SSEN Transmission has published an updated North of Scotland Future Energy Scenarios report outlining potential electricity generation and demand necessary to meet UK and Scottish net-zero emissions targets.
Responding, Morag Watson, Director of Policy at Scottish Renewables, said: “The north of Scotland is already at the heart of our renewable energy story, with its winds, rainfall, long daylight hours, forestry resource and tides all providing the energy we need to run our lives sustainably. This report shows the potential for that contribution to increase in future, bringing with it the economic and environmental benefits Scotland will need if it is to meet its net-zero target.”
The electricity network owner states that their main focus in the last decade has been on delivering the additional capacity and connections required for increased renewable energy generation in an economic and efficient way, while ensuring reliability of supplies for their network users and consumers. It also cites the need to be mindful of how the energy system could develop in the future which will influence what network developments are required in the north of Scotland.
To be able to meet customers’ future needs over the next decade and beyond, the provider says it must understand which technologies are likely to impact generation and demand profiles. With policy being put in place to drive forward the electrification of heat and transport and developments surrounding hydrogen deployment and the electrification of rail, SSEN Transmission says it will continue to monitor and model potential transmission impacts from these areas.
The report states that the application of FES assumptions on a regional level is limited: “In the north of Scotland, our Energy Trends papers have identified developments that have not always matched the prevailing GB trends. Therefore, additional granularity provided through localised future energy scenarios for the north of Scotland would best meet energy users’ needs. As we consider whole system planning as a fundamental element in planning our network developments, thought must also be given to changes in other areas of the energy system such as electricity distribution, heat and transport.”
The full report can be viewed and downloaded here.
