Lunch with Leon episode 61 – Paul Jewell

Will we run out of electricity?

That’s the most-often asked question of Paul Jewell, when people discover that he’s System Development Manager at Western Power Distribution (WPD), covering the Midlands, South West and South Wales.

His answer is simple: No, we won’t. But getting it to the right places in the right quantity, involves planning and forethought.

As a Distribution Network Operator (DNO), WPD runs the cable network that supplies electricity to premises.

He chats with Leon Daniels OBE to explain what WPD is already doing to ensure that any domestic customer wanting a heat pump or electric vehicle (EV) charger can have an upgraded supply (if it’s needed).

“If you want to have it, we will make the capacity – it’s a bold boast, but that’s world we need to be in if people are going to decarbonise.”

He talks about the experiences of WPD’s Electric Nation project, seven years ago during the early EV adopter phase, and the important lessons learned.

He also chats about the challenges of connecting commercial fleets to the mains, how extra capacity can be provided for motorway service areas, and why WPD is exhibiting at ITT Hub.