Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Paragraph: 11
The grid is critical for renewable energy to reach consumers.
Recommendation
The grid is critical for renewable energy to reach consumers. Urgent investment is needed in the grid to ensure that net zero targets are met. The grid needs to be reinforced and expanded to ensure that renewable energy generated in Scotland can connect to the grid and benefit the rest of the UK. We recommend that Ofgem completes a review of the grid in Scotland as a matter of urgency, and at the latest by the end of 2022 to implement changes in good time for the 2045 target. Ofgem should make bold decisions by prioritising reinforcement of the grid in areas where there is potential for a high renewable energy yield. Since net zero targets have already been set in law, Scotland should be enabled to play its part fully in the renewable energy mix of the UK.
Paragraph Reference:
11
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Government recognises the need for increased capacity on the grid to support our net zero ambitions. While enabling increased flexibility and storage can address this to an extent, we are acutely aware of the need for network reinforcement to enable increased renewable generation in areas of Great Britain, including Scotland. By law, network regulation is a matter for Ofgem as the independent regulator. In this role, Ofgem use the price control framework to encourage network companies to invest in the grid to ensure that consumers are provided with a secure and stable supply of energy, while making the necessary changes to our energy system to achieve net zero at the lowest possible cost. Within the recently commenced RIIO-2 price control for electricity transmission, Ofgem placed a strong focus on enabling strategic investment ahead of need, where reasonable. This will help maintain efficient spending while providing the infrastructure required with minimised disruption so that, as new renewable projects are built, the grid is ready to deliver the clean electricity generated to consumers. We will continue to engage with Ofgem to support its work in providing a network that is acts as an enabler for decarbonisation of the electricity system.