It may look as though we are not getting anywhere but to those who have been following events, you are aware of some notable achievements:
SEAS called for a Review in 2019 and promoted offshore solutions as the better, modern way forward.
KWASI KWARTENG finally called that Review in 2020.
Too late by one day to halt the ScottishPower DCO Examinations.
SEAS presented Cost Benefit Comparative Analyses for Friston as a Hub versus Bradwell in 2022. It was presented to Minister for Energy Andrew Bowie with Therese Coffey MP and National Grid present. National Grid has never presented a transparent Cost Benefit Analysis.
SEAS presented realistic proposals for Nautilus and LionLink as well as ScottishPower becoming part of the Great British Offshore Grid in 2022. SEAS was in discussions with Belgium’s Elia long before National Grid had started to wake up. SEAS presented Nautilus landfall at Grain back in 2021. A few months ago, National Grid announced that Nautilus was going back to Grain after all. That is a big win for us and our Councils and local MP Jenny Riddell- Carpenter. At last National Grid is paying attention to our proposed Core Design Principles, the first one being that Britain should choose existing brownfield sites closer to demand and route wind energy directly to demand.
These proposals are still more attractive than National Grid’s plans which are self-serving. Our proposals are aligned with Ofgem. If we build the meshed offshore grid we can reduce the onshore infrastructure by over 50%. There are significant cost benefits in the mid-term. There are other associated benefits.
SEAS was invited to present at the House of Commons to the Energy Select Committee in November 2023. An increasing number of MPs are aware and concerned about needless damage to the environment on which this planet rests.
Adam Rowlands, RSPB talking to Jim Pickard of the FT about the vital wetlands at North Warren.
We now have thousands of followers and media coverage is growing. This FT article in Friday 3 January edition highlights the existential threats to livelihoods and to the very essence of what this region is and signals the risk to future stability and wellbeing for wildlife, people and local jobs. The seismic shift to a semi- industrial zone is our worst nightmare. We can stop this with your help.
Read our Blog post HERE
THE TECHNOLOGY REVOLUTION WILL MAKE OUR PROPOSALS INCREASINGLY AN IMPERATIVE
Far from fantasy, this modern, smarter way of doing energy infrastructure is now an imperative.
We need the Government to think strategically. In the very immediate term, take ScottishPower EA1N and EA2 to an existing brownfield site closer to demand, while we plan and implement the new technology for the mid term.
We should listen and learn from Tennet in the Netherlands and Elia in Belgium. They are along with the Germans and Danes, the true pioneers in the North Sea Corridor.