It's the first anniversary episode of the Infrastructure Podcast and today we are going to talk about  nuclear power! 

When I first jumped ship from civil engineering to a new life as a journalist with New Civil Engineer 30 years ago, the magazine was gearing up to celebrate the Sizewell B project which was being commissioned as the first of a new breed of UK nuclear power stations - albeit somewhat over-budget.

So my eye was drawn to last month’s announcement by French power firm EdF that the new Hinkley Point C reactor in Somerset – set to be the UK’s only new nuclear power station since 1995 - will now not open before 2029 – possibly not until 2031 - and could see costs climb to perhaps £46bn against an £18bn original budget.

It certainly puts Sizewell B’s project delivery achievements into context, which 30 years ago saw costs inflate by 135% but is now producing around 3% of the UK power needs, having taken a mere seven years to build. 

The good news is that after decades of dithering, the UK government is now firmly behind nuclear power as a key element in our transition away from fossil fuels, with the Energy White Paper of 2020 demanding at least one large-scale nuclear project to reach Final Investment Decision during this Parliament.

Since then public money has been committed to the Sizewell C project, the government’s 2020 10 point plan included a £385 million Advanced Nuclear Fund, its 2021 Net Zero White Paper committed to a new £120m Future Nuclear Enabling Fund; and in July last year we saw the rebirth of Great British Nuclear, a government owned body designed to coordinate the UK nuclear industry renaissance and drive the development of the small modular reactor market.

But as is always with UK nuclear, it all seems to move at a glacial, hugely expensive pace and continues to beg the question – what on earth is going on with our nuclear and energy transition policy? 

Fortunately, I have with me today one the UK’s authorities on the subject, Tim Stone, chairman of the Nuclear Industry Association and more recently a non-exec director on the new Great British Nuclear team, who I am hoping will shed some light.

Tim is speaking with his NIA chairman’s hat on today.

Resources
Great British Nuclear
Nuclear Industry Association
Energy White Paper 2020
The Ten Point Plan 2020
Net Zero Strategy 2021

In today's podcast we talk about the challenge of global decarbonisation – specifically looking at what actions industrial sectors can take today to ensure we have a sustainable future. 

Clearly infrastructure professionals have a massive role to play when it comes to tackling global carbon emissions and climate change; in ensuring that the UK and all nations stay on track to meet the agreed net zero emissions targets by 2050. Construction and operation of our built environment, after all, accounts for something like 80% of all emissions.

But transforming the design and operation of our public and private infrastructure assets requires a systems approach. It is not something that any single part of the infrastructure sector can tackle alone, rather it has to be to culmination of many parts – perhaps, some might argue all parts – of the built environment and industrial supply chain that support our modern lifestyles.

The most recent COP28 meeting in Abu Dhabi highlighted clearly that achieving consensus is not an easy task – an impossible mission some might say. 

Not so my guest today. As chief executive of the Mission Possible Partnership, Faustine Delasalle no doubt argues that driving industrial decarbonisation across the entire value chain of the world’s highest-emitting heavy industry and transport sectors, is not only possible, it is absolutely fundamental to securing our future business, social and economic lives.

It is my pleasure therefore, to welcome Faustine to the Infrastructure Podcast today to explain how this transformation is possible and what needs to happen to ensure a net zero carbon emissions future is a reality by 2050.


Mission Possible Partnership is a movement of climate leaders in business and civil society driving industrial decarbonisation across the entire value chain of the world’s highest-emitting sectors: aluminium, cement, chemicals, steel; aviation, shipping, and trucking. We’re charting the inventive steps and radical collaboration to enable commercial-scale deep decarbonisation projects in this decisive decade.

Resources
The Mission Possible Partnership website
Mission Possible Partnership on Twitter
Mission Possible Partnership on LinkedIn
MPP Projects
MPP sector strategies

In today's podcast  we are talking about prisons – specifically the challenge and huge opportunity surrounding the Ministry of Justice’s on-going £4bn plus investment in the UK prison estate.

