Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee visit Whitelee windfarm and SP Energy Networks National control room as part of inquiry into Scotland's electricity infrastructure

The Committee's inquiry is scrutinising what electricity infrastructure is needed to realise the ambitions set out in the Scottish Government's recently released Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan and what will be required to deliver that infrastructure.

SP Energy Networks control room is a 24/7 facility located at the company's HQ in Glasgow, where the real-time operation of the transmission and distribution networks in central and south Scotland takes place.

The control room monitors and maintains the supply of electricity to 2 million customers, coordinates fault response, and supports homes and businesses impacted by power cuts. The control room also plays a crucial role in emergency preparedness and responses to weather-related incidents.

Whitelee windfarm, located on Eaglesham Moor, is one of Europe's largest onshore windfarms, with 215 turbines generating up to 539 megawatts of electricity.

The Committee’s Deputy Convener, Fiona Hyslop, Monica Lennon MSP and Liam Kerr MSP visited the SP Energy Networks control room, before Fiona Hyslop and Monica Lennon then travelled by electric vehicle to Whitelee.

The Committee learnt about the critical role of electricity infrastructure in Scotland's net zero journey as well as how onshore wind technology works in practice, how it integrates with the electricity network, and the challenges and opportunities involved in scaling up renewable energy production.

Meeting with front-line staff at both sites, the Committee was able to gain insights into the regulatory regime within which SP operate and the challenges of maintaining the distribution and transmission grid networks in southern Scotland, which will help inform the inquiries findings.

Speaking after the visit, Fiona Hyslop MSP, Deputy Convener of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, said:

"We were very pleased to visit the SP Energy Networks control room and get a hands-on understanding of the challenges of maintaining a secure supply of electricity in real time to households across central and southern Scotland.

“It was also fascinating to visit Scotland’s largest onshore windfarm at Whitelee. Further advances in renewable energy and battery storage will be needed as an increasingly important part of Scotland's energy mix, and we are keen to understand how the sector can continue to grow and thrive in the years to come.

"This visit has given us a greater understanding of both the challenges and opportunities involved in scaling up renewable energy production across Scotland and we’ve gained valuable insights into grid capacity through our discussions with the industry experts and representatives from ScottishPower.

"As wind power is one of the key players in Scotland's sustainable energy mix, the Committee inquiry has a focus on understanding more about barriers to achieving the Scottish Government's ambition for onshore wind and of the challenges ahead, as the first generation of wind farms now looks to repower with the latest technology.”

The Committee's findings from the inquiry will be reported to the Scottish Government as it finalises its new strategy, and will also help inform future Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee scrutiny of specific aspects of energy and climate policy and practice.