Comment by Alex Buckman, Innovative Solutions Architect – Flexibility, at Energy Systems Catapult.

Reaching Net Zero isn’t just about cutting carbon – it’s about creating a better, healthier, and more resilient society. Too often, the conversation focuses on trade-offs: short-term costs versus long-term environmental benefits. But this misses a crucial point – Net Zero systems can outperform our current ones across a wide range of metrics.

We’ll be warmer and healthier

Today, around 30% of UK households live in fuel poverty, unable to afford adequate heating. This isn’t just uncomfortable – it’s a public health issue. It cannot be seen as acceptable. Cold homes contribute to physical and mental health problems. Initiatives like the Warm Homes Prescription show that for every £1 spent, there’s a £5.10 return in wellbeing value. Perhaps a more relatable benefit is that we observed people being more willing to invite guests over to a warm house.

Heat pumps are changing how we heat our homes. Unlike traditional boilers, they work best when maintaining a consistent temperature, offering 24/7 comfort often at similar or lower costs – no more choosing times to heat your home. This is especially beneficial for people who spend most of their day at home. In our Electrification of Heat Demonstration project, 85% of participants said they’d recommend heat pumps to a friend.

But the real transformation lies in how we think about energy. Innovative business models are emerging that sell outcomes, like warmth or mobility, instead of raw energy units. This shift is driving a new wave of companies (big and small) to compete on delivering the best experiences, not just the lowest prices. Sero is an excellent example of a cutting edge SME developing consumer-led service propositions, whilst our work with Heatio and E.ON show how big energy companies are also exploring innovative service-based business models. Our Enabling Distributed Flexibility for Net Zero report highlights how flexibility can be the key to unlocking these models.

Better transport

Electric vehicles (EVs) are already outperforming combustion engine cars in many ways, which is amazing considering the first mass produced EV came over a century after it’s combustion engine counterpart. They’re cheaper to run, quieter, smoother and, with fewer moving parts, they’re on their way to becoming more reliable and easier to manufacture. Most people charge at home, saving time, and enjoy the instant torque that makes driving more responsive, helping you to pull out of those tricky junctions better. They’re more expensive for now, but that’s changing quickly as you would expect in a fast-growing sector.

It’s not just cars – electric trucks are also proving superior in many ways. In the eFreight 2030 project, one driver who trialed an electric HGV said, “It’s a more comfortable environment…less vibrations, less engine noise…just a nicer place to be.” Concerned about charging times? Step in Voltempo, an innovator we’ve supported who are now leading the deployment of UK’s largest depot charging network, offering chargers up to 1MW!

We’ll have cleaner air and healthier lives

Air pollution is the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK, according to Public Health England. Much of it comes from burning fossil fuels in transport, homes, and industry. As these sectors electrify, air quality will improve dramatically.

The Royal Society notes that most air pollutants have short atmospheric lifetimes, meaning health benefits begin immediately once emissions stop – it’s not just about the long-term goals. In addition, technologies developed for Net Zero will help clean the air in cities around the world – no better exemplified than with the 17 high potential SMEs we worked with in India.

We’ll be more resilient to energy price shocks

The UK’s energy crisis – triggered by COVID-19 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – exposed our vulnerability to global gas prices. Electricity and gas prices soared, deepening fuel poverty and straining the economy.

Energy crises like these send shockwaves through the economy and society, not least contributing to the fuel poverty discussed earlier. Becoming less dependent on global geo-politics reduces exposure to energy-price shocks. Net Zero offers us a route to do so.

From offshore wind to nuclear, from solar to batteries, our investments and innovations are driving a decoupling from our historic global dependencies. It’s like switching to a fixed-rate mortgage – more control, less risk.

Innovation at the core

Net Zero isn’t just about replacing old systems – it’s about reimagining them.

Net Zero will be better than today. But we’ve also got to remember that tomorrow will be worse without addressing climate change. Climate change will bring global challenges, from economic pressures to extreme weather. The UK’s leadership will benefit everyone and can set the foundation for our economic prosperity.

Yes, there are challenges – new business models, regulatory improvements, and technological improvements are needed. But these are temporary. We’re nearer to the beginning of our transition than the end and innovation is shifting from incremental tweaks to revolutionary breakthroughs that can unlock benefits we never thought possible.

Net Zero is not a compromise – it’s an upgrade. From warmer homes and cleaner air to more enjoyable transport and economic resilience, the benefits are clear. The journey won’t be without its hurdles, but with innovation and leadership, we’re building a future that’s not just sustainable – but better.