I say opportunity because the MOJ’s ambition goes beyond simply adding 20,000 new prison places to the estate and intends to use this investment to deliver far wider social outcomes by creating decent modern environments that help rehabilitate prisoners and reduce reoffending.

It's a big challenge. But in line with the government’s Transforming Infrastructure Performance programme, the MOJ has set out to use this programme to change the way it delivers construction investment – placing Modern Methods of Construction and platform designs, sustainability and digital technology at the heart of the strategy over the next three or more years.

That means deep and early engagement with the entire supply chain and a fundamental shift away from traditional confrontational contracting towards a more collaborative environment. This prioritises longer term outcomes over short term outputs and should focus every mind on how this investment will help create a better prison service – and a better construction industry. 

Sounds like the infrastructure nirvana! It is my pleasure therefore, to welcome Sue McElroy, commercial director for the New Prison Capacity programme at the MOJ where she is seconded from Cabinet Office to lead the team delivering this transformation.

[Note:  In all reference to 20,000 additional prison places this does not include any work within the Category A estate]

Resources
Construction starts on UK’s first all-electric prison
The Construction Playbook
Early Supply Chain Involvement Guidance Note
Longer Term Contracting Programmes Guidance Note
Autumn Budget SR21
Transforming Infrastructure Performance Roadmap to 2030

In this, the 50th episode of the Infrastructure Podcast, we talk about cities – specifically how we should be designing our urban landscapes to be both fit for the future and fit for the people of the future.

It’s a huge and growing issue. The UN reckons that around 57% of the world’s population currently lives in an urban environment – and that this number is perhaps as high as 80% in many developed nations. It’s a number that is growing fast, both as a percentage but also as an absolute number, as the global population increases and our lives become more intertwined and interdependent.

And with this change comes a number of challenges - and a number of opportunities around creating equity, liveability, sustainability and prosperity for inhabitants. And creating safe places to live. The 2017 Grenfell Fire in London certainly highlighted the tragic consequences of failure.

Of course, we must also now add to that list resilience to climate change. Protection from flood; from drought; from heat; from storms and from pollution has never been so important.
All of which puts our built environment designers – those creating the buildings, the infrastructure and the spaces in between – absolutely in the driving seat - and the spotlight.

Fundamentally, better cities create better lives. Which is why barely a week goes by without a new report or paper into why and how we should transform our urban landscapes. The latest of which being the New London Agenda by the team at New London Architecture.

I mention this because amongst many other things, my guest today was involved in producing this Agenda and so I hope will be well placed to guide us through the issues.

So let’s discuss this issue with Stephen O’Malley, founder and chief executive of Civic Engineers, a firm with the mission “to create inspirational structures and places that have a positive impact on the environment and enable people to lead happier and healthier lives”.

Resources
Civic Engineers website
Thinking beyond boundaries article - Stephen O'Malley
New London Agenda - NLA
C40 Thriving Cities Initiative

In today's podcast we are going to talk about “building modern railway” and discuss why we seem to find it so difficult in the UK to plan, design and construct decent, affordable rail connections. 

To discuss this issue, let’s turn to some French thinking. After all, according to many, they seem to know what they are doing when it comes to the Chemin de Fer. Perhaps?

Over the last couple of years or so we have been celebrating the opening of the late, over-budget yet ultimately delightful Elizabeth Line while simultaneously wrestling with the challenge of building HS2, a grand new north-south high speed rail line, and the Northern Powerhouse Rail project which is designed to transform east west journey across the north.

It is fair to say that with first, delays, then cancellations, then a rake of cost increases and now a rethink and rerelease of a batch of new / old projects under the Network North banner, we are in something of a muddle when it comes UK rail evolution. 

