Latest news



28th March 2023

NeSTS Closedown Report submitted

The NeSTS project submitted its closedown report to Ofgem on 28th March 2023.

The report is available in the Document Library.





1st March 2023

NeSTS evidence for stakeholder review published

The NeSTS project published evidence comparing the NeSTS trial overhead line with an equivalent lattice steel overhead line for stakeholder review on 1st March 2023.

The evidence is available here.



4th June 2022

NeSTS Progress Report submitted

The NeSTS project submitted a project progress report to Ofgem on 3rd June 2022.

The report is available in the Document Library.



28th January 2022

NeSTS SDRC 11.7 Energisation of NeSTS Overhead Lines submitted

The NeSTS project submitted a report on its Energisation of NeSTS Trial Overhead Line to Ofgem on 28th January 2022. This completes the evidence requirement for the project’s seventh Successful Delivery Reward Criterion.

The report and its appendices are available in the Document Library.



12th October 2021

NeSTS Project presentation exhibited at ENIC Conference

The NeSTS project exhibited its progress and findings to date at the Energy Networks Innovation Conference in October 2021.

The presentation is available in the Document Library.


4th June 2021

NeSTS Progress Report submitted

The NeSTS project submitted a project progress report to Ofgem on 4th June 2021.

The report is available in the Document Library.



8th December 2020

NeSTS Project presentation exhibited at ENIC Conference

The NeSTS project exhibited its progress and findings to date at the Energy Networks Innovation Conference in December 2020.

The presentation is available in the Document Library.



5th June 2020

NeSTS Progress Report submitted

The NeSTS project submitted a project progress report to Ofgem on 5th June 2020.

The report is available in the Document Library.



28th May 2020

NeSTS SDRC 11.6 Outputs of Type Testing submitted

The NeSTS project submitted a report on its Outputs of Type Testing to Ofgem on 28th May 2020. This completes the evidence requirement for the project’s sixth Successful Delivery Reward Criterion.

The report and its appendices are available in the Document Library.



30th October 2019

NeSTS Project presents at LCNI Conference

The NeSTS project presented its progress and findings to date at the Low Carbon Networks & Innovation Conference on 30th October.

The presentation is available in the Document Library.



30th September 2019

NeSTS SDRC 11.5 Type Testing Agreement submitted

The NeSTS project submitted evidence of its Type Testing Agreement to Ofgem on 30th September 2019. This completes the evidence requirement for the project’s fifth Successful Delivery Reward Criterion.



7th June 2019

NeSTS Progress Report submitted

The NeSTS project submitted a project progress report to Ofgem on 7th June.

The report is available in the Document Library.



20th December 2018

Ofgem Approve NeSTS Stage Gate – Decision to Proceed

Ofgem approved the NeSTS Stage Gate – Decision to Proceed on 20th December 2018. The Project will now design the NeSTS trial OHL for construction.

The decision letter is available in the Document Library.



28th September 2018

NeSTS SDRC 11.4 Stage Gate – Decision to Proceed report submitted

The NeSTS project submitted a report on its Stage Gate – Decision to Proceed to Ofgem on 28th September 2018. The report completes the evidence requirement for the project’s fourth Successful Delivery Reward Criterion, and requests approval from Ofgem to proceed to Stage 2 of the project.

The report is available in the Document Library.



30th August 2018

NeSTS SDRC 11.3 Creation of Technical Specifications report submitted

The NeSTS project submitted a report on Creation of Technical Specification to Ofgem on 30th August 2018. The report completes the evidence requirement for the Project’s third Successful Delivery Reward Criterion.

The report and appendix are available in the Document Library.



8th June 2018

NeSTS Progress Report submitted

The NeSTS project submitted a project progress report to Ofgem on 8th June.

The report is available in the Document Library.



7th February 2018

NeSTS Project holds Prototyping Workshop

The NeSTS Project held a prototyping workshop on tension conductor access with operatives and engineers from the SSEN and construction contractor teams. The project team explained the design choices made and discussed ideas for further improvements.

