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Network Options Assessment (NOA)

The Network Options Assessment (NOA) provides our recommendation for which network reinforcement projects should receive investment, and when. While we provide economic recommendations that will enable the flow of electricity around the transmission system to facilitate the evolving energy landscape, we are not responsible for making the final decision on what, where, and when to invest.

The NOA 2021/22 Refresh is an update to the previously published NOA 2021/22, and incorporates the recommended offshore network design set out in the Holistic Network Design (HND). It is important to note that the NOA 2021/22 Refresh is a standalone document, providing a comprehensive overview of the changes.

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Download the NOA publication

Download NOA 2021/22 Refresh interactive report

The NOA Refresh and the Pathway to 2030 Holistic Network Design

The Pathway to 2030 Holistic Network Design helps to unlock the UK Government's ambition for 50 GW of offshore wind by 2030, by setting out a single, integrated approach that supports large scale delivery of electricity from offshore wind, to where it is needed across Great Britain.

The NOA 2021/22 Refresh forms part of the suite of documents that make up the Pathway to 2030 Holistic Network Design.

As we move towards an energy landscape that is dominated by renewable and zero carbon electricity, we need to take a more strategic and coordinated approach to transmitting large volumes of renewable generation to our demand centres across GB. Whilst our current network meets our needs for today, looking to the future, we need to evolve the transmission network to make sure it is capable of enabling delivery of the Government's 2030 offshore wind ambition and net zero target.

 

What NOA can and can't do

  • Recommend the most economic reinforcements, whether infrastructure build or alternatives, for investment over the coming years, to meet bulk power transfer requirements as outlined by the ETYS. 
  • Recommend when investments should be made under the single LW21+ scenario to deliver an efficient, coordinated, and economic future transmission system.
  • Recommend whether the TOs should start, continue, hold, or stop reinforcement projects to make sure they are completed at a time that will deliver the most benefit to consumers.
  • Inform the HND of the most economic reinforcements for the onshore system that complement the HND offshore network for 2030.
  • Address network compliance with NETS SQSS. Additional onshore reinforcements may be identified for network compliance, which is an integral part of designing a secure, operable, transmission system capable of facilitating net zero.
  • Recommend customer connections. The NOA only recommends the most economic reinforcement to resolve wider network issues. 
  • Insist that reinforcement options are pursued. We can only recommend options based on our analysis. The TOs or other relevant parties are ultimately responsible for what, where and when they invest.
  • Comment on the details of any specific option, such as how it could be planned or delivered. The TOs or other relevant parties decide how they implement their options.
  • Evaluate the specific designs of any option, such as the choice of equipment, route, or environmental impacts. These types of decisions can only be made by the TOs or other relevant parties when the options are at a more advanced stage.
  • Assess network asset replacement projects which don’t increase network capability or individual customer connections. 
  • Procure products or services. The NOA may highlight a need to explore options further, either through the NOA Pathfinder projects or further engagement with the industry.
  • Recommend options that offer no benefit to the boundaries we assess.

What is the NOA 2021/22 Refresh?

he NOA 2021/22 Refresh is a key part of the network development process that will enable the delivery of the government's offshore wind ambition. The NOA Refresh takes into consideration the recommended offshore network design that is set out in the HND. It identifies where the onshore electricity transmission network there is a need for wider network reinforcement, to enable additional electricity generation to flow from offshore wind farms to where it is required, onshore.

The NOA process follows the previously published and approved NOA methodology. However, some adjustments were necessary for this NOA 2021/22 Refresh to align with the HND and ensure a consistent approach. Where practicably possible, it follows the existing methodology but differs in the following ways:

The NOA Refresh uses a single scenario that has been updated to include offshore connections for all generators in scope of the HND. We call this scenario LW21+.

To successfully deploy and connect the amount of offshore wind needed to achieve the government's 2030 ambition, there are a number of different places on the network that need reinforcing. These reinforcements have been identified as HND essential options.

NOA Refresh projects that are essential to facilitate the 2030 targets, but have an EISD (earliest in-service date) of later than 2030, are given an RISD.

