New blog from me on the only comparison to the AI data centre boom I can think of in electricity history.... The Grid is a perfect example of an anti-fragile asset. A platform that enables optionality. But past generations had better institutions and ownership models... substack.com/home/post/p-...

On why Britain's current energy system is nothing like the Central Electricity Generating Board. It is something new. A Central Return Generating Board. open.substack.com/pub/energyne...

The Pensions Review is a great opportunity to boost the UK economy & help savers — but it's being missed. The state must use its fiscal might to enable better outcomes for both the economy & the public, while policymakers must be innovative & take risks. www.common-wealth.org/publications...

Why did electricity prices collapse between 1920 and 1940? In this post I tell the story of the Central Electricity Board - a remarkable, innovative, state owned entity that transformed the industry It was an engine of abundance open.substack.com/pub/energyne...

“Frenzied”: The first Scottish renewables boom, hydroelectric 1940-1970 My new blog tells the story of a remarkable construction boom that kept the lights on during the 1966 World Cup final. Also includes ‘fish lifts’, zonal pricing of renewables in Scotland! open.substack.com/pub/energyne...

What if the economic chaos from Trump's tariffs is part of the plan? Is there method in the madness, or could it backfire? This week we demystify the Trump administration's plan to reindustrialise the US and reshape the global trade system: neweconomybrief.net/the-digest/t...

Building energy grids is slower and more expensive than ever before in British history. New blog. energynetworks.substack.com/p/building-e...

This is a superb report and thread. If we want a playbook for how to do this, it is in our own history. From 1947 to 1979 the British state successfully coordinated a gargantuan programme of infrastructure development (water, gas, electricity) and housebuilding.

Finally made the move over from the other place! Starting off with a recent piece I wrote about what the Chancellor needs to do to deliver on growth ambitions. A big part is, focus on delivery & implementation (often the hardest things in govt) (1/2) www.linkedin.com/pulse/easier...

I find it intensely amusing that the French nuclear programme in the 1970s used a 0% discount rate. If they had listened to some economists they wouldn’t have any. And now they might lock up AI as well. Maybe we should study more how organisations like EDF actually worked back then

Great to see! renews.biz/98640/ofgem-...

A must read!

End the nightmare

Want to know more about the history of energy? Here are three ways of thinking about it with some tips on fun stuff to read. I realize this may have been more helpful before Christmas. open.substack.com/pub/energyne...

Utterly brilliant piece by Commonwealth During the energy crisis 51 per cent of profits went to the wealthiest one per cent, while the bottom 50 per cent not only received just one per cent of the total, but ordinary people also bore the higher burden from increased, everyday costs lnkd.in/eH84BBVX

An energy transition requires managing the backwash as well as the bow wave

My thoughts on the essay Foundations. ‘Fixing planning’ is no silver bullet. open.substack.com/pub/energyne...

When did Britain stop building stuff? Lots of interest in this at the moment. Here is the pattern in energy since 1950. If we are serious about net zero we would the 1950s and 60s are the benchmark.

"Back then people didn't have deal with NIMBY's". I hear that a lot. The first ever National Grid involved negotiations with 222k landowners and tenants. The Central Electricity Board appointed thousands of officers to persuade. Astonishingly, only 600 cases (0.27%) needed compulsory purchase.

The crisis of the present was a choice. Incredible analysis.

That’s what she said

The history of the French water sector since 1848 suggests: public ownership is good for building assets, private operation good for sweating them. It is interesting that even now while private sector organisations operate the system the investment is publicly funded. Source in comments.

“BRITAIN HASN’T BUILT A RESERVOIR FOR 30 YEARS!!!!!! When did we build reservoirs? Reservoir capacity grew 82% in the 1950s, 45% in the 1960s, 6% in the 70s & 80s, and just 1% in the 90s, 00s, & 10s Water was under public ownership until 1989. It has been privatized since then.