Grid & Networks Conference 2025 Programme

When it comes to strategic plans, the new government has hit the ground running. In less than six months, our climate ambitions have been accelerated by five years and an official plan for reaching clean power by 2030 has been published. Join us for a discussion with industry’s leading voices as we dive into the newly published blueprint and explore its key initiatives.

In this session, you’ll learn:

• What the plan’s key policy enablers are for ensuring rapid network development
• What the plan means for existing and forthcoming projects
• Where the main risks lie and how these can be mitigated
• How to keep sight of and support targets beyond 2030

Welcome & Opening Remarks
Stephen McKellar, Head of Grid & Systems, Scottish Renewables

Chair
Claire Mack, Chief Executive, Scottish Renewables

Speakers
Adam Morrison, Country Manager UK, Ocean Winds

Like the network itself, Connections Reform has expanded significantly over its 18-month development, resulting in numerous branches that can be challenging to keep up with.

With Clean Power 2030 (CP30) establishing a direction for Connections Reform, we engage with leading connections experts to discuss how the new parameters aim to balance queue management with safeguarding legitimate projects essential for meeting climate targets.

In this session, you’ll learn:

• What the gated criteria will be and if the bar has been set at the right level
• How to retain market relevance alongside government input
• How projects can retain confidence in CP30-driven connections and with the introduction of an eventual Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP)
• The role of offshore coordination and its challenges

Chair
Graham Pannell, Head of Grid and Electricity Regulation, BayWa r.e. EMEA

Speakers
Catherine Cleary, Grid Connections Specialist, Roadnight Taylor
Neil Copeland, Connections Strategy Manager, NESO

The energy transition requires meaningful engagement with, and recognition of local stakeholders affected by network development. This session will explore how to accelerate strategic network expansion from a regional perspective, focussing on the goal of the Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) and the importance of involving local communities early in the decision-making process.

In this session you’ll learn:

• How the RESPs can offer additionality
• What’s needed to effectively gain community acceptance in time
• How distribution and transmission networks will need to work more closely on coordinating change

Speakers
Eibhlin Norquoy, Head of Trading, Community Energy Scotland
Fraser Stewart, Energy Justice and Just Transitions Lead, Regen

As momentum builds towards 2030, we must also look to the not-too-distant future where another wave of change is coming. The Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP), Centralised Strategic Network Plan (CSNP), Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA), Transmission Network Use of System (TNUoS) and others will significantly influence the sector in the coming years.

In this session, you’ll learn:

• How the future policy landscape is developing and what this means for industry
• What will be changing and how this will impact project development
• The key risks for industry and how these can be mitigated