The National Grid Electricity System Operator (NESO) has announced plans to carry out additional delivery works in support of the implementation of the latest network designs for Great Britain's transmission grid, including those for offshore links. The network designs cover a range of projects aimed at enhancing offshore electricity generation coordination, including the Holistic Network Design (HND), Holistic Network Design Follow Up Exercise (HNDFUE), Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG), and Celtic Sea initiatives.
As part of this extensive design exercise, NESO will undertake several environmental assessments, including a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), to ensure that the final network design recommendations properly address environmental concerns.
A Strategic Environmental Assessment is a systematic process used to assess the likely significant environmental and socio-economic effects of proposed policies, plans, and programs. The SEA process also evaluates reasonable alternatives and their interrelationships with other plans. The assessment supports transparent decision-making by requiring public consultations, with the results of these consultations being published to inform the final decisions.
In addition to the SEA, NESO is already conducting other assessments, including a Habitats Regulations Assessment and a Marine Conservation Zone Assessment, to further evaluate the environmental impact of the proposed network designs.
