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

"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/  ------------------- 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. -------------- 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    Connect with us on social:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/aecom/  https://www.instagram.com/aecom/