Advancing Grid Connectivity for Renewable Energy

Are our century-old grids fit for the era of solar and wind power, or is a completely new kind of electricity transmission needed?

Justin Rowlatt looks at the mess in California, where President Trump has blamed rolling blackouts on the state's rush to embrace renewable energy. But former regulator Cheryl LaFleur says one big reason is California's poor integration with neighbouring electricity grids. A US government report recommended linking all the nation's grids together, but then the report mysteriously disappeared - investigative journalist Peter Fairley explains why.

Meanwhile Britain is looking to integrate its own National Grid more closely with the rest of Europe, according to the director of the UK Electricity System Operator Fintan Slye, so that it can handle a glut of new wind power. But why not go one step further and build a global electricity grid? It's a possibility discussed by energy consultant Michael Barnard.

Producer: Laurence Knight

(Picture: Stork on an electricity pylon at sunset; Credit: James Warwick/Getty Images)