UK set to fast track connection of clean energy projects                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Latest news in the renewable energy sector sees the UK government announcing plans to fast track the National Grid connection of clean energy projects in an exciting move to accelerate progress towards the goal to decarbonise electricity by 2030.

This move comes as part of the ‘Planning and Infrastructure Bill' which was to be introduced to parliament last week, and adopts a "first ready, first connected" approach; also serving to alleviate the current 10 year + connection wait time of new renewable energy projects.

This comes just months after the introduction of TMO4+, a significant change to the planning process behind the National Grid, and an opportunity to rectify current grid issues and accelerate the connection of renewable projects.

Under the proposal, decisions on onshore and offshore wind, solar power, electricity grids, hydrogen, carbon capture and nuclear power plants would be expedited.

What’s more, the bill is expected to unlock £200bn in investment and protect UK households from ‘volatile fossil fuel markets’.

Under the proposed plan, the wait time for new grid connections is set to be reduced by up to 7 years, marking a significant acceleration in the rollout of renewable energy projects whilst aiming to remove long-standing barriers in the energy sector and  ensuring that clean power sources can be integrated into the grid efficiently.

This also includes a pledge to speed up the construction of new energy infrastructure with targeted reforms to support planning decisions on at least 150 major projects during this Parliament, almost tripling the 57 decisions made in the previous Parliament and more than the 130 made since 2011.  

Interestingly, the UK government has reportedly already agreed 10 so far, including several energy projects such as six solar farms, amounting to nearly 3 gigawatts of new clean energy for the country.