Investment recommendations 

HND Essential Options for North of Scotland 

Code Option description EISD* RISD** Earliest optimal delivery date
BBNC Beauly to Blackhillock 400 kV double circuit addition 2030   2030
BLN4 Beauly to Loch Buidhe 400 kV reinforcement 2031 2030 2030
BPNC A new 400 kV double circuit between Blackhillock and Peterhead 2031 2030 2030
E4D3 Eastern Scotland to England link: Peterhead to Drax offshore HVDC 2029   2029
E4L5 Eastern Scotland to England 3rd link: Peterhead to the south Humber offshore HVDC 2031 2030 2030
PSDC Spittal to Peterhead HVDC reinforcement 2030   2030
SLU4 New network need between Loch Buidhe and Spittal 2030   2030
TKUP East Coast Onshore 400 kV Phase 2 reinforcement 2032 2030 2030

*EISD is currently based on the current regulatory and consenting process and acceleration

** Accelerating these projects would require the Government intervention as suggested in the April 2022 BESS and equivalent activities in Scotland

 

Option found optimal in NOA 2021/22 Refresh

Code Option description EISD* Earliest optimal delivery date NOA 2021/22 Refresh recommendation
BDUP Uprate the Beauly to Denny 275 kV circuit to 400 kV 2029 2030 Hold
DLUP Windyhill-Lambhill-Denny North 400 kV reinforcement 2029 2029 Proceed
DNEU Denny North 400/275 kV second supergrid transformer 2025 2026 Hold
DWNO Denny to Wishaw 400 kV reinforcement 2028 2028 Proceed
DWUP Kincardine - Wishaw 400 kV reinforcement 2026 2026 Proceed
LWUP Kincardine 400 kV reinforcement 2027 2027 Proceed
TFPC Power flow control device along Tealing to Westfield 2025 2027 Hold

*EISD is currently based on the current regulatory and consenting process and acceleration

HND Essential Options

 

Code Option description EISD* RISD Earliest optimal delivery date
CDP3 Additional alternative power control devices along Cellarhead to Drakelow 2024   2027
CGNC A new 400 kV double circuit between Creyke Beck and the south Humber 2031 2030 2030
CKPC Power control device along Creyke Beck to Keadby to Killingholme 2024   2025
CWPC Power control device along Cottam to West Burton 2024   2027
E2DC Eastern subsea HVDC link from Torness to Hawthorn Pit 2027   2027
EHRE Elvanfoot to Harker reconductoring 2028   2030
GWNC A new 400 kV double circuit between the south Humber and south Lincolnshire 2031 2030 2030
KCEU Creyke to Keadby to Killingholme circuits thermal uprating 2022   2025
KCRE Reconductor Cottam to Keadby 400 kV double circuit 2025   2025
KWHW Keadby to West Burton circuits thermal uprating 2024   2024
KWP2 Additional power control devices along the Keadby to West Burton number 1 circuit 2025   2026
KWPC Power control device along Keadby to West Burton 2024   2024
LNRE Reconductor Lackenby to Norton 400 kV single circuit 2024   2030
NOR4 Reconductor 13.75 km of Norton to Osbaldwick number 2 400 kV circuit 2024   2030
NOR5 Reconductor 13.75 km of Norton to Osbaldwick number 1 400 kV circuit to a higher rated conductor 2024   2027
OPN2 A new 400 kV double circuit between the existing Norton to Osbaldwick circuit and Poppleton and relevant 275 kV upgrades 2027   2027
SHNS Upgrade substation in the south Humber area 2031 2030 2030
TGDC Eastern subsea HVDC Link from east Scotland to south Humber area 2031 2030 2030
VERE Strathaven - Elvanfoot OHL conductor replacement 2030   2030
VSRE Strathaven - Smeaton OHL conductor replacement 2027   2027
WRRE Reconductor West Burton to Ratcliffe-on-Soar circuit 2028   2030

*EISD is currently based on the current regulatory and consenting process and acceleration

** Accelerating these projects would require the Government intervention as suggested in the April 2022 BESS and equivalent activities in Scotland

 

