Our strategic network planning process

We follow a strategic network planning process to ensure that we meet the needs of our customers today while enabling pathways to net zero.

Strategic Development Plans

Our Strategic Development Plans (SDPs) provide a blueprint of long-term electricity system needs that allow us to work with other stakeholders to design and build the local markets and networks they need to decarbonise their power needs. Each SDP is written about a specific area of our network, usually a Grid Supply Point (GSP).

For each SDP, we share a draft version for consultation; this is an opportunity for our stakeholders and customers to offer feedback and insight, which we then look to incorporate for final publication. You can click the buttons below to see draft SDPs that are out for consultation along with final SDPs and our methodology.

The questions that we’re asking are:

• Have we missed any significant sites or developments that use or generate electricity specific to the local area covered by Ealing GSP?
• Have we correctly identified and represented the net zero ambitions of your local area?
• Do you have any feedback for us on how we are presenting this information to you? For example, do you have any suggestions on how we could make it more accessible. 
• Is there any further information you would like to see in this Strategic Development Plan or future Strategic Development Plans?
• Do you have any feedback on how we have consulted with you?
• Is there anything else you’d like to add?

DSO Consultation Library

DSO publications and reports

We plan to refresh our SDPs on an annual basis to ensure they reflect our latest understanding of customers’ needs.

These SDPs shape the subsequent stages of our strategic planning process, where we develop detailed options for delivering identified network and system needs.

We have now published our first final SDP which has been through the consultation process.  The Ealing SDP can be found on the DSO publications and reports page, or via the button below.
Ealing GSP Strategic Development Plan November 2024

The Distribution Network Options Assessment and Network Development Plan provide visibility to our stakeholders of our methodology and results of our decision making process

Distribution Network Options Assessment

SSEN’s DSO aim to increase transparency in our network investment decisions, as outlined in our DSO Action Plan. To this end, our Distribution Network Options Assessment (DNOA) provides visibility of our decision-making process as the network adapts to facilitate the net zero transition.

Our DNOA methodology encompasses:

• Ensuring transparency: our approach to providing transparency and visibility of our decisions to our stakeholders.
  
  
• Forecasting through DFES: our investment decisions are informed by the Distribution Future Energy Scenarios (DFES), offering a forward-looking perspective to stakeholders.
  
  
• Long-term strategic view: we go beyond the industry standard 5–10 year view of network needs provided in network development plans, considering future system needs up to 2050.
  
  
• Cost-benefit analysis: our method involves using various tools to compare the costs and benefits of strategic investment options.

This approach to DNOA emphasises proactive investment strategies to avoid costly disruptions from repeated network upgrades as demand and generation patterns shift and grow. It considers factors like adopting a "flexibility-first" approach, addressing future investment needs at all voltage levels, and prioritising stakeholder input to guide network development. Collaboration with flexibility providers and alignment with evolving community needs are crucial aspects of this approach, ensuring efficient whole system solutions and inclusive decision-making.

The DNOA process establishes a transparent decision-making framework, providing opportunities for distributed energy resources and flexibility providers to meet forecasted needs. It emphasizes stakeholder value optimisation, energy efficiency, and iterative improvement through annual renewal and incorporation of stakeholder feedback. Our DNOA outcome reports are published and available to view or download here.

The below button goes to the DNOA Independent Assurance Report for the March 2024 DNOA outcome reports.  To ensure that the DNOA methodology is being applied correctly and that there is transparency in how outcomes are reached, we appointed an external consultancy to undertake an independent assurance assessment on six DNOA outcome reports.  We have taken onboard the suggestions for further improvement and are incorporating these into future iterations of our DNOA outcome reports and DNOA methodology.
DNOA Independent Assurance Report - March 2024

Network Development Plan

Our Network Development Plan (NDP) provides interested parties with information out to 2034 regarding the likely network capacity based on proposed network development in both our SEPD and SHEPD licence areas. The NDP builds on the Distribution Future Energy Scenarios (DFES), considering future system needs across multiple scenarios out to 2050, and highlights future flexibility opportunities and network interventions that we may develop and deliver in our licence areas. The NDP is published as a collection of documents:

• The NDP Methodology describing the end-to-end network planning process.
  
  
• The Network Scenario Headroom Reports indicating where it is anticipated that there will be network capacity to accommodate future connections and where flexibility services may be required.
• The Network Development Report providing information on key projects set for delivery in terms of new infrastructure to be installed and upcoming flexible services to be employed.
  
  
•  The NDP consultation document describing the consultation process and how to get involved.