Chamber and committees

This is a short inquiry on a massive area, but it gives us a chance to put the spotlight on our electricity infrastructure. Is there anything that you wanted to tell us today that you have not had the opportunity to say?

Finally, Clare Lavelle, do you have any comments on that? The issue is about the balance between offshore generation and transmission and the potential for green hydrogen. At what point does that reach an equilibrium? Is that one of the market challenges?

Good morning, and thank you for joining us. I would like to discuss wind power and the readiness of the electricity network. What are the key barriers to achieving the ambition for offshore wind contained in the Scottish Government’s draft energy strategy? Could the readiness of the electricity network to accommodate new projects affect the business case for the proposals? What needs to be done to our electricity network in the short, medium and long terms? I will come to Tom Quinn first and then to Stuart Haszeldine.

Do we have time to hear from Mark Hull?

I direct these questions to Scott Mathieson and Aileen McLeod. Do the current business plans from SSEN and SPEN, in relation to both transmission and distribution, allow for sufficient investment in the networks to realise what is in the draft energy strategy from the Scottish Government?

The committee can address those issues with Ofgem, when we see it. I am conscious that a number of the issues are reserved, so I will focus now on the Scottish Government and come to Mark Hull. What more could the Scottish Government do to support network investment and readiness?

I will ask the same question of Morag Watson, so I will give you a bit of time to think, Mark.

I want to ask Aileen McLeod a question so that we have it on the record. You said that, currently, the grid is an inhibitor. Can you explain why that is? What would address that?

Does Scott Mathieson want to add to that?

Thank you. On stimulating demand, are you saying that the Scottish Government has a role?