SSEN Transmission has outlined progress to date in delivering a whole system strategy for the north of Scotland.
The Whole System Annual Report for 2022 also details how the transmission provider, owned by SSE Group, is creating value for customers, stakeholders and communities as it aims to deliver an innovative, collaborative and efficient network for net zero.
As the operator of the transmission network in the north of Scotland, its strategic objective is to connect the renewable energy that is needed to meet the UK and Scottish Government’s carbon emissions reduction, and renewable energy targets.
SSEN’s approach is spearheaded by a stakeholder-led strategy; underpinned by a whole system approach to network development, construction and operation to efficiently meet current and future customer’s needs, according to the report.
The findings show that there is a lot of value to our stakeholders in taking a whole system approach to network investment planning and we detail these benefits in the report, SSEN said.
SSEN Transmission head of whole system Andrew Urquhart said: “Taking a whole system approach means that we take a wide look at all the elements and systems of the energy industry to understand how they are related, and how they influence one another.
“This enables us to collaborate with relevant stakeholders and find innovative and efficient network solutions as we deliver a network for net zero
“For years, the energy industry has worked in silos, led by the industry’s longstanding structures, regulations and ways of working which were developed a long time ago for a different energy system.
“But getting to net zero will require us disrupting these norms and doing things differently to benefit customers, communities and consumers.
“For us, whole system is about creating value, from our RIIO-T2 commitment to deliver a customer value proposition of £350m (€422.1m), to providing timely cost-effective whole system solutions to ensure national net zero emissions are met.
“However, we can’t fully deliver this value without the support and feedback from our customers and stakeholders who have played an integral part in shaping our plans as we deliver a network for net zero.”