British MPs warn of continued lags in grid connections queue

A committee of British members of parliament (MPs) have warned that slow grid connections and a lack of clear planning for energy storage have to be fixed to enable the electrification of the UK’s energy system.

The MPs, part of the UK’s Environmental Audit Committee, announced in a report that many planned renewable energy projects are being hampered by persistent problems in accessing the electricity grid.

These include slow connections, limited capacity, inappropriate planning regulations and market uncertainty.

Ofgem and the country’s ESO have already attempted to speed up the connections system by requiring projects to meet key ‘milestones’ like securing planning permission.

However, states the Committee’s report, early evidence suggests these changes have not yet reduced the length of the connection queue.

In response, the Committee recommends that the government and Ofgem actively monitor and streamline initiatives designed to deliver grid connections faster. It recommends that Ofgem review its milestone queue reforms with a focus on advancing demonstrably ready projects to the front of the queue.

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Planning system

The report also finds that the planning system risks being a “bottleneck” to the rollout of energy infrastructure, as local authorities often lack the resources or in-house knowledge to accelerate clean energy projects.

It recommends the government develop a plan to ensure local authorities have the personnel and expertise they need to reach planning decisions quickly while engaging with local communities.

Elsewhere in the report, MPs highlight that achieving net zero goals, while maintaining energy security and avoiding energy shortages, will likely require a significant level of low-carbon storage.

However, they warn of a lack of clarity on the scale needed for energy storage facilities, or the actions necessary to secure long-term storage.

The Committee recommends the government address these barriers to long-term storage as a matter of urgency, through either investing directly in infrastructure or reforming policy mechanisms such as the Capacity Market.

Commenting in a release, Environmental Audit Committee chair Philip Dunne MP said: “It is beyond question that [decarbonising Great Britain’s electricity], around which there is a broad consensus, will require an unprecedented level of planning and coordination across Government, as well as significant private investment.

“There is no lack of demand to take part in the clean energy revolution; UK businesses are queuing around the block to secure access to the grid. As green technology improves and becomes easier to access, this will only increase.”

Dunne also commented on the recent announcement from the UK’s National Grid of a £30 billion ($38.3 billion) investment in UK energy network infrastructure over the next five years, part of their strategy to turn into a “pre-eminent pureplay networks business.”

Although welcome and a positive sign of “the willingness across the sector to deliver a decarbonised grid,” Dunne adds that “achieving that goal will require sustained investment and unrelenting effort across all aspects of the energy system.

“Immediately after the General Election, the Government must address these concerns as a priority, and set out clearly how it will balance achieving net zero goals with delivery of a secure energy supply.”