Oh and then there’s the Great British Railways transition, designed to make everything clear and efficient across the rail, train, passenger interface. We’ll see…

Well let’s find out. My guest today is Mike Muldoon, Business Development Director, SYSTRA UK & Ireland. Mike has been at Systra for just over a year but before that he spent 13 years at French train manufacturer Alstom and prior to that as contractor managed projects for Alstom on the Docklands Light Railways and London Underground. 

So he should know what to do Let’s discuss.

Resources
Systra-UK website
Mike Muldoon LinkedIn
Old Oak Common HS2

In today's podcast we will build on last week’s episode  by taking another quick look into the crystal ball and exploring some more of the big issues for 2024. 

To help me with this exercise my guest this week is Simon Rawlinson, Head of Strategic Research and Insight at Arcadis. Simon is a long-time agitator and commentator across the sector and of course a monthly columnist in Building magazine. Does that make a journalist? 

Simon’s career has spanned many different parts of the sector from building to infrastructure, planning and finance, and seen him playing a number of key company and industry roles to identify the trends and form the strategy needed to meet the emerging challenges.

Over the last decade of so Simon has also been immersed in the Construction Leadership Council, where he is currently a strategic advisor. In this role he has helped to set up and drive the body as it emerged into the sunlight as a voice for the sector and major influence on government policy.

In particular he has helped the industry to understand and embrace data, new digital technologies and Building Information Modelling, and most recently to chart a path towards a new world of net zero of infrastructure.

So it’s fair to say he has fingers in many pies so well placed to foresee the future.

Resources
Arcadis Knowledge Hub
Building magazine - articles by Simon Rawlinson
Construction Leadership Council website
National Infrastructure Planning
RICS Knowledge and Practice Committee
NAO report on Levelling Up spending - Nov 23

In this the first of 2024 we take a quick look into the crystal ball, asking what we might expect in 2024. 

To help me with this my guest today is Gill Plimmer, infrastructure correspondent at the Financial Times and long-time observer of what makes this sector tick. 

Gill has spent several decades immersed in the business, finances and politics of infrastructure, writing about a range of issues over the years including the rise and fall of the PFI, the merits of water privatisation, outsourced services including the collapse of Carillion and Interserve, rail franchising and the challenge of meeting house-building targets.

And much of this list will, I’m sure, return to the headlines over the next 12 months, alongside the inevitable rows and promises that accompany a General Election.

Resources
Financial Times website
Gill Plimmer Linked In
National Infrastructure Commission
National Grid energy dashboard
National Infrastructure Planning Association

In this podcast …. well it’s just me. 

Just me doing a very quick recap of 2023 and the first 45 episodes of The Infrastructure Podcast - and a brief trail for what lies ahead in 2024.

When I set out on this podcasting adventure back in February, I billed it as being a new, regular podcast series featuring conversations with some of the key leaders and influencers from across UK infrastructure sector. Conversations creating change.

Big ambitions of course. But I hope that over those last 45 episodes I have managed to hit the brief and cover a really wide range of issues – the names you know and hopefully also some that perhaps you didn’t. 

Now…apparently, most podcasts die after 3 episodes so I’ll call that a success there – and according to my podcast host, your listenership has pushed me into the top 25% of podcasts which sounds good to me. Upwards and onwards! I’ll carry on!

But looking back, a huge thanks must go, of course, to all the people that have given their time to chat to me. When I started this little audio adventure it was something of a personal mission and so required a leap of faith from those on the other side of the microphone - could I produce something worth listening to? Every day is a learning day so thanks for your support. I hope you are enjoying it as much as I do! 

The Infrastructure Podcast remains a personal mission – something I do in in my time for you – and to be honest it is rather nice not having corporate or commercial overlords bearing down on every decision!  I think it makes a difference!

So a quick recap of my highlights. And, of course, if I was half competent, - or if I was backed by Gary Linaker or the BBC - I’d now be adding in short clips from across the year – Pick of the Year style. Sadly, as it’s just me in the production team, you’ll have to make do with this week’s verbal recap as I try to remind of what you might have missed! Or what you might have enjoyed! In which case do tell your friends and colleagues. (and family if you like!). Enjoy! 

