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BVRLA members are being encouraged to engage with plans for Britain's future energy system to help ensure growing fleet charging requirements are reflected in decisions about electricity network investment.
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is developing Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs), which will identify future energy needs across different parts of Great Britain and the infrastructure required to meet them.
For the fleet sector, the plans could influence whether sufficient grid capacity is available in the right locations to support growing demand from electric cars, vans and trucks, as well as depots and charging hubs.
Input from fleet operators will therefore be important. If future charging requirements are not visible within the regional planning process, network reinforcement may not be prioritised where it is needed, potentially contributing to higher costs, connection delays and barriers to electrification.
The BVRLA will engage with NESO at a national level, while members are encouraged to contribute regionally where they can provide insight into their own fleet strategies, those of their customers and where future electricity demand is likely to emerge.
NESO is currently inviting expressions of interest in opportunities to participate in RESP governance, including specific opportunities in the North West. Members interested in getting involved should express their interest through NESO by 9 October.
The association would also like to build a group of members with an interest in regional energy planning to help inform its engagement with NESO and provide a fleet-sector perspective.
Find out more and express an interest with NESO.
Members interested in supporting the BVRLA's work with NESO can contact Catherine Bowen at [email protected].
In a related development, the Government has announced Great British Grid (GBG), a new publicly owned body within Great British Energy that will invest alongside the private sector in electricity network infrastructure. It will work with existing network operators to help accelerate projects and support the grid upgrades needed as electricity demand increases.
The Government also plans to expand self-build connections, allowing developers and businesses to build their own grid connections where appropriate rather than waiting for network companies to deliver them. The reforms are intended to reduce connection delays and costs, issues that continue to affect fleets looking to invest in depot charging and electrification.
