Understanding the electricity network & how power line routes are chosen

Ever wondered how electricity actually gets to our homes or why new power lines keep popping up? This intro session explains it all in a simple and easy way.

What you’ll learn:

• Why the grid is getting bigger and what’s changing
• The different roles organisations play like NESO, Ofgem, energy providers, the local authority and the government.
• How routes for power lines are picked and why they don’t just put them anywhere
• How renewable energy (like wind and solar) connects to the grid

This session is great if you’re curious about how things work, interested in climate or energy, or want to understand why the electricity is so important right now.

Who this is for:

Anyone who wants to learn about how decisions are being made in relation to renewable energy development and related infrastructure:

• Community groups
• Volunteers
• Local organisations
• Individuals

No technical skills or planning knowledge needed.

Who can attend:

The session is free and open to anyone across Scotland.

We recommend attending the introductory sessions of this energy series. The recordings link will be shared here once the sessions have been delivered.

For accessibility requirements, further information or any questions, please contact Anne Krippler anne@pas.org.uk

About this training series

This event is part of a new series of training sessions delivered by Planning Aid Scotland, funded by the Scottish Government through the National Planning Hub.

Our programme has been designed to give communities and individuals the confidence and knowledge to play an active role in shaping their local area.

Through these sessions you’ll learn:

• How to engage effectively with the planning system, particularly around electricity and renewable energy applications, understanding the process, knowing where your voice fits in and how to make it count.
• How to prepare strong community-led plans (including Local Place Plans and Community Action Plans), learning about relevant community engagement skills and with sustainability at the heart of your approach.

Each session is practical, accessible and focused on real-world challenges.

This is a one-off programme of sessions and will not be repeated, so we encourage early booking if you’re interested. The sessions will be recorded and will be available to rewatch for 3 months.

Explore the full programme of training sessions on our Eventbrite page to see what else we’re offering and to find the topics most relevant to you.