Electricity networks in England and Wales have enabled the grid connection offer dates for nearly 8GW of clean and renewable energy projects to be brought forward.
Over 200 projects, totalling 7.8GW of capacity, have had their connection offer dates brought forward by up to 10 years through the Technical Limits programme.
Under this programme projects can connect to lower voltage distribution networks prior to reinforcement of the high voltage transmission network.
Networks have so far sent offers to 203 projects totalling 7.8GW with an average connection acceleration of 6.5 years.
In total 393 schemes are eligible for the programme with the further 190 developments able to receive accelerated offers once they have progressed through the connection offer process.
Last month a solar farm near Bridgwater in Somerset became the first project to be energised under this scheme.
Horsey Levels solar farm connected to National Grid’s electricity distribution network significantly ahead of its original planned connection date.
This initial acceleration has been delivered in the first phase of the Technical Limits programme, with further phases and analysis planned.
Technical Limits, a collaborative project from National Grid Electricity Transmission, Energy Networks Association, the Electricity System Operator and the distribution network operators (DNOs) forms part of the ongoing collaborative industry efforts, together with Ofgem and government, to speed up and reform connections to the grid.
Scottish Transmission and Distribution network owners have been involved in developing the Technical Limits programme and are in the process of rolling out the programme in their license areas also.
Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Justin Tomlinson said: “Thanks to a team effort, over 200 clean energy projects will be connected to our grid earlier.
“We are delivering the biggest reforms to the network since the 1950s – allowing us to hook more renewables up to the grid so households and businesses can benefit from cleaner, cheaper electricity.”
By agreeing new power flow limits DNOs have been able to offer selected projects an accelerated connection date before transmission network reinforcements are complete, on the agreement that the DNO can limit flows from the project under certain operating conditions.
The 203 connection offers that have been issued in the first phase have an average export curtailment of 22% per year with the expectation that in the long term these interim arrangements will be replaced as network capacity increases.
President of National Grid Electricity Transmission Alice Delahunty added: “The Technical Limits programme is a fantastic example of cross industry collaboration.
“This team effort has delivered an innovative solution to connect schemes more quickly.
“We’re pleased to see the first project connect earlier than expected and look forward to many more.”
Energy Networks Association chief executive Lawrence Slade said: “Today’s announcement shows the hard work, coordinated effort and spirit of innovation network operators and our partners are employing to increase the pace of connections being offered to customers.
“We are already connecting projects at a faster rate than ever before, but we need strategic changes, particularly in planning processes, if we are to go even faster in meeting the huge demand for new connections.”