Energy transition as an infrastructure problem

The energy transition is an infrastructure and timing problem. Nuclear power is the large-scale option already able to sustain present demand while other systems take years or decades to expand. Deferring investment shifts the bill forward as existing plants age and the economy continues to require reliable power. Solar and wind can contribute heavily, but their output does not always coincide with peak demand, so storage and transmission capacity must be built alongside them. Hydro and geothermal power depend on geography, while Britain still needs a mixed system despite having useful wind, solar, and hydro resources. Governments must fund durable enabling systems even when their benefits are less visible than a new end product.