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Insight
Introduction
Pressures on power distribution networks, driven by the net-zero transition, are growing faster than even the most informed minds predicted.
In 2021, National Grid ESO’s Distribution Future Energy Scenarios, the acknowledged authority for understanding future energy system demands and requirements, suggested Distribution Network Operators could reasonably expect to see 10.9GW of distributed energy resources (DERs) – such as electric vehicles – connected to their networks in 2030, accompanied by 2.3GW of battery storage, 4.5GW of large scale solar generation and 4.3GW of onshore wind.
But take SSEN, whose diverse licence areas include the remote reaches of the Scottish Highlands as well as urbanised central and southern England, as an example and it’s clear this forecast has already fallen behind the pace of change. Last year, SSEN had 23.8GW of DERs in its connections pipeline, 8.8GW of battery storage and higher than anticipated volumes of solar and onshore wind too.
“The net-zero transition is not a thing of the future. It is upon us today.”
Andrew Roper, Director of SSEN’s Distribution System Operator
Speaking to Utility Week about the challenge this presents, Andrew Roper, Director of SSEN’s Distribution System Operator (DSO) comments. “The net zero transition is not a thing of the future. It is upon us today.
The Distribution Future Energy Scenario predictions for load growth have already arrived. The big demand of us is now to ensure we optimise the network at maximum pace and minimum cost.”
This can’t just mean accelerating the most urgently needed investments in infrastructure growth, Roper stresses. For SSEN, and its DSO function in particular, success will be defined by its ability to master a symbiotic matrix of strategic investment – which recognises the value of local reinforcement in a whole system context – use of flexibility services to mitigate demand peaks and a steely focus on accelerating connections for customers.
With the right capability in all these areas, Roper ambitiously paints a vision for his DSO as the lynchpin of thriving net zero economies across his license areas. “For us, its about driving decarbonisation and linking the right availability of capacity with economic growth for our communities.
“This isn’t something we can achieve in isolation. We see increasing collaboration – with partners from across industry and beyond – being a defining feature in our future. That’s the only way we can make sure that we make swift progress in a way which is fair and inclusive.”
In this report, created by Utility Week in association with SSEN, we will explore how this vision has defined the establishment and early work of its DSO function and take a look at the developments it will drive over the rest of 2024.
in association with
