The UK National Grid’s Electricity System Operator (ESO) has unveiled a GBP58bn (€68bn) investment programme to boost the United Kingdom’s grid networks beyond 2030 to anticipate the expected growth in electricity demand and the increase in renewable projects. The ESO’s ‘Beyond 2030’ report is aimed at facilitating the connection of an additional 21 GW of offshore wind and other low-carbon generation across the country by 2035. Overall, ESO estimates that 86 GW of potential offshore wind generation could connect to Great Britain by 2035.
The plan creates the framework needed to transfer power for and to future industry, as the ESO expects electricity demand to increase by 64% between now and 2035. The proposals are meant to help the UK government to meet the sixth Carbon Budget and enable the connection of Crown Estate Scotland’s ScotWind leasing round, which awarded a total capacity of approximately 28 GW for development around the Scottish coastline in 2022. The grid operator plans to further optimise the current transitional plan, which acts as a stepping-stone before the publication the fully Centralised Strategic Network Plan, expected for 2026.
The United Kingdom plans to decarbonise its power sector by 2035 and reach net-zero by 2050.
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