Permitting delays and the national energy grid                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Recently, the Telegraph published an interesting article discussing the complexities of permits and permitting delays to big new projects, particularly green projects in Europe; the impact of permitting delays being something we’ve discussed recently and something which is clearly becoming a wider spread issue than simply what we’re experiencing here in the UK.

The Telegraph article goes on to compare the permitting process for green projects in Europe to that of the U.S. where the process is perceived to be much more simple.

No matter how simple the U.S. permitting process is, however, it’s neither fast nor efficient, with a lot of projects taking up to - and in some cases over - a year to be granted a permit.

But, if obtaining permits is becoming an increasingly lengthy and difficult process across the world, what could this mean for the UN’s newest COP28 goal to increase renewable energy capacity by 2030?

Significant project delays

Here in the UK, it’s no secret that permitting delays - especially delays to bespoke permits - from the Environment Agency are problematic and are leading to significant delays to renewable energy projects such as anaerobic digestion plants and Energy from Waste facilities; some bespoke permits taking up to 20 months to be processed.

Not only can this lead to significant delays to project completion but can also lead to additional and mounting costs to their owners and operators, elevating the risks associated with renewable energy projects which, in turn, can cause these projects to become less desirable to intended funders.

Issues with gas connection

This, compounded by well documented issues with the UK’s national [gas & electricity] grid, specifically, makes for some challenging bottlenecks in the system that desperately need to be resolved.

Where the UK’s national energy grid has been labeled as ‘creaking’ and ‘insufficient’, the grid struggling to cope with current energy capacities and therefore unable to connect new renewable energy projects within good time, it’s uncertain whether the UK will be able to reach impending Net Zero deadlines, especially where some of the UK’s newest green projects are being given connection dates 10 years from now.

Already struggling with increased electricity inputs

What’s more, the national grid is already struggling with electricity capacity and, reportedly, cannot readily distribute the additional inputs from wind energy produced on windy days by big wind farms in Scotland and Dogger Bank.

Vital upgrades needed but met with controversy

Upgrading the grid is undoubtedly vital to successfully achieving Net Zero by 2030 but comes with its challenges of its own - notably a highly controversial roll out of new lines and pylons which the National Grid are hesitant to speak on but it’s thought will impact more than 300,000 mostly rural homes across the UK, particularly in East Anglia.

Understandably, those living in homes close to the proposed sites of new lines and pylons are unhappy with the impending intrusion on their gardens as well as the surrounding countryside.

What’s more, in the most recent Autumn Statement, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced plans to give those living near new pylons and electricity substations up to £1,000 a year off their energy bills, totalling an estimated £9bn all of which would be added to consumer power bills over the coming decade.

Things need to change

If UN countries are going to successfully achieve Net Zero goals in such a short space of time, things really do need to change, both here in the UK and further afield: permitting delays need to be appropriately dealt with, and the national energy grid upgraded.

Of course, these are neither easy nor quick fixes and come with their own set of challenges, including a surely hefty price tag to upgrade and fix the national grid.

However, if the UK - under the UN - are truly serious about improving our energy security and ramping up renewable energy consumption in place of fossil fuel consumption; backing and incentivising new renewable energy projects, we first need to lay the foundations for renewable energy success: a robust national energy grid with efficient permitting processes.

Not only this, but more needs to be done to appease the public and get the average consumer ‘on-side’; current plans to upgrade the grid and increase capacity seemingly serving to disturb and upset rural communities, as well as add even more expense to UK households.