Long-term strategic planning is essential for Wales to realise its energy potential, according to the National Energy System Operator (NESO). Julian Leslie, NESO's Strategic Energy Planning Director and Chief Engineer, made the case at RenewableUK Cymru's Future Energy Wales event.
Planning for the 2030s and beyond
Leslie noted that discussions about the future energy system often focus on immediate goals for the next few years. However, he argued that achieving a reliable, clean and affordable system requires looking much further into the future.
Wales has significant economic opportunities ahead, including new industries, clean energy delivered to all homes and inward investment. Realising these opportunities means planning now for the energy infrastructure Wales will need in the decades ahead.
NESO's role in energy infrastructure
NESO is acting to ensure Wales will be served by a reliable, clean and affordable energy system that meets the country's needs in the 2030s, 2040s and 2050s. The scale of the challenge is outlined in NESO's Beyond 2030 Electricity Transmission Update, published earlier this year, which details the electricity network needed in the 2030s.
Without investment into the electricity network, the cost of managing bottlenecks on the system could rise significantly. Planning ahead matters both for delivering the necessary infrastructure and for keeping the system efficient for consumers.
Aligning economic ambitions with energy needs
The question is not simply how much infrastructure is needed, but what that infrastructure can enable for Wales. Done well, the investment can help unlock economic growth, connect clean generation, support new homes and power future industries.
Through Regional Energy Strategic Planning, NESO is aligning the economic ambitions of Wales with future energy requirements for the first time. This cannot be planned by any one organisation in isolation. It requires working together with communities, industry and government to understand what Wales will need from its energy system.
As the independent public corporation responsible for strategically planning the energy system, NESO's role is to look ahead, listen to stakeholders and provide independent, evidence-led recommendations. The detailed decisions on funding and development sit with Ofgem, the energy regulator, and Transmission Owners, who build and own the infrastructure.
Leslie concluded that Wales has a huge opportunity ahead, and that getting it right can unlock investment, support new homes, connect clean generation and power new industries across Wales. The opportunity is there, and the need is to plan for it now.