In this podcast  we will be examining energy transition and asking what the UK has to do to deliver on its ambition to electrify the future economy.

The National Infrastructure Commission’s latest five yearly Assessment highlights a number of strategic priorities for the UK, not least the need to accelerate the energy sector’s move away from fossil fuels to ensure we reach our net zero emissions targets by 2050 – targets underlined by the latest COP28 global gathering in Dubai.

This energy transition – the journey towards a future of new decarbonised, renewable energy sources to power our transport systems, drive our industries and heat our homes - will require massive investment in electrification. 

In fact, an expected 50% increase in electrification by 2035, according to the NIC, to support growth in heat pump use, electric car ownership and to power industry.

That means not only having to decarbonise our electricity generation by investing in wind, solar, biomass and nuclear power, but also means bolstering and expanding the way that this power is distributed and stored, and to ensure that our national grid has sufficient capacity and flexibility to meet the new ambition.

In fact, NIC has set a target of completing 17 additional electricity transmission projects by 2030.

Now, some progress is being made. Renewables already account for around 40% of the UK energy mix with over 55GW of installed capacity in offshore and onshore wind, solar biomass and hydro – up 6% in the year. And government has set a target to develop up to 50GW of new offshore wind by 2030 and to take solar capacity to around 70GW by 2035 - which is largely in line with the NIC’s modelling. 

The reality is that there is no shortage of potential sites and no shortage of potential investors. But there is a huge problem bringing forward these projects and in particular, navigating the planning process to enable investment to flow into projects and connections to be made into the existing grid.

It’s a huge and very important topic so it is my pleasure to welcome Julia Prescot, deputy chair of the National Infrastructure Commission to the podcast today.Julia is also co-founder of investment fund Meridiam, and, amongst many other things, is currently driving the £2.4bn NeuConnect energy interconnector between Germany and the UK while also helping to guiding leading EV charging company Allego.

Resources
National Infrastructure Commission Second National Assessment 2023
National Grid live power data
Meridiam website
Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction
Allego EV charging
NeuConnect interconnector project
Port of Tyne
Wilton Park

In this podcast we  talk once again about EVs – Electric Vehicles - this time about how to get power into them safely and securely. 

Almost exactly two years ago my guest today Kate Tyrrell launched a brand new business in response to her constant fears and frustrations over the variability of quality and lack of information about the increasing number of EV charging stations popping up all over the UK.

In comparison to the UK’s petrol and diesel fuelling network, with its standardised pumps and fuel grades and covered forecourts, the EV charging network is the wild west.

And for many new and vulnerable EV users, it is an unnerving experience and in many cases a significant barrier to switching from fossil fuel power. Will the charger work with my car? ---- 

Will there be somewhere to get a coffee? Is there a loo? Will I feel safe?

Certainly, there are excellent charging stations being built. But equally there are many chargers popping up in dark windswept car parks off the beaten track, in locations that, frankly, few would feel comfortable hanging out for the 30-60 minutes required to charge up.

Kate Tyrell solution was ChargeSafe, a new business that inspects charging sites and so helps EV drivers to identify which are suitable for your vehicle and provide accurate information on their condition.

As of 1 April 2023, there were 40,150 public electric vehicle charging devices installed in the UK – up 8% since the end of 2022 – up 33% in a year. The National Infrastructure Commission latest recommendation is for an extra 300,000 charging stations to be online by 2030. 

ChargeSafe’s goal is to ensure that, as this number grows, safe and reliable charging is available for everyone. It seems to be working because this week they picked up a coveted Evie - Electric Vehicle Innovation & Excellence special recognition award for their efforts! Let’s hear how.

Resources
ChargeSafe website
ChargeSafe on Linkedin 

ChargeSafe on Twitter 

ChargeSafe on Facebook

ChargeSafe on Instagram

ChargeSafe on Threads

Kate Tyrrell on LinkedIn