Views sought from EV stakeholders on network planning

Northern Powergrid has mapped out the potential future uptake of low carbon technologies like electric vehicles, heat pumps, rooftop solar PV generation and energy storage and is calling for feedback.

The company wants all local authorities, academics and renewable energy project leaders in Yorkshire, the North East and northern Lincolnshire to review its 2019 Distribution Future Energy Scenarios (DFES) project and share any EV initiatives or projects they are working on that will impact on the underlying planning assumptions.

This will help to ensure efficient network planning and effective collaboration across the region as all stakeholders in the region to collectively tackle the pressing challenge of decarbonisation.

DFES is an annual outline of potential future energy pathways. It gives a multi-scenario view of the potential rates of decarbonisation of generation, heating, and transportation, as the region transitions towards a low carbon economy and is built around the four scenarios defined in the National Grid Future Energy Scenarios: consumer evolution, community renewables, steady progression and two degrees. These scenarios outline the likelihood of meeting climate emergency-related targets using different approaches. The 'Community Renewables' scenario, for example, assumes that people will adopt electric transport early and that there is strong support for renewable energy generation.

Understanding any plans that local stakeholders have that may influence the rate of decarbonisation in the region will support Northern Powergrid to more efficiently plan the development of the electricity network and help facilitate regional decarbonisation plans. Following the release of the 2019 DFES data, the operator is now calling for any organisation or stakeholder with high level low carbon plans to review the scenarios and offer any feedback on relevant new plans or contrasting assumptions – for instance planned housing association energy efficiency schemes, significant electric vehicle charging proposals or mass heat pump or energy storage installation. Northern Powergrid is also interested to understand which scenario, if any, best matches stakeholders’ own expectations.

Feedback is sought before 31st March 2020 via two principal routes: online feedback forms; and two dedicated feedback workshops on the 6th March in Leeds and the 13th March in Newcastle.

An overview of the 2019 DFES figures can be found on the Northern Powergrid website