Six trade bodies representing the UK energy sector including Regen and the Electricity Storage Network have written to the UK Energy Secretary Grant Shapps asking for his personal leadership to address constraints on the electricity network.
The letter highlights that energy projects are facing delays of up to fifteen years due to capacity constraints on the electricity transmission network.
The trade bodies are concerned that this is delaying billions of pounds of private investment needed to deliver on the UK government’s targets for renewable energy generation, electricity storage, heat pumps and electric vehicle rapid chargers.
The trade bodies asked the Secretary of State to take measures that enable a shift towards strategic investment in the electricity networks.
They also urge that he require a CEO-led plan from the system operator and transmission and distribution networks to implement immediate measures to address constraints.
Regen chief executive Merlin Hyman said: “We are in a race to develop renewable power and electricity storage to meet our net zero goals and tackle high bills caused by the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels, but underinvestment in the electricity network is leading to delays of fifteen years for projects to get a connection.
“We are calling on the Secretary of State to make enabling clean energy projects to connect the key priority for our electricity system operator, transmission, and distribution networks.”