Ms Marie Donnelly:

The Deputy is pointing quite correctly to the stress the grid is currently under. Our grid needs considerable investment and reinforcement to be able to take this power. It is very important that we understand that corporate power purchase agreements, PPAs, private wires and hybrid connections are key elements in delivering the volume of energy that will be needed. The dilemma is that, as we go forward in this transition, there are what are called the three "Ds" we must keep in mind. We are very strong on the first, which is decarbonisation. This is sustainable energy using our own natural resources. The second is decentralisation. This includes corporate PPAs wherever they are located but also residential rooftop solar at business and home levels. The third area is digitalisation. Many of the changes to the ways we will live and work will require automation. Automation will come from things like data centres. We are in a little bit of a catch-22 situation here. In a way, we need them but we do not necessarily need to have them coming on stream, for example, with their own fossil fuel-powered sources, which the council is very opposed to. We are very keen that the amount of and rate at which energy is coming on stream is managed in line with our capacity to generate sustainable electricity.