By taking a content-first approach, we built a connected web version of their flagship Future Energy Scenarios report to improve accessibility and engagement.

Ahead of the 2021 publication of its flagship Future Energy Scenarios (FES) report, National Grid ESO needed to ensure the report was not only accessible online but also provided valuable insights into reader engagement. Coherence was tasked with translating key elements of the interactive PDF into a user-friendly web experience that could be tracked for performance.

The Challenge

National Grid ESO’s annual Future Energy Scenarios report outlines various credible pathways for decarbonising the UK’s energy system by 2050. While the interactive PDF version offered an immersive experience, National Grid ESO wanted to enhance accessibility by creating a web-based journey. They also needed a system to track who was reading the content and which sections generated the most interest. This involved developing a dynamic, connected experience across web pages that encouraged engagement while retaining the rich detail of the full report.

Why Coherence?

Throughout our partnership with National Grid ESO, Coherence has shown how content strategy and user experience can work together to create user-focused solutions. This particular project required strategic thinking to structure the report’s content for the web, as well as a practical approach that accommodated live content development. With a tight deadline to hit, our expertise in translating complex reports into engaging digital experiences made us the ideal partner.

Our Approach

• Content Strategy and Review

We started by reviewing the content from the 2020 report to identify core messages and create a connected story for the 2021 web version. Though the content would evolve, the structure allowed for flexibility while maintaining consistency in organisation.

• User Experience and Design

Our UX team developed a content-driven site map and wireframes, ensuring the design could adapt to last-minute updates. We utilised existing components to meet the tight timeline, ensuring that the web experience would be ready for launch alongside the FES report.

• Interactive Journey Creation

The goal was not to replicate the PDF but to create an interactive journey that provided top-level insights while encouraging users to delve deeper into specific scenarios. This journey also led users to download the fully immersive, interactive PDF.

• Engagement Tracking

We developed the web structure to help National Grid ESO track engagement—highlighting which sections attracted the most interest and giving insights into how users navigated through the content. This helped National Grid ESO make data-driven decisions for future reports.

Testimonial

“We’ve seen fantastic results from this piece of work. Coherence’s approach has helped us to continue to build our reputation as a destination point for innovation and great user experience.”

Laura Gordon

Digital Manager, Corporate Affairs

The Outcome

The final execution successfully condensed the 2021 Future Energy Scenarios report into six core chapters on the website, complete with visual data and downloadable resources. One month after the report’s release, page views for the FES content had increased by 55% compared to the previous year (from 14,977 to 23,339), and downloads of the full report surpassed 2.5k.

Key results:

• 55% increase in page views year-on-year.

• 2,500+ downloads of the full report within one month of release.

• A streamlined user experience that enhanced National Grid ESO’s digital presence.

About National Grid Eso

National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) is responsible for operating the electricity transmission network across Great Britain, ensuring safe and reliable delivery of electricity to homes and businesses. As a key player in the transition to a low-carbon future, National Grid ESO balances supply and demand in real-time and works to integrate more renewable energy into the grid, supporting the UK’s goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.