What is the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan?

The Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) will address the spatial issues with Great Britain’s current energy roadmap. It will examine energy generation and storage, aiding in the transition of low-carbon energy.

What is the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan?

The Strategic Spatial Energy Plan is divided broadly into three tiers, each of which addresses specific elements of regional energy challenges.

• The Local Area Energy Plans (LAEPs) and Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) approach more localised challenges,

• The Strategic Sustainable Energy Plan (SSEP) examines energy policy on a national level. 

Key objectives of the SSEP 

The Strategic Spatial Energy Plan heavily focuses on making renewable energy available to customers and businesses regardless of their region. We examine the measures being taken to ensure this. 

1. Enhancing energy efficiency across regions 

Historically, different regions have experienced differing levels of energy efficiency across Britain. The Strategic Spatial Energy Plan aims to address this by engaging both communicate, businesses and government to identify specific needs on a regional level. The national strategy will also be adjusted to take into account these specific regional needs, avoiding a one-side-fits-all approach.   

2. Supporting renewable energy integration 

The specific regional requirements of the plan will also consider the feasibility of renewable integration and the requirements of each area. The factors considered might include resources, energy needs and economic considerations with the flexibility to alter the plan depending on local issues and priorities. Current renewable integration focuses include potential locations for hydrogen infrastructure and offshore wind projects. A partnership with the National Energy System Operator (NESO) has already progressed these two technologies in reaction to the plan, for example, by identifying how the grid can connect offshore activity to onshore demand.  

4. Aligning energy infrastructure with urban and rural development 

Different regions will require different treatments but should still have equal access to renewable energy - plan adjustments might include the availability of resources or the demand and supply of energy unique to that area. Other considerations that the plan would need to take into account include optimal locations for infrastructure as well as quantities and types of energy infrastructure required to meet an area’s future energy demand. These factors would likely change depending on location, for example, urban environments vs. rural.  

Core components of the SSEP 

The Strategic Spatial Energy Plan's success hinges on identifying issues in the current energy infrastructure and the requirements to make them economically, societally, and environmentally feasible.  

1. SSEP and mapping current energy infrastructure 

Several different parties have been consulted to ensure that the infrastructure elements of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan have been mapped from a truly national viewpoint. Those consulted include NESO, Ofgem and the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments.  

2. SSEP and identifying future energy needs and trends 

The renewable energy industry must be consulted throughout the plan roll-out, as it is responsible for ensuring that the technologies are developed, implemented, and made available as part of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan. The plan has set clear targets for renewable developers, with specific clarity around different technology classes and regions and what the requirements and demand might be for these categories.  

3. SSEP's role in balancing economic, social, and environmental priorities

Community views are at the heart of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan as engagement processes are aimed to be rolled out with the local public. These engagement processes will include surveys, seminars, online workshops, roundtables, and events, as well as the use of social media to incorporate a large focus group of contributors. Consultations will likely seek to unearth data about the various regions' economic status and social and environmental priorities. It’s important that to be successful, the plan gets buy-in from on a public and commercial basis. 

Benefits of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan 

The Strategic Spatial Energy Plan aims to clear the path for and promote the use of renewable energy across the region. The directive plans to do this via the following methods: 

1. Boosting sustainability and reducing carbon emissions 

The key purpose of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan is to move away from fossil fuels by opening up access to renewable energy. This will, in turn, reduce carbon emissions as we generate less energy using fossil fuels. This strategic plan will create stability, increase investment in renewable energy, boost technology development in the sustainability sector, and hopefully reduce the wait for grid connection. 

2. Improving energy access and reliability 

A coordinated approach will improve access to reliable renewable energy by introducing community and business-focused strategies for renewable integration. Local area energy planning, ideally with input from residents, companies and local government, will create bespoke solutions for each area, with the final aim of improving energy efficiency and reliability. 

3. Encouraging collaboration among stakeholders 

The Strategic Spatial Energy Plan must appeal to stakeholders by engaging with them early on in the consultation process. Investors, businesses, and industry should be consulted on the challenges - including finance, policy, and planning issues - that they anticipate might accompany the plan’s aim to accelerate the energy transition.  

Challenges in Implementing the SSEP 

As with all new initiatives, the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan has a host of implementation challenges, with financing and technology development being a significant hurdle.   

1. Overcoming regulatory and financial hurdles 

While the regionalised plan has been met with positivity, there are concerns about its implementation. The three tiers focusing on local treatments could introduce a layer of complexity to energy sector planning, causing red tape and delays. To avoid a mismatched service due to differing resources, supply, and demand, the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan requires support and direction, as well as corporation from all involved influential bodies.   

Overcoming Technological Limitations and Strategic Uncertainties in Energy Planning

The Strategic Spatial Energy Plan faces several uncertainties, which are particularly evident across six key areas:

• Economic Factors

• Environmental Impact

• Technological Challenges

• Social Considerations

• Expertise Availability

• Policy Frameworks

Engaging with expert stakeholders in these critical areas is essential for the plan’s success. For instance, when it comes to technological advancements, the focus must be on the unique requirements of energy storage systems, especially in relation to the diverse renewable energy plants that will depend on them.

By addressing these technological and regional inconsistencies through collaboration and targeted solutions, the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan can better support sustainable energy infrastructure across various regions. 

The future of spatial energy planning: prioritising grid innovation for renewable integration

A successful Strategic Spatial Energy Plan hinges on optimising the existing energy grid to efficiently handle the growing integration of renewable energy sources. This makes it essential to prioritise innovations that enhance grid performance and drive sustainable energy solutions.

Among the five critical ‘enablers’ outlined in the Clean Power 2030 plan, one of the most vital components is a comprehensive grid connection reform. By streamlining grid connectivity, the plan can better support the transition to a cleaner, more resilient energy future.

This approach ensures that spatial energy planning remains at the forefront of delivering reliable, renewable-powered energy systems.

The Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) offers a comprehensive framework to overcome regional energy challenges by promoting renewable energy adoption and grid innovation. Through collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and a focus on regional needs, the SSEP paves the way for a more sustainable, low-carbon energy future.