Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has published the first in its series of Strategic Development Plans, in which it sets out predicted network needs between now and the middle of the century.

These Development Plans will make recommendations on how and when flexibility (the ability to adjust electricity supply and demand) might be used, and they will also lay out the short and long-term network improvements that will be required. Together, these measures are predicted to fulfil the network demand of 2050.

Over the next 12 months, we'll produce Strategic Development Plans covering each of the Grid Supply Points in our central southern England and north of Scotland licence areas. Grid Supply Points – or GSPs – are the points where our network connects with the high-voltage Transmission grid. The first Plan, which has now been published in draft form, and is open for consultation until the end of this month, is for the Ealing GSP, which supplies part of West London.

Strategic Development Plans – or SDPs – are the realisation of SSEN's ambition to drive the ongoing development of the distribution network in a fit-for-purpose, cost-effective way, which will help get communities to net zero in as fast and fair a way as possible.

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SSEN have already been delivering on this ambition through their sector-leading support for the local authorities in our licence areas, and our work on the creation of Local Area Energy Plans. These local plans have already made a positive contribution to our future network assessments. Local Area Energy Plans have also formed the basis for these new Strategic Development Plans though the our engagement with local authorities and the communities they represent.

Earlier this week, progress towards even greater co-ordination in this area took a step forward, with the energy regulator Ofgem opening its own consultation on the framework of forthcoming Regional Energy Strategic Plans, or RESPs. RESPs will enable the co-ordinated development of a net zero-ready energy system and enable network infrastructure investment to be made, before the capacity it creates will be required.

Andy Wainwright, Whole Systems Manager at SSEN Distribution, says: "The publication of our first Strategic Development Plan in draft form is a big moment for us, as these will be blueprints for our future plans. They will also provide our communities with a clear sense of our intentions when it comes to building an electricity system that will help us all get to net zero. As we put the vision for Ealing in West London out for consultation, I'd encourage the people and groups who've got a stake in our plans to take a look at the new detail contained within it, and tell us what they think.

"We also welcome the regulator Ofgem's recent decision to open consultation on its own proposals for the creation of a Regional Energy Strategic Planning function. We believe this is vital and will provide additional structures and co-ordination around Local Area Energy Planning. This is something we believe in deeply here at SSEN, and it's an area we've already done a huge amount of work on."

The draft Strategic Development plan for the Ealing Grid Supply Point can be read here.

The consultation is open for submissions until Wednesday 28th August.

On Friday 13th September at 10am, we'll hold a webinar to discuss Strategic Development Plans more widely. This will provide an outline of what they'll include, and will provide a chance for people to ask any questions. It will also be an opportunity for our team to gain feedback on our approach to producing these Development Plans.