The £100bn price tag of HS2 has left many questioning whether Britain can afford to embark on a new era of grand infrastructure projects. As the government prepares to overhaul the UK's national electricity grid, some are urging it to take heed from the lessons of high-speed rail.
Industry experts warn that upgrading thousands of miles of cables, substations and connection points will be a complex and costly process, fraught with logistical hurdles and local opposition.
The push for a more robust and modern electricity grid is driven by the urgent need to integrate renewable energy sources like offshore wind farms into the national network. Much of the existing infrastructure dates back decades and was not designed to handle decentralised and intermittent generation.
Commentators are keen to ensure that the government's approach avoids the cost escalations, revised schedules and scaled-back scope that have plagued HS2. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is responsible for overseeing energy policy, including grid enhancements, but securing planning permissions and navigating local opposition will be significant challenges.
Opposition parties have frequently criticised the government's handling of major infrastructure projects, citing HS2 as a prime example of poor planning and financial management. They will scrutinise grid upgrade plans closely, demanding transparency on projected costs, timelines and benefits for consumers.
The implications for household energy bills, which could bear some of the upgrade costs, will be a key area of focus for both the public and policymakers.