The location for new energy infrastructure will be set out in a
strategic plan to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels
and accelerate the government's clean energy superpower mission.
Taking this more strategic approach will provide much-needed
long-term certainty and stability for investors and accelerate
the growth of the UK's clean energy industries, creating more
jobs and improving lives in communities across the UK.
Building on work to deliver clean power by 2030, energy ministers
in the Scottish, Welsh, and UK governments have asked the newly
formed National Energy System Operator (NESO) to produce the
first ever strategic spatial plan for energy out to 2050, across
land and sea in Great Britain. Planning of energy infrastructure
in this way will help cut grid connection waiting times, giving
investors confidence on where to build and when.
The publicly owned body will look at how to best spread new
energy projects across the country in a way that takes into
account other sectors, such as transport and water supply, as
well as the environment. This wide-angle lens will speed up
project delivery and reduce overall system costs, which could in
turn bring down bills for consumers.
The first iteration of the plan will be published in 2026 and
will focus on electricity generation and storage, including
hydrogen assets, from offshore wind farms to pumped storage
hydro.
Minister for Energy said:
To help drive growth and investment in our clean energy future,
we need to provide investors with the long-term certainty and
stability that they have been crying out for.
That's why we need a more strategic approach to our energy
system, ensuring we can quickly scale up investment in the right
infrastructure where we need it, to keep costs down and speed up
our transition to clean power.
Delivering the country's first ever spatial plan will be a major
milestone for our new public energy body.
Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and
Planning, , said:
We welcome this strategic approach to the energy system, which
should reduce overall costs and bring certainty to communities.
In Wales we have been developing plans to meet our energy needs
at the local, regional and national level for some years and look
forward to working collaboratively with the NESO and others to feed
into these UK-wide plans. Getting this right will help ensure we
deliver the best possible outcomes for our communities and our
industries through the considered development of the clean energy
they will need to power them.
Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, MSP, said:
I am committed to working collaboratively with other governments
where it can accelerate progress towards Scotland's economic and
net zero targets.
Key to the plan's success will be ensuring that investor
confidence is maintained throughout.
It is also vital that it takes into account the nature of
devolved policies and ambitions, delivers real benefits for the
people and communities of Scotland and supports our ongoing
efforts for a just transition.
I look forward to working with the UK and Welsh governments on
the plan as it develops.
Kayte O'Neill, Chief Operating Officer, NESO said:
We are delighted to receive this formal commission as
NESO to
develop this plan and bring together our expertise and that of
our partners to develop this critical blueprint for Great
Britain's energy system of the future.
By setting out pathway options, engaging across government, the
regulator, wider industry, interested parties and with
communities as well as exploring the needs at a more zonal and
regional level we can then identify where and what type of
electricity and storage technologies we need to meet our future
demand and decarbonisation ambitions.
Alistair Phillips-Davies, Chief Executive, SSE:
As one of the largest investors in clean power in the UK we are
very supportive of the strategic spatial energy plan. Having
long-term stability through spatial plans and policy mechanisms
will be critical to unlocking billions of pounds of investment
across the country, supporting good jobs and building a homegrown
energy system that is cleaner, more affordable and secure.
CEO of Ofgem, , said:
I warmly welcome and strongly support this commission to create
the first national energy blueprint for Britain's future energy
system.
It will be a real gamechanger in unlocking growth and
investment, accelerating new infrastructure build, and speeding
up innovation and technology. It will be a big stepping stone in
delivering government's mission to provide clean power by 2030
and accelerate the transition to net zero.
Ofgem will work closely alongside the UK, Scottish and Welsh
governments, as well as NESO, to protect
consumers and to deliver clean power at the lowest possible cost.
NESO will
develop several options for how the energy system could look in
the future which will be presented to ministers. The chosen
option will be taken forward to public consultation alongside
detailed environmental assessments.
Notes to editors
Minister Shanks is today launching the SSEP at an event in
parliament.
NESO will
publish its consultation on methodology later this year, and
deliver the plan in 2026.
See the SSEP letter and
commission
