SSEN teams up with local council to develop regional planning tool

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has agreed to partner with Dundee City Council to develop a new regional planning tool.

The distribution network operator said it will be able to model the likely outcomes of different scenarios, allowing local authorities and businesses to make better informed decisions as they plot a course to net zero emissions.

The whole-system planning tool is being developed as part of SSEN’s Regional Energy System Optimisation Planning (RESOP) project which is being funding with £343,000 from Ofgem’s Network Innovation Allowance.

SSEN head of future networks Stewart Reid said: “Dundee City Council is a leading local authority in the transition to a cleaner, greener future and was a natural choice as partner on the RESOP Project. SSEN stands ready to invest in the green recovery in coming years and is proud to be delivering innovative, deliverable solutions that can help unlock investment and a net zero future.”

He continued: “Once operational, SSEN intends to make the tool more widely available to support other local authorities with their own decision making and to help them to meet their increasingly ambitious net zero targets.”

Dundee City Council leader John Alexander said: “We are moving towards becoming a sustainable city that plays a leading role in Scotland’s goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 or sooner. Our climate action plan published last year sets out the first stage on this journey as we continue to invest and innovate in low carbon solutions and show how our local economy can transition to net zero in a way that strengthens our communities.

“Making sure that the right decisions and infrastructure are established will put us on the best footing for a lasting green recovery and one that creates long-term benefits and local resilience. We are delighted to be working with SSEN on the RESOP project to develop the ways that will give us insight into how to do that.”