MPs warn that grid connection and energy storage delays are hindering decarbonisation efforts. A committee of MPs has found that slow grid connections and the absence of clear plans for energy storage must be addressed to enable the electrification of the UK energy system and meet net zero goals.
In a new report, the Environmental Audit Committee concluded that many planned renewable energy projects are being hindered by “persistent problems” accessing the electricity grid. These issues include slow connections, limited capacity, inappropriate planning regulations, and market uncertainty.
The demand to access the grid is high, with the current queue containing more than twice the amount of generation needed to meet the Government’s target of decarbonising the energy system by 2035. However, the inability of projects to access the grid could jeopardize this target.
Ofgem and the Electricity System Operator (ESO) have attempted to expedite the process by requiring projects to meet key milestones, such as securing planning permission. Projects failing to meet these milestones could lose their place in the queue. Despite these efforts, the Committee’s report indicates that early evidence suggests these changes have not yet reduced the length of the connection queue.
The Committee recommended that the Government and Ofgem “actively monitor” and streamline initiatives aimed at delivering faster grid connections. Specifically, it suggested that Ofgem review its milestone queue reforms to prioritize projects that are demonstrably ready.
The report also highlighted that the planning system risks becoming a “bottleneck” for the rollout of energy infrastructure, as local authorities often lack the resources or expertise to accelerate clean energy and battery storage projects. It recommended that the Government develop a plan to ensure local authorities have the necessary personnel and expertise to make swift planning decisions while engaging with local communities.
Environmental Audit Committee chair Philip Dunne described the Government’s commitment to fully decarbonising Great Britain’s electricity grid by 2035—an increase in capacity of 250% in just over a decade—as “one of the most ambitious undertakings by any peacetime Government.”