The electricity transmission network planning process is evolving to ensure network design and investment processes are fit for the future, to achieve Net Zero safely, efficiently, and quickly.
Transmission Planning:
HND (Holistic Network Design for Offshore Wind)
The Holistic Network Design (HND) published by the Electricity System Operator (ESO) in 2022 was defined as the “Pathway to 2030”. It built on the British Energy Security Strategy to set out the required transmission infrastructure to progress the Government's ambition to connect 50GW of offshore generation to the electricity network by 2030. The HND considered offshore wind generation and the onshore infrastructure projects necessary to achieve the Government’s ambitious aim.
The HND enabled £54bn of investment in the infrastructure of Great Britain, including locations on the Scottish West and East Coasts; opening the door for jobs and economic growth in these and many more regions. In addition, from 2030 onwards the projects will save consumers up to £5.5bn by delivering increased network capacity and reducing the cost of paying energy producers to reduce their generation due to restrictions on the network (constraint costs).
Updated network requirements have now been identified in the Holistic Network Design Follow Up Exercise (HNDFUE) and the ESO’s March 2024 Transitional Centralised Strategic Network Plan 2 (tCSNP2), published in their Beyond 2030 report, sets out the additional transmission infrastructure required to support further generation connections and progress towards net zero.
Useful HND links for additional information:
tCSNP / CSNP (Transitional Centralised Strategic Network Plan)
The evolution of network planning and the level of investment required mean that plans need to be regularly reviewed. We are currently supporting the ESO and Ofgem in developing the Centralised Strategic Network Plan, which will be the enduring process for transmission network planning.
The CSNP will include plans for:
- Onshore and offshore transmission networks
- Cross-border energy supply, throughout Great Britain and beyond
- Whole System approach considering all energy types
- The investment required to meet the 2045 and 2050 Net Zero targets
Working with the soon to be created National Energy System Operator (NESO), we are supporting and inputting into co-ordinated strategic plans.
For updates on the progress of the tCSNP:
Building projects:
Accelerating Strategic Transmission Infrastructure (ASTI)
The HND identified 17 projects which included both new routes and the upgrading of existing network in the SP Transmission area. Each project is critical in allowing us to achieve Net Zero targets and support our customers connecting to the network in South and Central Scotland.
In December 2022 Ofgem identified the Accelerating Strategic Transmission Infrastructure (ASTI) projects. The ASTI framework was developed and came into force in October 2023, setting out a more streamlined regulatory and funding process for large strategic projects required by 2030. The ASTI framework includes four of SP Transmission’s major projects:
For more information on the range of ASTI projects: