Dear Mark

Please find below the Februaury 2022 edition of the SP Energy Networks ICE monthly newsletter highlighting the important work we are doing to Prepare for Net Zero.

EV- EV Guide for Fleet Operators

Following work via Scotland's Bus Decarbonisation Taskforce, we - alongside SSEN, Transport Scotland, Zenobe Energy and CPT Scotland - have produced guidance to support fleet operators on where to start with electrification and their transition to #NetZero

The new EV guide for fleet operators, developed in collaboration with SSEN, outlines the key steps operators need to consider before electrifying their fleet.

Scott Mathieson, our Director of Network Planning & Regulation, said: "Electrifying all transport in Scotland - domestic, public and commercial - will significantly help Scotland towards its climate change targets. We’re about to start work on a multi-billion pound investment in our electricity networks, providing the essential infrastructure needed to enable this change and ensure all communities benefit on the road to Net Zero.

“Working with our partners, this new guide will equip fleet operators with the tools they need to start working towards their own decarbonisation targets. We have already helped a number of companies, including First Bus, Stagecoach and Lothian buses, to decarbonise their fleet and we stand ready to help others on their journey.”

Find out more here

Net Zero- £7BN TRANSMISSION INVESTMENT TO MEET SCOTLAND'S NET ZERO AMBITIONS

As one of Scotland's transmission network owners alongside SSEN Transmission, we have welcomed the publication of the Electricity System Operator's Networks Option Assessment (NOA) 2021/22.
The over £7bn investment package in new transmission infrastructure in Scotland outlined in NOA 2021/22 demonstrates the scale of strategic infrastructure investment needed in Scotland and the wider GB transmission system to meet Net Zero targets.

In recognition of our work designing and developing key strategic infrastructure to help Scotland achieve its climate change ambition, the process has recommended we continue our work investing in vital transmission projects above the baseline outlined in the transmission price control.

The transmission network connects major onshore and offshore renewables into the electricity grid and has enabled Scotland’s renewable electricity capacity to quadruple since 2007.

In the past 25 years, Scotland has installed around 8GW of onshore wind capacity, and is now looking to more than double this onshore capacity before 2030. The Scottish Government is currently consulting on its onshore wind ambitions, with proposals that a further 8-12 GW of onshore wind could be realised in Scotland by 2030.

Offshore, Scotland’s capacity is expected to grow significantly with almost 25GW of offshore potential capacity outlined following the recent ScotWind leasing round announcement from Crown Estate Scotland. Combined, this means there is the potential for up to 37GW of additional renewable electricity to be connected in the next decade or so.

To match this growing renewable ambition and ensure the projects can continue at the pace and scale required, there will be a continual increase in the need both onshore and offshore for large-scale grid infrastructure projects to ensure the power generated can get to where it is needed.

Given the networks importance we, alongside SSEN Transmission, are calling to be involved from the earliest possible stages in the strategic planning of new and extended renewable developments to ensure suitable and economic grid solutions are designed and available when needed.

In order to deliver the scale of renewable potential identified, the network operators need to be fully supported with a regulatory framework, with provisions for agile and timely decision-making for strategic grid infrastructure, working in coordination with well evidenced policy drivers and efficient consenting and planning processes with fixed timescales. .


Innovation- Phoenix project

As one of our flagship innovation projects, we’re delighted to see progress on our Phoenix project – which focuses on combining two existing technologies into a new hybrid that will help maintain stability of the electricity transmission network.

As we near the completion of the project, and with help from our project partners, we’ve published a GB road map report. This will support the future roll-out of this technology across the country, helping the UK transition towards Net Zero while maintaining security of supply for our customers.

The report provides guidance on; technical specifications, potential variants, location and installation considerations, and commercial incentives for the roll out of this technology.

Learn more about Phoenix and the GB road map in our video below, and you can read the full report here

Heat- LAUNCH OF INDUSTRY-FIRST TRIAL TO DECARBONISE HEAT

Alongside the Scottish Government and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, we are accelerating the decarbonisation of heating in Scotland through Project Re-Heat.

