Transforming the grid: Delivering a secure, affordable and clean energy future
Ricky Saez
BY RICKY SAEZ
“ Put simply, there is no clean energy transition without transmission.”
The UK stands at a defining moment in its energy transition.
Across the country, governments, businesses and communities are united by a common ambition: to build a cleaner, more secure and more affordable energy system.
Significant progress has already been made in deploying renewable generation, with Scotland in particular emerging as a global leader in harnessing clean energy from onshore wind, offshore wind and hydro power.
But one reality has become increasingly clear - generating clean electricity is only part of the challenge.
To fully realise the benefits of renewable energy, we need the infrastructure capable of transporting power from where it is generated to where it is needed.
Put simply, there is no clean energy transition without transmission.
That is why the electricity transmission sector is now responsible for delivering one of the most significant infrastructure programmes the UK has seen in generations.
At SSEN Transmission, we are progressing plans for around £29bn of investment across the north of Scotland's electricity network. It is a programme designed not only to connect renewable energy and support delivery of national energy security and clean power ambitions, but also to create lasting economic and social value for communities right across the country.
This transformation is about far more than steel, substations and cables. It is about creating the infrastructure that will underpin economic growth, strengthen energy resilience and support future generations.
“Investment in transmission infrastructure acts as an enabler for the wider economy. Every substation, converter station, cable route and overhead line supports wider supply chains, creates employment opportunities and helps attract long-term investment into local areas.”
The scale of change facing our energy system is unprecedented.
Over the coming decades, electricity demand is expected to increase significantly as transport, heating and industry continue to decarbonise. At the same time, Scotland's renewable energy resources will play an increasingly important role in supplying low-carbon electricity across Britain.
The transmission network must evolve to accommodate both trends.
This means expanding the capability of the existing network while also developing major new infrastructure capable of moving substantially larger volumes of electricity over greater distances.
The challenge is significant. So too is the opportunity.
Investment in transmission infrastructure acts as an enabler for the wider economy. Every substation, converter station, cable route and overhead line supports wider supply chains, creates employment opportunities and helps attract long-term investment into local areas.
Across Scotland, we are already seeing businesses investing in new facilities, growing their workforces and developing new capabilities to support the scale of delivery required. The transmission sector is becoming a major driver of industrial growth, supporting jobs and skills that will be needed for decades to come.
“Success depends on collaboration”
No single organisation can deliver the scale of infrastructure required to transform the energy system.
Success depends on collaboration.
That collaboration extends across network operators, contractors, suppliers, local authorities, regulators, government bodies and communities. It requires organisations to work differently, share knowledge more openly and align around common objectives.
Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than in the delivery of projects like Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2) projects.
Right now, EGL2 is the biggest electricity transmission project ever undertaken in the UK. Developed as a first-of-its-kind joint venture between SSEN Transmission and National Grid Electricity Transmission, the project represents a new model for delivering nationally significant infrastructure.
The subsea link will be capable of transporting enough renewable energy to power around two million homes and businesses across Great Britain, helping strengthen security of supply while reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels.
Projects like EGL2 demonstrate the power of bringing together expertise, resources and experience from across the industry. By establishing shared governance, integrated delivery teams and common objectives, we can unlock efficiencies, accelerate delivery and improve outcomes.
The lessons learned from these projects will be invaluable as the wider industry confronts the challenge of delivering an unprecedented pipeline of energy infrastructure.
“The energy transition presents an opportunity not only to decarbonise our energy system, but also to create stronger, more resilient communities. Realising that opportunity requires long-term thinking and a commitment to partnership”.
While the benefits of transmission infrastructure are often discussed in national terms, it is equally important to recognise the local impact of investment.
Communities across the north of Scotland are at the heart of this.
Major infrastructure projects create opportunities for local businesses, support employment and help develop skills that can be retained within communities long after construction is complete.
At SSEN Transmission, we are committed to ensuring the benefits of investment are shared as widely as possible. This includes supporting local supply chains, investing in skills and training, creating opportunities for young people and contributing to community initiatives that leave a positive legacy.
Environmental enhancement also forms an important part of our approach. As we develop new infrastructure, we have a responsibility to minimise our impact and deliver positive outcomes for biodiversity and the natural environment.
The energy transition presents an opportunity not only to decarbonise our energy system, but also to create stronger, more resilient communities. Realising that opportunity requires long-term thinking and a commitment to partnership.
“We are seeing greater collaboration between organisations, increased innovation in project delivery and a shared commitment to achieving outcomes that would have been difficult to imagine even a decade ago”.
The coming years will be critical.
The pace at which we can deliver electricity transmission infrastructure will have a significant influence on the UK's ability to meet clean power ambitions, strengthen energy security and unlock economic growth.
The challenges are well documented. Planning and consenting processes, supply chain capacity, workforce availability and delivery risk all require careful management. I remain optimistic, and you should too.
Across the industry, there is growing recognition that the scale of the challenge demands a collective response. We are seeing greater collaboration between organisations, increased innovation in project delivery and a shared commitment to achieving outcomes that would have been difficult to imagine even a decade ago.
The transmission sector has an opportunity to demonstrate what can be achieved when industry, government and communities work together towards a common goal.
If we succeed, the benefits will extend far beyond the energy sector. We will create infrastructure that powers homes and businesses, supports economic prosperity and helps secure a cleaner future for generations to come.
These themes of investment, collaboration and delivery will be at the centre of my session at GRID-UK, where I will explore how transmission infrastructure is helping unlock Scotland's clean energy future and the role that partnerships are playing in accelerating progress.
The transformation of the grid is already underway. The task now is ensuring we continue to work together to deliver it at the scale and pace the future requires.
Ricky Saez is Director of Programmes and Project Services at SSEN Transmission.
He will be speaking at GRID-UK on "Transforming the Grid: Delivering Scotland's Clean Energy Future" on 1 October. The session will explore the role of a proposed £29 bn transmission investment programme, the delivery of the Eastern Green Link projects and the importance of industry-wide collaboration in achieving the UK's clean energy ambitions.