A video summary of the event is available here.



7th December 2017

NeSTS Project presents at LCNI Conference

The NeSTS Project presented its progress and findings to date at the Low Carbon Networks & Innovation Conference on 7th December. The Project exhibited a scale model of the NeSTS 275kV medium duty design and a 3D model of an overhead line using this suite.

The presentation is available in the Document Library.



30th September 2017

NeSTS SDRC 11.2 Outputs of Stakeholder Engagement report submitted

The NeSTS project submitted a report on Outputs of Stakeholder Engagement to Ofgem on 30th September. The report completes the evidence requirement for the Project’s second Successful Delivery Reward Criterion.

The report and non-confidential appendices are available in the Document Library.



11th June 2017

NeSTS Progress Report submitted

The NeSTS project submitted a 6 monthly progress report to Ofgem on 11th June. Drawings of the NeSTS 275kV medium duty suite accompanied the report.

The report and drawings are available in the Document Library.



27th February 2017

NeSTS Project holds 2nd Consultee Stakeholder Event

The NeSTS Project held its second consultee stakeholder event at the SSEN office in Glasgow on the 1st of February. The project team explained the design choices made in 2016 and introduced the NeSTS prototype designs.

The pre-event introduction and evidence pack is available in the Document Library.

A video summary of the event is available here.



16th December 2016

NeSTS Progress Report submitted

The NeSTS project submitted a 6 monthly progress report to Ofgem on 16th December.

The report is available in the Document Library.



14th October 2016

NeSTS Project presents at LCNI Conference

The NeSTS Project presented its progress and findings to date at the Low Carbon Networks & Innovation Conference on 13th October. The Project exhibited scale models of the design concepts it has assessed and selected.

The presentation is available in the Document Library.



30th September 2016

NeSTS Design Selection SDRC submitted

The NeSTS project submitted its first Successful Reward Delivery Criterion for NeSTS Design Selection on 30th September. The evidence comprised the Support Assessment Matrix tool developed by the Project and an accompanying report providing the technical details of the selected designs.

Both are available in the Document Library.



13th July 2016

GB Transmission Owner stakeholder event held

The NeSTS project met on 13th July with representatives from National Grid Electricity Transmission and Scottish Power Transmission to discuss the NeSTS designs. Their inputs, including learning from the T-Pylon project are being embodied in the Project’s programme and designs.

Many thanks to National Grid Electricity Transmission for hosting the meeting at their Eakring training centre!

A video summary of the event is available here.



17th June 2017

NeSTS Progress Report submitted

The NeSTS project submitted a 6 monthly progress report to Ofgem on 17th June.

The report is available in the Document Library.



19th May 2016

Consultee stakeholder event held

The NeSTS project held its first consultee stakeholder event on 19th May in Inverness, bringing together representatives from Highland Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Scottish Natural Heritage, Historic Environment Scotland, and the Scottish Government.

With the project aiming to develop structures which use less land, involve less construction, are less noticeable, need less maintenance and less environmental impact the stakeholders received the design information of the shortlisted designs prior to the event, to allow them to discuss the information within their organisation and prepare to give their feedback on the various designs.

The day included a range of presentations, such the NeSTS Project Manager Tim Sammon on the project as a whole, Kevin Kavanagh on composites which could be used and Kirstine Wood on other innovations SSEPD are working on. There were also visualisations produced by ASH on how the various tower designs could look if used in locations across Scotland, and Energyline presented models of the shortlisted designs to help the stakeholders appreciate some of the characteristics.

The session also included group discussions and an interactive feedback system to gather the opinions and feedback from the stakeholders, which will be used to help inform the next steps of the project. A video summary of the event is available here.



4th February 2016

First Design Review held

The NeSTS project held its first design review event on 4th February in Perth. The project design team met with colleagues from across the transmission business at Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks to define the functional requirements for the new suite of structures. A video summary of the event is available here.

Please stay tuned for further updates to the NESTS Project on this page.