At SONI, we are constantly reviewing and planning for the future of the electricity transmission grid in Northern Ireland. Every year, we consult and update our plans for the next ten years ahead and recently completed our latest consultation, for our Transmission Development Plan for Northern Ireland (TDPNI), for the period 2021 to 2030.
The primary objective of TDPNI is to outline our plans for the strategic development of the electricity transmission network, so that our electricity grid is more resilient and capable of handling greater amounts of renewable energy, as we aim to transition to a cleaner energy future. It will also reduce reliance on imported fuels, enhancing Northern Ireland’s security of supply.
Green Energy Future
Within the TDPNI (2021 – 2030) we are proposing a number of essential upgrades to the Northern Ireland grid. These include:
Consultation Responses
Stakeholder engagement is a critical part of the TDPNI process, and I want to thank all those who took part in our recent consultation.
Key themes that we have identified already include:
Next Steps
SONI has now reviewed in detail all of the consultation responses we received and published our latest TDPNI 2021-2030 report on our website. Earlier this week, the Utility Regulator launched their consultation on SONI’s draft 2021-2030 Transmission Development Plan.
It’s an exciting time for everyone involved in the transformation of the power sector as we strive to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels and increasingly generate indigenous, renewable energy in Northern Ireland.
I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the TDPNI process so far, and I would encourage anyone with an interest in energy and grid infrastructure to remain engaged and involved in the development of our grid plans. We all have a responsibility to decarbonise society but we can’t deliver the changes needed without you.