Energy regulator Ofgem has approved proposed reforms from the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to transform the grid connection process that will see clean energy projects prioritised.
In its manifesto, Labour set itself the lofty goal of entirely decarbonising the UK’s energy grid by 2030. To achieve this, renewable energy projects need to be connected to the grid at pace.
However, the issue is that the queue for connecting new projects to the grid is massively oversubscribed, with some green energy projects taking up to a decade before they can be connected.
According to NESO, the connections queue currently holds over 750GW of projects – four times what is needed for 2030 and twice what is needed for 2050.
But the queue is being held up by zombie or phantom projects, which are stalled or speculative schemes that prevent viable renewables projects progressing.
NESO’s proposed reforms for a new connections system will see the end of the first-come, first-served system, with “ready...