Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution is to undertake £41 million of strategic investment in its electricity networks to support a green economic recovery and accelerate key low-carbon projects across the north of Scotland and central southern England.
The scheme, which will unlock over 122MW of additional capacity, is a result of close collaboration with Ofgem and other electricity network operators to understand how early investment in the distribution network could drive green economic growth, create skilled jobs, and support the deployment of low-carbon projects.
As part of the scheme, £2.2m will be invested in Dorset's electricity network infrastructure. SSEN will replace 2km of underground cable in the west of Dorchester, alongside the replacement of 0.8km of solid underground cable.
SSEN will also install approximately 1,000 low voltage monitors at key points across its distribution network areas, providing near real-time visibility in areas where high levels of electricity demand from increased uptake of electric vehicles and electric heating is predicted. This will enable the network operator to better manage local infrastructure, identifying how best to optimise capacity.
Green recovery funding will support Dorset Council's electric vehicle chargepoint (EVCP) rollout programme, with increased capacity in the electricity network enabling four local car parks to transition to EV charging car parks:
- Lower Trinity Street car park
- Colliton Park car park
- Durngate Street car park
- Top O'Town car park
In Dorset, there are currently 90 public EV chargepoints, or 23.8 per 100,000 population. By 2030, it is estimated that EVs could account for between 21% and 30% of all cars and vans in the UK. In the Dorset Council area, this could mean between 63,000 and 91,000 EVs will be on the roads by 2030. SSEN's Distribution Future Energy Scenario modelling forecasts that approximately 2,700 public chargepoints will be required in Dorset by 2030 to meet this growing demand from residents, businesses and visitors.
Dorset Council has consulted on its draft Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy and Action Plan. It has been recommended that the Council implement 30 actions in relation to transport to achieve a carbon-neutral council by 2040 and help the whole of Dorset become carbon-neutral by 2050.
Replacing existing petrol or diesel vehicles with EVs is a key part of the strategy to help achieve Dorset Council's climate change and air quality goals. Its vision is to create a reliable and accessible charging infrastructure for residents, businesses and visitors alike.
Through its EV charging programme, Dorset Council is enabling the expansion of a reliable and accessible public chargepoint network that complements commercial networks. This is vital to enable residents without off-street parking to have access to public chargepoints, contributing to greater equality of opportunity as the town transitions to decarbonised transport.
Councillor Ray Bryan, Dorset Council's Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said:
"We welcome the news that Dorset has been chosen for this £2.2 million investment. With the number of electric vehicles set to increase considerably, this investment will help realise our ambitions of creating a reliable and accessible EV charging network at visitor destinations, in residential areas and at workplaces.
"People understandably have concerns about the grid capacity in Dorset, so this investment will release additional capacity to enable the charging network to be expanded in the Dorchester area to make it easier for more people to convert to electric vehicles.
"Dorset Council is committed to playing its part in tackling climate change, and this considerable boost to low-carbon technologies takes us a step closer to our ambition to become carbon neutral."
Cllr Bryan continued:
"We have worked closely with SSEN to reach this outcome and I would like to thank everyone involved in securing this vital investment for the county."
SSEN's plans are part of a £300m programme of investment announced on Monday by the energy regulator Ofgem.
Chris Burchell, Managing Director, SSEN Distribution, said:
"We are determined to play our full part in addressing the twin challenges of the economic and social recovery from coronavirus and the impending climate emergency, where local electricity networks will play a vital role. With COP26 on the horizon, today's investment demonstrates how collaborative action and regulatory flexibility can help us achieve this aim and power change for our customers and society.
"The green recovery scheme provides a blueprint for future agile investment in our networks in the coming years, where rapid progress will be required to keep pace with net zero. By undertaking £40 million in strategic network investment now, we are helping unlock innovative low-carbon projects at the right time, boosting local economies and supporting communities to achieve their net zero ambitions."
Jonathan Brearley, chief executive of Ofgem said:
"This £300 million down payment is just the start of building back a greener energy network which will see well over £40 billion of investment in Britain's energy networks in the next seven years.
"The payment will support the rapid take up of electric vehicles which will be vital if Britain is to hit its climate change targets. Drivers need to be confident that they can charge their car quickly when they need to. We're paving the way for the installation of 1,800 ultra-rapid charge points, tripling the number of these public charge points. Drivers will have more charging options for longer journeys.
"In the year that Glasgow hosts the COP26 climate summit, the energy networks are rising to the challenge and working with us and partners to accelerate projects that can start now, benefiting consumers, boosting the economy and creating jobs."
Following the announcement on Monday Transport Minister Rachel Maclean MP said:
"I warmly welcome today's news from Ofgem, which will greatly improve the resilience of our charging network as we build back greener.
"With more than 500,000 electric cars now on UK roads, this will help to increase this number even further as drivers continue to make the switch to cleaner, greener vehicles."