What’s the plan for the UK’s electricity network?
To realise the UK’s decarbonisation targets and integrate a wave of incoming renewable energy projects into our energy system we will need a coordinated approach between governments, industry and key stakeholders.
That’s why the UK Government has recently introduced a range of strategic taskforces to support regulatory changes being made to the electricity network. At Scottish Renewables, we know how challenging it can be to keep up with all the different taskforces, what they all mean and how they interact.
To aid your understanding of network and whole system reforms, we’ve pulled together a quick go-to-guide covering the who, what and when of each taskforce.
Mission Control for Clean Power
WHAT: A Mission Control for Clean Power taskforce was created in July, to drive action on the UK Government’s accelerated target of clean power by 2030.
WHO: Mission Control is led by Chris Stark, previously Chief Executive of the Climate Change Committee (CCC) and the former Director of Energy and Climate Change in the Scottish Government.
The taskforce comprised of industry experts will work with energy and network companies, as well as regulatory authorities, with the aim of realising the government’s clean power ambition and tracking progress towards the 2030 target.
WHEN: As the name suggests, Mission Control is the dedicated government ‘control room’ responsible for steering action towards Clean Power by 2030.
Clean Power Plan 2030 (CP30)
WHAT: To achieve the targets of Clean Power by 2030, the UK government is developing a Clean Power Plan (CP30) which will be published later this year. The plan will focus on the practical action needed to accelerate decarbonisation at the rate required to meet the target. In this context, ‘clean’ power is defined as ‘where low-carbon generation exceeds UK demand, supported by minimal levels of unabated gas’.
The CPP2030 is both itself a target and a starting point to inform the subsequent Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP), Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) and Centralised Strategic Network Plan (CSNP).
WHO: At the end of August, the government officially commissioned the National Energy System Operator (NESO) for advice on how to reach its Clean Power target. NESO will analyse different scenarios and engage with industry and societal stakeholders as it considers the different pathways to decarbonisation.
WHEN: The government will assess the NESO’s recommendations and finalise its official plan by the end of the year.
Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP)
WHAT: As recommended by the Electricity Networks Commissioner last year, the UK government is pursuing a national spatial energy plan to identify prime locations for renewable energy generation. The SSEP will determine where different renewable generation and storage will be best located to meet forecasted electricity demand as well as climate targets. This will also align with the planned network build out.
WHO: The SSEP will be commissioned by the UK Government and will coordinate energy generation with transmission infrastructure to inform what the electricity network will look like in future.
WHEN: As the SSEP is yet to be commissioned and will be for outlining new renewable energy projects, the plan will be designed for post-2030 targets and projects.
Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESP)
WHAT: RESPs are being introduced to coordinate strategic energy planning across regions of the UK. This will ensure the high-level national objectives of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) are translated to a local level. RESPs will consider local input while maintaining regional oversight to harmonise development, with a focus on local distribution networks.
Scotland will have either one or two RESPs. This will be confirmed by Ofgem in its consultation decision later this year.
WHO: RESPs will be led by NESO who will be responsible for designing the final methodology and planning for each region This will include: modelling supply and demand, identifying system need and technical coordination.
WHEN: To align with the SSEP, RESPs will be designed for renewable energy projects introduced post-2030. All RESPs will be approved by Ofgem. Publication of the final methodology is expected in late 2025. This will feed into the incoming round of distribution network price controls in 2026.
Transitional Centralised Strategic Network Plan 2 (TCSNP) / Beyond 2030
WHAT: The TCSNP2, otherwise known as Beyond 2030, is the ESO’s recommendation of what network buildout is required to reach our climate targets. The plan sets out what will be required for the electricity network to connect an additional 21GW of offshore wind, triggered by the ScotWind leasing round.
The plan builds upon the Holistic Network Design (HND) and the Holistic Network Design Follow Up Exercise (HNDFUE) and is a transitional plan to be followed by a final Centralised Strategic Network Plan (CSNP) in 2027. The CSNP will forecast network development post 2030 and will be reviewed every three years.
WHO: The plan was developed by the ESO, now known as the NESO, and presented to the UK government. The NESO will continue to be responsible for developing the CSNP.
WHEN: As the name suggests, the network development recommended within the plan is for projects connecting to the network after 2030. The TCSNP2 guidance was published in March this year, and the CSNP is expected in 2027.
Holistic Network Design (HND) + Holistic Network Design Follow-Up Exercise (HNDFUE)
WHAT: The HND, otherwise known as the Pathway to 2030 HND, forms the initial design for strategic network build out that the HND Follow Up Exercise (HNDFUE) and Beyond 2030 have subsequently built upon. Published in July 2022, the HND outlined the offshore and onshore design needed to connect 23GW of offshore wind by 2030 and support the UK Government’s 50GW by 2030 target.
The HNDFUE, published in 2023, was developed to integrate additional offshore wind development in the Celtic Sea and Scotland.
WHO: The package of strategic network investment and design recommendations, i.e., HND, HNDFUE, Beyond 2030 and the forthcoming CNSP, have been developed by NESO (formally known as the ESO).
WHEN: HND and HNDFUE network requirements were intended for projects due to come live prior to 2030.