Solar generation connection contracts totalling 840MW have been made with UK Power Networks across Essex, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire in the first five months of 2021.
UK Power Networks said 34 projects have firmed up connection contracts compared with just 17 in the same period last year and four in 2019.
The majority of the new solar sites are made possible by UK Power Networks’ new ‘flexible connections’ solution which the company began rolling out in early 2020, the company said.
The product enables owners of distributed generation to connect cheaper and faster by removing the upfront costs for upgrading the electricity network.
Generators agree to temporarily reduce the amount of energy they export at certain times to keep the network within its operational limits.
New large-scale batteries acceptances has also soared this year, including a 90MW-plus site in East Essex.
Nine new battery connections were accepted between January-May 2021 with a total capacity of 385MW, up from just three January-May 2020.
UK Power Networks head of smart grid development Sotiris Georgiopoulos said: “This extraordinary new wave of solar is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication from teams across our business.
“We’ve invested, engaged and implemented world-leading innovation to facilitate sustainable renewable energy. Now, we need to go even further and faster to make Net Zero emissions by 2050 a reality.”