The UK is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. As the group of organisations responsible for connecting millions of people and businesses to the energy they use every day, National Grid is committed to supporting the delivery of a decarbonised energy system.
In line with the UK government’s legal commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 100% of 1990 levels (net zero) by 2050, growth in offshore wind generation and interconnectors to Europe has seen a significant number of connections planned in Scotland and coastal areas of the North of England.
The existing electricity transmission network was not designed to transfer the current and increasing volume of generation capacity from the North to major centres of electricity demand which continue to exist in central and southern England. The network will require significant reinforcement in Yorkshire to provide capacity for these connections and customers to ensure that power can be transferred securely to meet the needs of Great Britain’s electricity consumers.
National Grid has obligations to provide an efficient, economic and co-ordinated transmission system in England and Wales. The growth in generation and interconnectors to Europe, connections in Northern England and rising transfers of onshore and offshore wind from Scotland, means that by 2027, transmission system boundaries (made up of circuits which flow from one area of the network to another) will exceed their current capacity.
The reinforcement in Yorkshire will ensure power flows across the region to centres of demand and that contracted connections can be made to the network.
You can view our application documents on the Planning Inspectorate’s website, including the Updated Need Case Document and details of the project development process in the Project Need and Alternatives Chapter of the Environmental Statement.
