NESO given go ahead for Regional Energy Strategic Planning across Great Britain

• Following a public consultation, Ofgem has today confirmed the activities National Energy System Operator (NESO) should undertake as Regional Energy Strategic Planner.
• The role of Regional Energy Strategic Planner was originally awarded to NESO in November 2023, ahead of NESO’s creation in October 2024.
• As the Regional Energy Strategic Planner for Great Britain, NESO will join up national and local energy plans, to help ensure local areas get the energy infrastructure they need to meet plans for economic growth and net zero.
• NESO will develop 11 Regional Energy Strategic Plans will provide a whole system approach to the strategic planning of local energy network investment.

Ofgem has confirmed the activities that it has charged the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to undertake as Great Britain’s Regional Energy Strategic Planner.

Initially awarded the role of Regional Energy Strategic Planner in November 2023, Ofgem has been publicly consulting on the activities NESO would undertake in this role,

As the Regional Energy Strategic Planner for Great Britain, NESO will join up national and local energy plans, to help ensure local areas get the energy infrastructure they need to meet their plans for economic growth and net zero. 

NESO will adopt a whole system approach to the development of Regional Energy Strategic Plans, working across all energy vectors, including electricity, gas and across heat and transport, to help drive local energy network investment.

The decision today from Ofgem clarifies many aspects of how local communities will participate in the development of these local energy needs to support economic growth.

11 Regional Energy Strategic Plans will be created for Scotland, Wales and nine regions across England. 

To deliver Great Britain’s first overarching strategic energy plan, these Regional Energy Strategic Plans will be integrated with NESO’s Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) and the Central Strategic Network Plan (CSNP). The result will be secure, affordable and clean energy for consumers, homes and businesses across the nations.

The methodology for the creation of Regional Energy Strategic Plans will be consulted on later this year, with the first plans delivered by the end of 2027. In the meantime, NESO has committed to the delivery of transitional Regional Energy Strategic Plans. These transitional plans will inform the 2028-2033 business plans for Electricity Distribution Network Operators providing consistency in the approach to future investment across DNOs and enabling local communities to provide input on their priorities for strategic investment.

Julian Leslie, Director of Strategic Energy Planning and Chief Engineer, NESO

“Regional Energy Strategic Plans are a major milestone on the path to net zero and meeting future local energy needs. As the body responsible for developing these plans we will work closely with local stakeholders and gas and electricity networks, to ensure that local communities play a central role in planning how they decarbonise and how their contributions support national strategic energy planning.”

Ofgem will be hosting a webinar for the Regional Energy Strategic Planner (RESP) Policy Framework Launch on April 3rd from 10-11am.

To join the session, register here.