Option found optimal in NOA 2021/22 Refresh

Code Option description EISD* Earliest optimal delivery date NOA 2021/22 Refresh recommendation
BSHW Blyth to Stella West circuits thermal uprating 2024 2031 Hold
CDHW Cellarhead to Drakelow circuits thermal uprating 2023 2023 Proceed
CLNC New North West England to Lancashire reinforcement 2034 2036 Hold
CMNC South east Scotland to north west England AC onshore reinforcement 2033 2033 Proceed
CS05 Commercial solution for Scotland and the north of England - stage 1 2024 2024 Proceed
CS06 Commercial solution for Scotland and the north of England - stage 2 2024 2024 Proceed
CS11 Commercial solution for the north of England - stage 1 2024 2024 Proceed
CS12 Commercial solution for the north of England - stage 2 2025 2025 Proceed
HAE2 Harker supergrid transformer 6 replacement 2023 2023 Proceed
HAEU Harker supergrid transformer 5 and supergrid transformer 9A banking arrangement 2022 2022 Proceed
LCU2 Eastern B5 400 kV reinforcement 2031 2037 Hold
LPD2 Additional new HVDC link between North West England and North Wales 2035 2037 Hold
LPDC New HVDC link between North West England and North Wales 2035 2036 Hold
MRP2 Additional power control devices at both Harker and Penwortham 2022 2022 Proceed
NEMS 225 MVAr MSCs within the north east region 2025 2026 Hold
NEP1 Power control device along Blyth to Tynemouth and Blyth to South Shields 2025 2025 Proceed
NEPC Power control device along Blyth to Tynemouth and Blyth to South Shields 2024 2024 Proceed
NOR6 Reconductor the existing double circuit which runs from Norton to Osbaldwick 2028 2037 Hold
PWMS Two 225MVAr MSCs at Penwortham 2025 2027 Hold
SNHW Spennymoor to Norton circuit thermal uprating 2024 2027 Hold
SNRE Reconductor the existing double circuit which runs from Spennymoor to Norton 2027 2037 Hold
SPRE Reconductor the existing double circuit which runs from Spennymoor to Stella West 2027 2037 Hold
SSHW Stella West to Spennymoor circuit thermal uprating 2024 2027 Hold
TLNO East Coast Anglo-Scottish onshore reinforcement 2037 2037 Proceed
WCNC West Coast onshore Anglo-Scottish new circuit 2036 2036 Proceed

*EISD is currently based on the current regulatory and consenting process and acceleration

HND Essential Options

Code Option description EISD* RISD Earliest optimal delivery date
AENC A new 400 kV double circuit in north East Anglia 2030   2030
ATNC A new 400 kV double circuit in south East Anglia 2030   2030
BMM2 225 MVAr MSCs at Burwell Main 2022   2022
BPRE Reconductor the newly formed second Bramford to Braintree to Rayleigh Main circuit 2028   2028
BRRE Reconductor remainder of Bramford to Braintree to Rayleigh route 2023   2023
BTNO A new 400 kV double circuit between Bramford and Twinstead 2028   2028
CDP1 Power control device along Cellarhead to Drakelow 2024   2027
CDP2 Power control device along Cellarhead to Drakelow 2024   2027
DFRE Reconductor Drax to Fenwick Tee 400 kV circuit 2026   2030
DREU Generator circuit breaker replacement to allow Thornton to run a two-way split 2025   2025
EBRE Reconductor Enderby to Patford Bridge to East Claydon 400 kV double circuit 2026   2030
EDEU 400 kV upgrade of Brinsworth to Chesterfield double circuit and Chesterfield to High Marnham double circuit.  New High Marnham and Chesterfield 400 kV substations 2027   2028
EDN2 New Chesterfield to Ratcliffe-on-Soar 400 kV double circuit 2032 2030 2030
ESC1 Second Elstree to St John’s Wood 400 kV circuit 2026   2029
GCHW Cottam to Market Harborough to Grendon circuit thermal uprating 2025   2030
HWUP Uprate Hackney, Tottenham and Waltham Cross 275 kV to 400 kV 2027   2027
IFR1 Feckenham to Ironbridge circuit reconductoring 2025   2030
LRN4 New network need from North Lincolnshire to Hertfordshire 2033 2030 2030
NBRE Reconductor Bramford to Norwich double circuit 2023   2023
SCD1 New Offshore HVDC link between Suffolk and Kent option 1 2030   2030
SER1 Elstree to Sundon reconductoring 2024   2024
SER2 Elstree to Sundon 2 circuit turn-in and reconductoring 2026   2029
WSEU Thermal upgrade for Sundon and Wymondley 400 kV substation 2024   2025
WYTI Wymondley turn-in 2024   2028

