Why is new transmission infrastructure needed in the north of Scotland?
The ‘Pathway to 2030’ projects planned in the north of Scotland, are part of a major upgrade of the electricity transmission network across Great Britain.
The independent Electricity System Operator, National Grid ESO, has identified that the upgrades are necessary to help meet UK and Scottish Government climate change and energy security targets, by connecting and transporting renewable electricity generation from where it is made to where it is needed. Moving to clean, renewable, and homegrown energy is key to tackling both climate change and the energy crisis and helping meet local and national heat, transport and electricity needs.
These projects are also needed to deliver UK and Scottish Government 2030 renewable energy targets.
One of the UK Government’s responses to events in Russia and Ukraine, has been to reduce our dependence on volatile and often expensive global wholesale energy markets.
The best way to get there is by speeding up the deployment of homegrown and affordable low-carbon power, together with accelerating the development of the electricity network infrastructure that is needed to connect and transport it.
The BESS set out the UK Government’s plans to secure the country’s future energy independence and included an increased ambition for offshore wind of 50GW by 2030.
The ESO has been working in collaboration with the three transmission owners (of which SSEN Transmission is one), to enable connection and transportation of the 50GW of offshore wind by 2030 target, and have developed the Holistic Network Design (HND).
Published in July 2022, it sets out the onshore and offshore electricity transmission infrastructure required across the north of Scotland and Great Britain to deliver this UK Government target. It also outlined the technology choices to be used for the infrastructure such as overhead lines and subsea cables, with a ’Required in Service Date’ of 2030.
Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment
In December 2022, the energy regulator, Ofgem, approved the need for these projects as part of its Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) framework decision.
Our 2030 reinforcements are also key to enable the connection of the first phase of the ScotWind leasing round, which will connect 11GW of ScotWind’s total ambition of 28GW.
Report on Consultation Stakeholder Webinar Summary Response
Useful Information
For enhanced viewing experience, we recommend watching our webinar recordings directly on Vimeo.
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Pathway to 2030 Overhead Line Project Update
Our Webinar Series
Click the play button to watch our webinar and find out more about the key highlights from the Reports on Consultations for each project, published in January 2025. These reports provide a summary of the feedback received following extensive consultation in 2024
Date: 4th February 2025
Duration: 1hr 30 mins -
Overground, underground, or subsea - how decisions are made on where electricity transmission lines go
Our Webinar Series
Click the play button to watch our webinar and find out more about the considerations and challenges electricity transmission operators must consider when planning new transmission infrastructure.
Date: 23rd October 2024
Duration: 1hr 25mins -
Update on Pathway to 2030
Our Webinar Series
Click the play button to watch our webinar and find out more about the Reports on Consultation, what they set out, the primary changes that have been made to the Pathway to 2030 projects following consultation feedback, and next steps for these projects.
You can also access the slide pack here.
Date: 13th December 2023
Duration: 1hr 15mins -
Delivering a Network for Net Zero
Our Webinar Series
Click the play button to watch the first episode of our webinar series Delivering a network for net zero – Why do we need to radically scale up the transmission network in the north of Scotland?
Date: 29th September 2023
Duration: 1hr 30mins -
How has the need for the Pathway to 2030 projects been assessed?
Find out more about the policies and targets that have been set by the UK and Scottish Government driving the need for investment in new clean power and the electricity transmission network. -
Pathway to 2030 Holistic Network Design
The Electricity System Operator, National Grid ESO, was tasked by the UK Government to develop the ‘Pathway to 2030 Holistic Network Design’. An integrated, coordinated plan that sets out the onshore and offshore electricity transmission infrastructure required to deliver Government targets.