Fintan heads to Whitelee: how demand in Scotland could help lower long-term energy bills

Fintan Slye, NESO CEO, headed to Scotland this week to address the All-Energy Exhibition and Conference in Glasgow and visit the UK’s largest onshore wind farm, Whitelee. 

Fintan talked through operations and system planning including the possibility of lowering long-term energy bills for GB consumers by growing electricity demand in Scotland.  

Locating large electricity users such as data centres closer to Scotland’s abundant renewable generation could make better use of clean, home-grown electricity and reduce the costs associated with balancing the electricity system.  

Read more about that in our recent release here. 

Speaking this week Fintan said: 

“Scotland produces significant amounts of clean, home-grown electricity that is vital for Britain’s energy security. 

“There is the opportunity to harness that energy to fuel growth in Scotland. With clearer, long-term planning of where demand grows, including for infrastructure like data centres, we can reduce pressure on the network, cut costs paid by consumers and make better use of our renewable energy.” 

Decisions about where and when new electricity demand connects to the network will play an important role in long-term whole system planning. The visit to Whitelee comes as NESO develops strategic plans to 2050 for Scotland, and the rest of Great Britain, examining how demand, generation and network infrastructure can work together more efficiently. 

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At All Energy Fintan took part in a Fireside Chat with the News Editor of Energy Voice, Erikka Askeland. In a wide-ranging conversation Fintan talked through the steps NESO is taking to accelerate the shift to more secure, home-grown, clean power as part a secure and resilient energy transition across Great Britain. 

Julian Leslie, Director of Strategic Energy Planning and Chief Engineer, spoke at two sessions - one on market reform, the other on data centres and AI. Bridget Hartley our Head of RESP also spoke along with other NESO colleagues who attended the two day event.