The industry-first project, led by us and supported by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution, will explore how electricity networks can manage the expected increase in electricity demand created by moving to electric heating solutions most efficiently and cost-effectively.

Zero Carbon Buildings Minister, Patrick Harvie said: "Meeting our ambitious climate targets will require rapid reduction in carbon emissions across our homes and buildings.

"I am pleased the Scottish Government could support this innovative project, which demonstrates how we can cut carbon emissions faster by installing intelligent systems that use our growing energy resource efficiently.

"It also highlights that, working together with public and private sector partners, we can ensure our homes and buildings are climate-friendly and bring benefits to communities and local economies across the country."

The electricity network is at the heart of Scotland's work to reach Net Zero emissions by 2045, providing the critical infrastructure required to support the electrification of heat and transport and the much-needed increase in renewables. By 2030, Scotland is expected to see over a million homes convert to zero emissions heat systems such as heat pumps, creating a significant increase in demand on the electricity system.

To provide a picture of how best the decarbonisation of heat can be achieved across Scotland, the project is being trialled in three areas; East Ayrshire and East Dunbartonshire by us, and the HIghlands by SSEN. This will be the first DNO-led large scale trial of electrified heat and will develop both technical and commercial solutions that can be rolled out across the country to make heat demand more flexible.

A total of 150 heat pumps, manufactured by Daikin, will be installed in domestic homes across the three local authority areas. These will be connected to thermal storage units developed by Sunamp (shown in the image below), enabling customers to be flexible around their energy demand for heating. As part of the project , Bridge-of-Weir based SME, Derryherk, is also providing data analytical and geographical information system (GIS) services.

The £5 million project has been funded via a number of schemes including £1.26m from the Scottish Government's Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme and £1.2m from Home Energy Efficiency Programme for Scotland. Delivery partner E.ON will work alongside us and SSEN, the local authorities and industry partners like Sunamp - an East Lothian based energy storage company - to explore how electricity networks can facilitate the large-scale electrification of heat and trial innovative solutions that will support the transition to a low carbon economy.


Community- SP ENERGY NETWORKS WARRIORS CHAMPIONSHIP RETURNS FOR 2022

Schools’ rugby is back at the home of Glasgow Warriors this February and March, with the SP Energy Networks Warriors Championship making its long-anticipated return to Scotstoun Stadium.

A total of 20 schools, from Glasgow, the West and Caledonia, with over 800 young people participating, are set to take part in the competition run by Glasgow Warriors and its Official Community Partner, SP Energy Networks.

This is the fifth year we have partnered with Glasgow Warriors to support the Championship, which aims to improve access to grassroots level rugby whilst teaching valuable life skills like team working, leadership and communication skills, and promoting healthy living across the communities they serve.

The 2022 championship runs over eight weeks from Tuesday 22 February and will culminate in the final at Scotstoun Stadium in May.

More on the competition structure can be found on the Glasgow Warriros website by clicking here

Frank Mitchell, CEO of SP Energy Networks, said: “We’re celebrating the fifth year of the SP Energy Networks Warriors Championship this year and I’m delighted to see the schools back on the pitch after two years of virtual grassroots rugby engagement.

“This is an amazing opportunity for young people to get active and find out more about career opportunities in sport and engineering. The Championship not only promotes effective teamwork and mental health awareness, but also helps to remove barriers demonstrating that both rugby and engineering are for everyone.

“Our communities are at the heart of everything we do, so I’m glad that we’re able to promote healthy lifestyles and support the next generation of rugby stars and engineers through this programme and beyond.”

Glasgow Warriors Managing Director, Al Kellock, said: “We’re delighted to be hosting the SP Energy Networks Warriors Championship at Scotstoun Stadium once again this season.

“The past two years have been difficult for all of us as we have dealt with the pandemic, particularly with there being less opportunities to play rugby at grassroots.

“Being able to encourage healthy living to youngster across Glasgow, the West and Caledonia through rugby is a pleasure and a key part of the culture we are creating at Glasgow Warriors.

“Over the next few weeks many young people from schools across Scotland will try rugby for the very first time and it is our hope that this championship is only the beginning of their rugby journeys.”



Kind regards,

Stakeholder & Community Engagement Team