Committee publication · Correspondence · 22 January 2025
Correspondence from National Energy System Operator, regarding GB Energy and the net zero transition inquiry, dated 13 January 2025
Summary
Omar Saeed from the National Energy System Operator (NESO) writes to Patricia Ferguson MP regarding the Scottish Affairs Committee's inquiry into GB Energy and the net zero transition. While acknowledging that most inquiry questions fall outside NESO's expertise, Saeed offers to share relevant work on strategic energy planning, decarbonisation advice, and transmission infrastructure projects critical to Scotland's role in the energy system.
Key findings
- NESO published 'Clean Power 2030' advice in November 2024 setting out two pathways for decarbonising the electricity system by 2030: 'Further Flex and Renewables' (higher renewables, no new dispatchable power) and 'New Dispatch' (lower renewables, new low-carbon dispatchable power, higher nuclear capacity)
- NESO identified 80 essential transmission projects for meeting 2030 targets; four projects have highest impact on Great Britain's ability to meet the target, with two—Eastern Green Link 1 and Eastern Green Link 2—transporting energy to and from Scotland
- NESO is co-commissioned by Scottish, Welsh and UK governments to produce a Strategic Spatial Energy Plan mapping optimal locations, quantities and types of future energy generation
- Six key enablers identified as essential to achieving 2030 target: market and investment changes, planning and consenting speedup, connections reform, supply chains and workforce, digitisation and innovation, and NESO as partner in delivering clean power
- NESO emphasises importance of just transition for oil and gas sector workers and Scotland's continued central role in future energy system, noting involvement in INTOG work with Crown Estate Scotland
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Patricia Ferguson MP, Omar Saeed, National Energy System Operator (NESO), Scottish Government, Welsh Government, UK Government, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, Crown Estate Scotland
Notable line
“Scotland's role in the future energy system will continue to be central.”
Key Quotes
“NESO is a new, public body, operationally independent of the UK Government and free of commercial interest.”
“In Clean Power 2030, we set out the amount of generation required under two pathways, 'Further Flex and Renewables' and 'New Dispatch'.”
“Of those 80, we identified four projects which would have the highest impact on Great Britain's ability to meet the 2030 target, two of which would transport energy to and from Scotland.”
“NESO strongly believes in the importance of a just transition for those working in the sector, and that Scotland's role in the future energy system will continue to be central.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