*EISD is currently based on the current regulatory and consenting process and acceleration

** Accelerating these projects would require the Government intervention as suggested in the April 2022 BESS and equivalent activities in Scotland

 

Option found optimal in NOA 2021/22 Refresh

Code Option description EISD* Earliest optimal delivery date NOA 2021/22 Refresh recommendation
BFHW Bramley to Fleet circuits thermal uprating 2024 2025 Hold
BFPC Power control device along Bramley to Fleet 2025 2029 Hold
BFRE Bramley to Fleet reconductoring 2025 2026 Hold
BWRE Reconductor Barking to West Ham double circuit 2025 2028 Hold
CS07 Commercial solution for East Anglia - stage 1 2025 2025 Proceed
CS08 Commercial solution for East Anglia - stage 2 2025 2025 Proceed
CTRE Reconductor remainder of Coryton South to Tilbury circuit 2022 2022 Proceed
ERPC Power control devices along the Enderby to Ratcliffe circuits 2026 2033 Hold
FHRE Reconductor the existing 400 kV single circuit which runs from Feckenham to Hams Hall 2027 2033 Hold
GCRE Reconductor the existing double circuit which runs from Cottam to Grendon 2028 2037 Hold
MBHW Bramley to Melksham circuits thermal uprating 2024 2026 Hold
MBRE Bramley to Melksham reconductoring 2026 2027 Hold
NBEU Thermal upgrade for Bramford and Norwich 400 kV substations 2025 2028 Hold
NTP1 Power control device north of Tilbury 400 kV 2024 2024 Proceed
PEM1 225 MVAr MSCs at Pelham 2024 2024 Proceed
PEM2 225 MVAr MSCs at Pelham 2024 2024 Proceed
RHM1 225 MVAr MSCs at Rye House 2024 2024 Proceed
RHM2 225 MVAr MSCs at Rye House 2024 2024 Proceed
RTRE Reconductor remainder of Rayleigh to Tilbury circuit 2022 2022 Proceed
SEEU Reactive compensation protective switching scheme 2024 2024 Proceed
TGP1 Power control device along Tilbury to Grain 2024 2024 Proceed
TKP1 Power control device along Tilbury to Kingsnorth 2024 2026 Hold
TKRE Tilbury to Grain and Tilbury to Kingsnorth upgrade 2028 2028 Proceed
TWNC Upgrade Wymondley, Waltham Cross and Tilbury 275 kV to 400 kV 2033 2033 Proceed
WAM1 225 MVAr MSCs at Walpole 2025 2025 Proceed
WAM2 225 MVAr MSCs at Walpole 2025 2025 Proceed
WCC1 Cable replacement at Hinksey 2027 2037 Hold
WWNC New South Lincolnshire to East Anglia double circuit 2032 2033 Hold

*EISD is currently based on the current regulatory and consenting process and acceleration

HND Essential Options

 

Code Option description EISD* RISD** Earliest optimal delivery date
PSNC New network need between North Wales and South Wales 2037 2030 2030
PTC1 Pentir to Trawsfynydd cable replacement 2027   2028
PTNO North Wales reinforcement 2028   2029

*EISD is currently based on the current regulatory and consenting process and acceleration

** Accelerating these projects would require the Government intervention as suggested in the April 2022 BESS and equivalent activities in Scotland

 

Option found optimal in NOA 2021/22 Refresh

Code Option description EISD* Earliest optimal delivery date NOA 2021/22 Refresh recommendation
CS20 Commercial solution for north of Wales - stage 1 2026 2033 Hold
CS21 Commercial solution for north of Wales - stage 2 2026 2033 Hold
HBUP Uprate Bridgewater to 400 kV and reconductor the route to Hinkley 2024 2027 Hold

*EISD is currently based on the current regulatory and consenting process and acceleration

Discover more about the NOA

Beyond 2030

The Beyond 2030 report builds on top of the Holistic Network Design and makes a set of network recommendations throughout the 2030s. 


 

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The options that are analysed in the NOA fall into two main groups, Asset-based options and ESO proposed options. This year we received a total of 171 options which were placed into various categories.