Festival - which took place over three days from 30 September featuring hundreds of top speakers from business, politics and academia - are now available to watch again on demand through the Net Zero Festival website.

National Grid is a partner of the Net Zero Festival.

More on Infrastructure

Fixing Britain's broken energy system starts with heat

Fixing Britain's broken energy system starts with heat

To reach net zero affordably, the UK must treat heat and power as critical parts of one whole energy system, not separate policy silos, argues ADE: Heat Networks' Alicja Zakrzewska

Alicja Zakrzewska, ADE: Heat Networks.
clock 05 December 2025 • 3 min read
Study: 'Major increase' in data centre demand tipped to push global grid spend past $470bn

Study: 'Major increase' in data centre demand tipped to push global grid spend past $470bn

BloombergNEF forecasts double-digit growth for grid investment for second year running, as sector responds to surge in connection requests from large data centres

Stuart Stone
clock 02 December 2025 • 4 min read
REA launches industry coalition to boost clean power for UK data centres

REA launches industry coalition to boost clean power for UK data centres

Founding members of Data Centre Coalition include Apatura, Green Scale, Clarke Energy, and Enfinium

Michael Holder
clock 28 November 2025 • 3 min read