Grid and Networks Conference is a smash hit

Now that the dust has settled on Scottish Renewables’ recent Grid & Networks Conference, Stephen McKellar, Senior Policy Manager for Grid and Systems, has reflected on what was a truly thought-provoking event.  

As a massive music fan and after a very full-on, acronym-filled conference, I thought I would make my remarks quite light-hearted by putting a musical spin on proceedings. 

This started pre-event when we were organising the conference, I tried to imagine it as a ‘Grid Festival’, of sorts. 

I then wondered - ‘what would you call such a festival?’  

‘Grid stock?’ Maybe? 

Or to put a Scottish slant on it… ‘Grid in the Park?’... maybe not!  

And then it dawned on me that right here in Glasgow, at Glasgow Green, which is a five-minute walk from the Strathclyde University Technology and Innovation Centre where the conference was held, the electrifying music festival ‘TRNSMT’ takes place every year. This tickled me to no end.  

This year the headliners were A-list - with the UK Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, National Grid ESO, Ofgem, SP Energy Networks, ScottishPower Renewables and SSEN Transmission delivering electrifying sets to send us home in raptures. 

We sang our way through the various recent policy and regulatory changes from ASTI*, the HND* (which sounds like an 80's synth-pop band…OMD anyone?) and TAAP* - not to be confused with Spinal Tap. 

RESP* was also discussed and if you add on 'ECT' to the end then Aretha Franklin would be there in all her glory. 

We clapped our hands together on connection reforms, screamed at the beast that is network charging and intently listened to every word on strategic network planning. 

It really was a great day and one that I hope everyone thoroughly enjoyed. 

The performances I enjoyed the most discussed: 

• Reform of the electricity network. This is crucial for Scotland to achieve its goals for a cleaner and greener future. This will also result in a decrease in consumer bills, the creation of local employment opportunities and support for economic growth throughout the country. 
• How progress in reforming the connections process will be crucial in tackling the 600GW queue that currently exists.  
• The need for pro-active strategic network planning to achieve the energy transition and make our net-zero future a reality. 
• Strong leadership across the industry and the need to ensure long-lasting change. 

The conference was absolutely a Grid Festival and very much a celebration of what is going on in this space but there is a long way to go. 

There is a bigger picture here - there is a massive need to urgently upgrade the UK’s electricity grid infrastructure and we need to have meaningful conversations with the people of Scotland on what a future electricity network will look like and why it is essential for our net-zero energy system. 

We need to keep working on our language and storytelling, even if that includes singing, to make sure there is a better understanding of the need and the undoubted benefits for everyone. 

For the renewables energy industry there will be ‘No Transition without Transmission’. 

Now…there’s a great name for an album. 

Ends

 *ASTI - Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment 

* HND - Holistic Network Design 

* TAAP - Transmission Acceleration Action Plan 

* RESP – Regional Energy Strategic Planners 

• Scottish Renewables’ Grid and Networks Conference was held in partnership with National Grid ESO, ScottishPower Renewables and SSEN Transmission.