Ofgem introduced grid reforms on 14 February that may take the GB grid from a first-come, first-served system to 1 that prioritizes initiatives for connection primarily based on their diploma of readiness and perceived significance to hitting the federal government’s clear energy targets.
Asserting it as “a step change in tackling delays and shortening queues”, Ofgem mentioned the brand new system would see accelerated new gives made by the tip of the 12 months, with the primary related and operational from 2026.
“Britain won’t get a clear energy grid by 2030 except an unprecedented quantity of latest renewable energy and storage is related to electrical energy networks – that’s why we’re chopping again the crimson tape and changing the out-of-date connections system,” mentioned Akshay Kaul, Ofgem’s Director Basic for Infrastructure.
Underneath the proposals, initiatives can be fast-tracked if they are often operational rapidly and are wanted to hit the federal government’s clear energy targets for 2030. So the reforms prioritise initiatives which might be “prepared” and “wanted”.
The connections queue at present has greater than 700GW of initiatives ready to attach, as Scottish Renewables’ Stephen McKellar identified – certainly, that is virtually 4 instances the electrical energy demand we are going to want by 2050, he mentioned. He welcomed “Ofgem’s continued efforts to handle this subject by reform.”
Stephen Morrish of Xlinks mentioned the proposed measures “would go far to make sure a quicker connection to the grid for builders and prioritise market-ready initiatives that transfer the dial in a sustainable method.”
The idea for selecting winners wasn’t instantly obvious. Stephen McKellar commented: “Whereas these strikes from Ofgem are welcome, it’s important for the longer term success of Scotland’s renewable power business that any choices on shifting or eradicating initiatives with grid connection agreements are primarily based on sound, evidence-driven evaluation to keep away from unintended and probably damaging penalties.”
Shraiya Thapa, Clear Power Information Lead at legislation agency Freeths, mentioned: “For sure areas and know-how varieties specifically (specifically battery power storage) it will create inevitable winners and losers with regards to initiatives because the connection queue is at present massively oversubscribed compared to the federal government’s clear energy 2030 targets. As a way to ship in these targets, venture builders who find yourself being grid connection ‘winners’ will nonetheless have to see accompanying construct out of a lot wanted grid infrastructure in addition to a lot promised planning reform.”
After all, one of many key roadblocks with regards to renewables’ capacity to supply low-cost, accessible energy is intermittency, a matter seemingly unaddressed by this newest reforms proposal.
Morrish mentioned: “The UK should additionally diversify its power combine to shore up a provide of agency and versatile clear energy even when the wind doesn’t blow and the solar doesn’t shine.
“Various applied sciences comparable to interconnectors shall be vital to diversify our clear power provide – avoiding pricey gasoline imports which knock on to our payments.”