Iberdrola’s ScottishPower Energy Networks Advances NZIP Grid Planning

Iberdrola said its UK distribution business, ScottishPower Energy Networks, is driving the Net Zero Industrial Pathways (NZIP) project, an initiative aimed at improving electricity network planning in the context of industrial decarbonisation, the company announced on 28 August 2026.

The objective of NZIP is to incorporate real and detailed data from industrial sites to anticipate their future energy needs and facilitate a more efficient transition towards a net zero economy, according to the Iberdrola release. Within this framework, NZIP works directly with industrial facilities to analyse their current consumption, network connections, potential decarbonisation technologies and expected evolution in energy demand. The insights gathered are integrated into future energy scenarios and SP Energy Networks’ grid development plans, allowing for more precise identification of where, when and at what scale new investments will be required, the company said.

Iberdrola said this data-driven approach helps reduce connection risks, improve capital efficiency and strengthen planning capabilities for local authorities, regulators and system operators. Through this initiative, the company said it is advancing its commitment to developing smarter, more flexible electricity networks that are ready to support the electrification of the economy.

How NZIP Works

SP Energy Networks is partnering with Net Zero Energy Systems on the project, which provides a structured, collaborative framework to understand how industrial sites plan to decarbonise, according to the SP Energy Networks project page. Working directly with each site, the project assesses current energy use, existing network connections, preferred technology pathways and expected changes in demand over time. Each assessment combines stakeholder engagement, technical analysis and scenario alignment to ensure outputs are consistent with wider system planning frameworks, the company said.

The insights feed directly into SP Energy Networks’ Distribution Future Energy Scenarios (DFES) and Network Development Plan (NDP), ensuring network upgrades are targeted exactly where and when they are needed, according to the company.

SP Energy Networks said individual industrial sites may pursue differing decarbonisation approaches, including full electrification, hydrogen, hybrid solutions or efficiency-led strategies, and that each pathway has distinct implications for energy demand, timing and required infrastructure. The company said that historically, limited visibility of site-level decarbonisation plans has meant the sector has relied on regional models and standard assumptions, and that more accurate and granular stakeholder data will support targeted investment to better manage asset risks and network curtailment.

Reported Impact and Quotes

SP Energy Networks said the project strengthens planning across the energy system. The company said local businesses gain confidence that network capacity will consider their decarbonisation timelines, reducing the risk of connection delays, supporting investment decisions and safeguarding existing employment. Local authorities gain clearer visibility of future energy needs to inform development and economic planning, and regulators and system operators receive more robust, transparent data to improve national demand projections, according to the company.

Robbie MacQuarrie, Lead Energy Systems Specialist and NZIP Project Manager at SP Energy Networks, said: “Industrial businesses are at the heart of the energy transition, but there is no single route to decarbonisation. Understanding how sites plan to evolve is essential to ensuring the network is ready to support future growth and investment.” He added: “Through NZIP, we’re working collaboratively with businesses to build a clearer picture of future energy requirements. We’re encouraging industrial organisations across our licence areas to get involved so their plans can help inform future network development and investment decisions.”

The project builds on the North East Wales Industrial Decarbonisation (NEWID) project, which SP Energy Networks said demonstrated the value of site-level engagement. The company said it is now scaling NZIP across its licence areas in Scotland, England and Wales.

SP Energy Networks reported that through NZIP it has so far assessed hundreds of industrial sites across diverse sectors, including manufacturing, chemicals and heavy industry; collaborated with dozens of major stakeholders and industry clusters; mapped hundreds of megawatts of potential future demand; and improved visibility of when and where demand will materialise. The company said early engagement has already helped align network planning with major industrial investment timelines.

By improving forecasting accuracy, NZIP is expected to contribute to between £6 million and £20 million in network investment efficiencies during the RIIO-ED3 period, according to SP Energy Networks.

Meghan Davies, Energy and Net Zero Programme Manager at Ambition North Wales, said the work undertaken through NEWID and now NZIP provides valuable evidence to support strategic planning for major opportunities such as the Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone, Anglesey Freeport, and wider industrial decarbonisation projects across the region.

Next Steps

SP Energy Networks said that as NZIP continues, it is expanding geographic coverage, deepening sector-specific engagement and enhancing modelling granularity with key sectors, building a more complete set of industrial site data and refining its scenario modelling. The company said insights from NZIP position the project as a potential input to national planning frameworks and whole-system coordination initiatives, while strengthening collaboration with regional and national stakeholders.

SP Energy Networks invited industrial site operators and business clusters within its network to participate, stating that direct insight from businesses is needed to understand future energy needs and that participation helps ensure those needs are reflected in network planning and investment decisions.