Energy and transport: how we plan transport infrastructure

Traditional strategic transport planning once concentrated heavily on simply improving road and rail networks to move people and goods more efficiently. Today, however, the industry has seen a fundamental transformation, driven by the urgent need to reduce emissions and embrace cleaner fuels. 

Transport planning is no longer just about routes and capacity - it’s about integrating new technologies to enhance transport user experiences. With a shift to net-zero fuels comes new technology and infrastructure challenges that we must overcome.

By working closely with energy planners, the transport sector is laying the foundations for widespread access to alternative fuels, from national EV charging networks to emerging hydrogen supply chains. This collaboration is not just reshaping how we travel but unlocking new opportunities for innovation, investment, and long-term growth.

The Midlands sits at the heart of the UK’s freight industry, due to its central location, extensive transport links, and concentration of major freight and logistics businesses. As the sector transitions to cleaner fuels and new refuelling infrastructure technologies emerge, the region has an opportunity to strengthen its role as the nation’s freight powerhouse - ensuring it can continue to meet the evolving demands of a modern, sustainable freight industry.

Midlands Connect’s innovative work on alternative fuels for freight sees a fresh approach to developing infrastructure by collaborating closely with Local Authorities, businesses and energy planners to develop a holistic and sustainable network ready for the future of freight. 

Acknowledging a growing reliance on securing private investment as opposed to public sector funding models, Midlands Connect has engaged heavily with the private sector to develop opportunities. Work at East Midlands Freeport demonstrates the strength of collaboration as engagement with freight operators, energy companies and infrastructure providers is led by Midlands Connect, East Midlands Freeport and Midlands Net Zero Hub. This collaborative group of organisations seek to develop proposals for an energy super hub capable of delivering green fuels for freight. Through this work, we aim to develop a blueprint that can be applied elsewhere in the region and nationally to accelerate the rollout of this infrastructure.

Through this fresh approach and closer alignment to the needs of businesses, Midlands Connect has also delivered a data-sharing pilot with an established freight operator as we seek to enhance our understanding of the future energy demands from the freight industry.

This opportunity has been made available to more freight operators in the hope of further reinforcing the energy demand data we currently hold and to empower conversations with energy companies responsible for enhancing and upgrading the energy distribution network. This enables us to ensure that transport demand is fully considered in any energy infrastructure investment pipelines.

Our aim for this data-sharing work and the wider alternative fuels for freight programme is to ensure our Local Transport Authorities partners, businesses and energy planners such as the National Energy Systems Operator (NESO) are supported with expertise and real-world data to plan a recharging and refuelling network fit for the future. 

Steven Scarrott is the New Technologies Lead at Midlands Connect.