S4E01: Accelerating the energy transition: why systems thinking changes everything

Talking Infrastructure

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"We’ve got to think about this all together as a whole-systems holistic solution, whether it’s a single rural community or whether that’s at an industrial cluster level. It’s the same—the whole nation is a system in itself. So, we’ve got to have that whole-systems approach from the top down, whether that’s transmission networks right the way down to [...] the final mile on the grid."

– Kate Gilmartin, British Hydropower Association

For too long, we’ve tackled energy challenges in isolation—treating renewables, grid capacity and infrastructure as separate pieces of the puzzle. But real progress demands a systems approach—one that connects people, politics, places and portfolios.

In this first episode of Talking Infrastructure’s Season 4, our host Toby Sadler is joined by Kate Gilmartin (CEO, British Hydropower Association), Dan Nicholls (Chief Product Officer, SNRG) and Sarah Falconer (Energy Planning, Consenting and Development Lead, AECOM) to discuss why systems thinking is key to delivering a successful transition to clean energy.

They cover topics such as:

How local energy solutions like microgrids could shift power back into the hands of communities
The role of hydropower in providing reliable power, flexibility and storage—and the barriers to scaling it up in the UK
What’s needed to better align policy, planning and investment to accelerate clean energy projects
How systems thinking can help tackle skills shortages and build a long-term workforce for the sector

Find out more over on: https://aecom.com/podcasts/talking-infrastructure-podcast/

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Welcome to season 3 of AECOM’s Talking Infrastructure podcast. Talking Infrastructure delves into the industry’s hot topics, key projects, and the ground-breaking innovations that are helping to solve some of the world’s most complex infrastructure challenges.

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Useful links:

Come and work for AECOM: discover the recruitment opportunities here: https://aecom.jobs/
Blog: Systems thinking in the energy transition: a people-centric approach
Project: Great Grid Upgrade
Blog: Realizing the multi-generational opportunities of the energy transition

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