SSEN has published an updated Strategic Development Plan for three areas in the north of Scotland, outlining its vision for a net zero electricity system. The plan, which follows a period of public consultation, aims to guide future investment and development in the region.

Strategic Development Plans (SDPs) will be produced for all parts of SSEN's licence area, setting out a regional view of expected generation and demand growth, and related network investment needs, up to 2050.

The energy company has now opened public consultations for the first three draft SDPs in the north of Scotland: Thurso South, Port Ann & Carradale, and Taynuilt. These consultations will allow stakeholders to provide feedback on the proposed plans.

People can provide their responses at the following links:

Thurso


Port Ann & Carradale

Taynuilt

SSEN has also published its first Distribution Network Options Assessment (DNOA) Assurance Report. The DNOA process considers detailed options to address capacity needs. It also provides visibility of how decisions are made in adapting the network for net zero.

To ensure the DNOA methodology is correctly applied - and transparency in how outcomes are reached - consultants have conducted an independent assurance assessment into the first DNOA outcomes report. It concludes that good practice was followed, and that the options proposed were correctly identified and assessed, with some areas for further improvement also cited.

We'll take on board suggestions for further improvement and incorporate these into future DNOA outcome reports and DNOA methodologies. Future reports will be assessed in a similar way to reassure stakeholders on the merits of our approach.

Andy Wainwright, Whole System Team Manager at SSEN Distribution said: "We're on a mission to develop an electricity system that's smart, fair, and fit for net zero, in line with the UK Government's new 'Clean Power 2030' goals and subsequent targets. This can only be achieved through collaboration with our stakeholders, which is at the heart of our strategic planning process.

"We know that not all of our stakeholders speak the language of electricity networks, so we are working hard to make our consultations and reports as accessible as possible to ensure they genuinely reflect and are driven by stakeholder input."