Queue-jumping, sunset clauses and a data-driven can-do attitude are simple ways to connect renewables to the UK grid faster, according to a new report by Octopus Energy’s generation arm.
It argues that increasing competition in the connection process and greater collaboration between developers are the other two areas that will help unleash Britain’s colossal green energy potential.
Implementing this five-point-plan could unlock new wind and solar farms with clean electricity for around 2.5 million homes – covering the electricity needs for households in Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds combined every year.
The UK has one of the longest power grid connection queues in Europe, with over 200 GW of wind and solar projects currently waiting to get connected, the report states.
More urgency is needed to tackle this, as highlighted by a recent Government committee report showing how the UK is jeopardising fossil-free targets due to slow grid connection issues, it adds.
The recommendations from the new report, End the gridlock, are drawn from Octopus’ own renewables development experience and from investments from the funds it manages.
They include proactive queue jumping to connect renewable projects that are further along, enforcing sunset clauses on grid offers so old fossil fuels ones don’t take up space, and a more transparent can-do attitude with data and tech driving it, creating ‘zones’ ripe for developing renewables quickly.
The report also calls for increased competition in the grid connection process and enabling collaboration between developers to share and reduce connection costs.
Zoisa North-Bond, chief executive of Octopus Energy Generation, said: “To accelerate Britain’s colossal renewable energy opportunity and drive down energy bills fast, we need to connect cheap green projects to the grid quicker.
“There’s no time to waste in an energy crisis – we need to end the gridlock now.
“The single biggest blocker to renewables is waiting to connect to the grid, so we’ve identified quick wins that can genuinely make a difference today and connect wind and solar farms at pace.
“If we act fast, we can reduce reliance on expensive, polluting fossil fuels, and jump-start a cheaper, greener energy future for British homes and businesses.”