The UK Government is accelerating its mission to become a global clean energy superpower by developing a comprehensive plan to reshape the nation’s energy infrastructure.
This strategic move to optimise UK energy infrastructure is designed to fast-track the transition from fossil fuels and create a robust, sustainable energy system that benefits both the economy and the environment.
Minister for Energy Michael Shanks explained: “To help drive growth and investment in our clean energy future, we need to provide investors with the long-term certainty and stability that they have been crying out for.
“That’s why we need a more strategic approach to our energy system, ensuring we can quickly scale up investment in the right infrastructure where we need it to keep costs down and speed up our transition to clean power.
“Delivering the country’s first-ever spatial plan will be a major milestone for our new public energy body.”
Long-term stability for investors and communities
To ensure the UK’s energy transition is smooth and sustainable, the newly formed National Energy System Operator (NESO) has been tasked with producing the first-ever strategic spatial plan for energy infrastructure across Great Britain.
This forward-thinking approach aims to provide long-term stability and certainty for investors, paving the way for rapid growth in the UK’s clean energy industries.
The benefits extend beyond the energy sector, with the potential for new jobs and improved quality of life in communities nationwide.
By streamlining planning and decision-making, this strategy aims to reduce grid connection waiting times, giving investors the confidence to build energy projects in key locations at the right time.
NESO’s holistic approach aims to ensure that UK energy infrastructure development is balanced with other vital sectors, such as transport and water supply, while also considering environmental impacts.
Planning UK energy infrastructure for 2050
Building on current efforts to achieve clean power by 2030, energy ministers from Scotland, Wales, and the UK Government have asked NESO to map out energy infrastructure needs up to 2050.
This will involve spreading projects strategically across both land and sea, creating a more resilient energy system, and cutting overall system costs, which could lead to lower energy bills for consumers.
Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, added: “We welcome this strategic approach to the energy system, which should reduce overall costs and bring certainty to communities.
“In Wales, we have been developing plans to meet our energy needs at the local, regional, and national levels for some years and look forward to working collaboratively with the NESO and others to feed into these UK-wide plans.
“Getting this right will help ensure we deliver the best possible outcomes for our communities and our industries through the considered development of the clean energy they will need to power them.”
The plan’s first draft, due in 2026, will focus on electricity generation and storage. It will explore the potential of offshore wind farms, hydrogen assets, and pumped storage hydro systems.
Several scenarios for the UK energy system will be developed and presented to ministers for consideration.
Public consultation to shape future infrastructure
The chosen UK energy infrastructure plan will undergo public consultation, ensuring that citizens, businesses, and environmental groups have a say in the future of the UK’s energy landscape.
With detailed environmental assessments to follow, the strategy represents a critical step toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy future for the UK.