Transmission Networks Short Life Working Group: consenting timescales review - September 2023

2. Background

2.1 The Scottish Government is strongly committed to tackling climate change and meeting our ambitious net zero targets entrenched in law, both interim and by 2045 and recognises that grid infrastructure will play a key role in meeting these ambitions, by connecting offshore wind and onshore wind developments to the grid network.

2.2 In June 2019, the United Kingdom ("UK") Parliament passed legislation introducing a binding target to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In Scotland, the Scottish Parliament has committed Scotland to becoming a net zero country by 2045. The timely grid connection of low carbon generation, such as onshore and offshore wind, will play a vital role in reaching these legislated net zero targets. However, the existing onshore transmission network cannot currently support the substantial growth required in renewable electricity generation.

2.3 The UK Government announced in October 2020 its commitment to make the UK a world leader in green energy and boosted the UK Government's previous 30GW target for offshore wind to 40GW by 2030. The Scottish Government ambition is 11GW of offshore wind in Scotland by 2030. Further commitment, by the UK Government in October 2021, to decarbonise the power system by 2035, as well as the British Energy Security Strategy published in April 2022 (which raises the UK Government ambition to 50GW of offshore wind by 2030), further supports the requirement for investment in the existing electricity transmission system to enable the timely grid connection and integration of the required renewable generation sources. In addition, in December 2022 Ofgem confirmed implementation of a new Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment ("ASTI") regulatory framework to expedite funding for the large strategic onshore transmission projects required to deliver the UK Government's 2030 ambitions. This decision will streamline the regulatory approval and funding process by reducing the number of regulatory assessment stages, and allowing the transmission operators earlier access to project funding in order to accelerate the delivery of ASTI projects, which are tied to the transmission operator's license as an obligation for delivery before 2030.

2.4 The current grid network transfer capacity between Scotland and England is 6.6GW, with a required transfer of up to 40GW by 2040. This is based on anticipated generation of 60GW of onshore and offshore wind by 2040 in Scotland. The 2030 transfer capacity target is a maximum of 35GW.

2.5 The electricity transmission system in Great Britain is therefore going through a transformational change as we move towards a net zero emissions society. Traditional large fossil fuel power stations are being replaced by a large number of renewable generating stations such as onshore and offshore wind farms.

2.6 The existing electricity transmission system was designed and built to take power from those traditional large power stations, often coal fuelled, and take it to demand centres throughout the central belt of Scotland and beyond. However, renewable generators are now connecting into the system. These generators are located in areas where there is very little demand, such as in the north of Scotland. To allow this renewable electricity to be carried from the north to the large demand centres throughout Great Britain, there is a need for modernisation and reinforcement of the electricity transmission system across Scotland and Great Britain and a need to do this at an unprecedented pace. The suite of projects required under ASTI to deliver the capacity targets by 2030 are show in Figure 1.

2.7 Determination timescales for transmission network infrastructure can vary greatly depending on the circumstances of any individual case. In recent years a transmission voltage overhead line connection, with the need for an Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA"), took on average 1.8 years for a decision from the Scottish Ministers. Factors resulting in longer determination timescales included the need for Additional Information during the application process and, where a project is subject to the public inquiry process, this extends the decision making process with a decision from the Scottish Ministers taking around 3 years. It is recognised that the nature of the ASTI projects creates a higher risk that a public inquiry may be held and, on that basis, given the existing procedures, the current timeframe for a decision is likely to be longer on these projects.

Figure 1: ASTI projects to deliver the capacity targets by 2030

2.8 As part of the considerations of accelerating timescales for decisions, the SLWG organised the Accelerating Consenting for Electricity Network Conference which was hosted by SSEN on 18 January 2023. This event had the former Cabinet Secretary as the keynote speaker and was well attended by transmission operators and, statutory consultees, including planning authorities, Historic Environment Scotland, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and NatureScot.

2.9 The summary report from the conference is provided in Appendix 1. The outputs of the conference and ongoing work of the SLWG aim to deliver the changes required to support the energy ambitions. The conference highlighted the barriers to accelerating decision making for grid infrastructure projects, and the need for further opportunities to support the Scottish Government and statutory consultees in finding both short and long-term solutions to ease the burden from a cost, well- being and skills perspective, with the goal of delivering a net zero economy.