Ahead of a free webinar for Community Councils in the new year the National Energy System Operator (NESO) have written a guest blog to introduce themselves:
Great Britain’s energy system is going through one of the biggest transformations in its history.
As the country moves toward cleaner and more affordable energy, the challenge isn’t just building new wind farms or installing more solar panels—it’s making sure the entire system works together seamlessly. That’s where the National Energy System Operator (NESO) comes in.
Established in 2024 as an independent and publicly owned organisation, NESO provides strategic oversight of both the electricity and gas systems to ensure that Great Britain’s energy infrastructure is clean, secure, flexible, and future proof. This includes ensuring the amount of energy being produced matches what people and businesses need, connecting new generation projects within the electricity grid, stimulating economic growth through informed development decisions, and facilitating the deployment of renewable energy. NESO operates without commercial interests and independently from the Government.
NESO also plays a new role as a long-term strategic energy planner, responsible for helping Great Britain prepare for the energy demands of the future. One of its first major contributions was delivering an independent analysis to the UK Government on how to achieve a clean power system by 2030—a key input into the UK Government’s Clean Power Action Plan.
As more communities across England, Scotland, and Wales host new energy infrastructure—from offshore wind farms to solar panels—careful coordination becomes essential. NESO’s strategic energy planning work is designed to make sure energy can get from where it’s produced to where it’s needed, while respecting local ambitions, supporting local economies, and delivering a system that remains secure, sustainable, and affordable. NESO’s strategic energy planning will take a long-term, whole-system perspective beyond 2030, with updates every three years.
Representatives from NESO attended this year’s COSLA Annual Conference and Exhibition, hosting both a fringe event and a stand in the exhibitions space. NESO's participation in this year's conference helped raise awareness amongst attendees of the strategic energy plans, and it also provided NESO with valuable insights on how to improve engagement with local governments in Scotland.
NESO’s strategic energy planning revolves around three connected pieces of work. The first is the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan, or SSEP—Great Britain’s first strategic energy plan of its kind, commissioned jointly by the UK, Scottish, and Welsh governments. Rather than identify specific projects, the SSEP looks at broader zones across the country and works out the best locations and the right amount of energy generation and storage needed in each area, covering both electricity and hydrogen. The SSEP uses a wide range of possible future scenarios and takes public views, environmental considerations, and cross-sectoral demands on land and sea into account. This will ensure that the country can accelerate its transition to a secure, sustainable energy future, that delivers consumer value with clarity and confidence.
Building on this foundation, the Centralised Strategic Network Plan (CSNP) focuses on how that energy will move around the country. It serves as a kind of blueprint for future transmission networks—onshore, offshore, and across electricity, gas, and hydrogen. When new network needs are identified, NESO carefully balances cost, environmental impact, and how different options might affect communities.
In addition, energy needs will vary for Scotland, Wales and England, and that’s where the Regional Energy Strategic Plans, or RESPs, come in. Commissioned by Ofgem, RESPs will help ensure that local areas have the right infrastructure to support local economic growth and sustainability goals. They tie local ambitions into the GB-wide picture and involve close partnership with local authorities, who are vital in shaping energy decisions on the ground.
Our 4th round of RESP Forums for Scotland will be held on Thursday 12 February 2026, 11:00 – 12:30, and the agenda will include (subject to change): Updates on wider RESP activities, the final tRESP publication, RESP methodology update, SSEP update and next steps.
Registration details to attend the forum will be published here in soon.
NESO's strategic energy planning is driven by a singular goal: ensuring that tomorrow’s energy system meets our future needs across Great Britain. This strategic approach to energy planning aims to reduce costs, enhance reliability, improve energy security, and advance Great Britain towards a more sustainable energy future.
Community Councils in Scotland can find out more and take part in a free webinar with NESO on Wednesday 14th January online - sign up and book your place.