Making a fair energy future happen

by Andy Wainwright , DSO Whole Systems Manager, SSEN Distribution

We've been working with the energy experts at Regen to determine how we can better plan for a fairer net zero future. Read on below for more about our vision.

These latest conclusions align with our plan for A Fair Energy Future which we published last year, and the recent innovation work we have undertaken to develop Vulnerability Future Energy Scenarios (VFES). VFES is a project intent on supporting consumers in vulnerable situations by predicting the scale and location of their potential challenges, as well as what new situations may cause vulnerability.

Regen's report presents a new modelling approach to develop scenarios that support more targeted and timely investment in vulnerable and lower-income areas.

It concludes that network planning has a vital role to play in delivering a socially-just transformation in the energy system.

The report also recommends we broaden our conversations with relevant people and groups, ensuring there's more focus on vulnerability and the 'just transition' to make sure there's increased inclusion and transparency in the network planning process.

We believe the just transition and vulnerability analysis should become even more of a standard in network planning processes, whether it's in the work plotting Distribution Future Energy Scenarios (DFES), or beyond.

We're now moving forward with a number of recommendations in the report. We're embedding the just transition within our strategic development process, we're engaging more with our stakeholders in the development of forthcoming DFES, and we're understanding how Regen’s modelling and insights could be used more widely.

Our recommendations

• To make just transition and vulnerability analysis and reporting part of DFES processes as standard, including creating a ‘fairer’ scenario. We'll work with local authorities to identify vulnerable areas, collating and exchanging data with our LENZA tool (which we have made available to all the local authorities in our licence areas) to inform DFES. We'll work with stakeholders to develop a framework for investment, seeking out those initiatives that prepare the building stock and transport system for early priority energy infrastructure investment in vulnerable areas. We'll support local forums that bring on collaboration between local authorities, SSEN and other stakeholders to match up investment planning in vulnerable communities with proposed energy system solutions.
• Advocate the incorporation of socio-economic analysis into ESO’s FES and pathway reporting. We agree that alignment in national FES scenarios and pathways could help standardise this practice across networks and give better insight into national socio-economic trends and we will engage with the ESO and other key stakeholders to consider how this can best be implemented.
• Broaden stakeholder engagement to account for emerging trends and issues around vulnerability and the just transition. Our report last year on A Fair Energy Future demonstrated that engaging with local stakeholders is critical in the development of a just transition and we are now planning dedicated stakeholder engagement sessions to gain further insights on emerging trends and how we can further embed this process in our business going forwards.
• Appraise next steps in the network planning process to understand current vulnerability and just transition considerations and highlight opportunities to go further. We'll translate vulnerability insights into tangible outcomes that deliver network improvements for our customers using our existing tools such as Distribution Network Outcomes Assessments (DNOA). From now on, we'll apply a vulnerability lens to our strategic development planning, understanding which parts of our lower voltage networks need upgrading to ensure the just transition.