National Grid ESO is introducing further targeted reforms to speed up connections to the electricity network.
The ESO has written to parties seeking to connect to the transmission system to ask for updates on progress and project milestones, so that non-viable devlopments can be identified enabling those that are ready and able to connect to the grid much more quickly.
This follows the decision by the Code Panel, the body in charge of changes to the codes that govern the energy industry, to recommend to Ofgem changes in how connection contracts are managed which will enable the ESO to more effectively manage the queue.
Energy generators that are not progressing and will not meet their connection date will be able to choose to move backwards or leave the queue, in order to make way for projects that want to connect and are delivering on their milestones. These reforms will mean that developments will be able to connect up to 10 years earlier.
The milestones that projects will have to meet are common sense points such as raising finance for the development, buying land, getting planning permission, and breaking ground. Sites with timelines impacted by network build delays outside the control of the developers will not be negatively impacted by these changes.
To help in checking and verifying whether projects are progressing towards their contracted connection dates the ESO will be supported by an international engineering consultancy and a legal firm.
In addition, the ESO is setting out its support for changes to enable developers to build their own connections into the grid.
The move has been greeted by renewables groups as a way of breaking the log jam holding back projects.
RenewableUK director of future electricity systems Barnaby Wharton said: “This announcement is a significant step forward, as it will unlock new clean energy capacity faster by letting projects which are ready to connect to the grid move ahead of those that simply aren’t making progress.
“Rather than allowing speculative bids for grid connections to pile up and create the backlog, these reforms mean that inactive or unready schemes will no longer be allowed to block projects which are ready to go live.”
Senior policy manager at Scottish Renewables Stephen McKellar added: “The speed at which renewable energy generation projects can connect to the electricity network is one of the key barriers to net zero, so anything which helps expedite that process is welcome.
“Scottish Renewables has argued that a fair and proportionate method of dealing with the growing number of projects in the connection queue has been needed for some time, but it is essential that decisions on moving or removing projects is made with the best evidence available to avoid unintended consequences.”