The government has asked NESO, the National Energy System Operator, to identify locations for accelerated development of critical energy projects.
The request comes in a letter from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and (DESNZ) and the new ‘Mission Control’ for clean power by 2030, commissioning the system operator and its successor NESO “to provide practical advice on achieving clean power by 2030 for Great Britain”.
The letter asks NESO to discuss a range of pathways that enable a decarbonised power system for Great Britain by 2030 and consider:
• Energy generation and demand mixes and how to make them deliverable.
• Key requirements for the transmission network and for secure system operation.
• Criteria that could support connections reform.
• High-level assessment of costs and benefits, opportunities and challenges, and risks.
• Actions for the government, NESO, Ofgem, the energy industry and wider stakeholders.
It also asks NESO to include a spatial element, “focusing on locations that offer opportunities for rapid infrastructure development, with sufficient detail and data to enable Mission Control to advise Ministers on options to support accelerated development of critical projects”.
The letter also promises DESNZ will work with NESO to ensure the plan integrates with the longer-term strategic spatial energy plan (SSEP).
Read the letter here