National Grid, the company that owns and operates the high-voltage electricity transmission and distribution networks in England and Wales, has announced a new policy to accelerate the connection of up to 20 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy projects to its grids.
The policy is part of National Grid’s connections reform initiative, which aims to unlock transmission capacity and enable more low carbon technologies to plug into the grids, helping the UK meet its net zero target by 2050.
The initiative is spearheaded by the Electricity System Operator (ESO), which is responsible for the contractual relationship with connecting projects, and actioned jointly with National Grid Electricity Transmission (ET), which designs and builds the transmission infrastructure needed in England and Wales.
The initiative also involves collaborative action between Britain’s transmission and distribution networks to manage their technical interface more effectively and unlock gigawatts of capacity.
The clean energy projects that will benefit from the new policy include 19 battery energy storage projects worth around 10 GW on the transmission network and scores of low carbon technology projects on the distribution network.
The battery projects will be offered dates to plug in averaging four years earlier than their current agreement, based on a new approach that removes the need for non-essential engineering works prior to connecting storage.
The distribution projects will benefit from 10 GW of unlocked capacity that was announced recently, which could bring forward some ‘shovel ready’ schemes by up to five years.
The distribution projects will be fast-tracked through a new online portal that allows them to access the available capacity and submit their applications.
The distribution projects will also benefit from a new flexible connections policy that allows them to connect at times when there is spare capacity on the network, such as during periods of low demand or high renewable generation.
The distribution projects will include a range of low carbon technologies, such as solar, wind, battery storage, electric vehicles, heat pumps and hydrogen.
The distribution projects will support local communities and businesses in their transition to net zero, as well as creating jobs and boosting the economy.
The accelerated 20 GW equates to the capacity of six Hinkley Point C nuclear power stations and is expected to help the UK reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 68% by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050.
The new approach to transmission storage connections is a flagship policy in the ESO’s five-point plan to speed up connections, which was launched in July 2023.
The ESO is also undertaking an extensive review of projects in the connections pipeline in England and Wales to identify which can come forward based on new planning assumptions agreed with the ET.
A further tranche of clean energy projects – primarily batteries and hybrids (batteries co-located with wind or solar) – will be offered accelerated transmission connections as part of another phase anticipated in the new year, which could bring forward another 10 GW.
However, National Grid also warned that the rapid growth of clean energy projects could lead to grid congestion and curtailment issues, especially in areas where the network is already constrained.
The company said that it is working with the government and regulators to find solutions to address the grid challenges, such as investing in network upgrades, developing smart grid technologies, and facilitating market mechanisms to incentivise flexibility and demand response.
National Grid also called for more clarity and certainty on the future policy and regulatory framework for the energy sector, as well as more coordination and collaboration among stakeholders, to enable the efficient and timely delivery of the net zero transition.
David Wright, Director of Electricity Transmission and Chief Electricity Engineer at National Grid, said: “We are delighted to announce this new policy that will enable more clean energy projects to connect to our grids faster and more efficiently. This is a key step in our journey to net zero, as we work with our partners across the industry to deliver a smarter, stronger and cleaner energy system for the UK. However, we also recognise that there are significant challenges ahead, as we face increasing grid congestion and curtailment risks. We are committed to finding solutions to these issues, but we need more clarity and certainty from the government and regulators, as well as more coordination and collaboration among stakeholders, to ensure that we can deliver the net zero transition in the most cost-effective and reliable way for consumers and the environment.”
Fintan Slye, Director of the ESO, said: “We are committed to facilitating the connection of more low carbon generation to the grid, as we play our part in enabling the UK’s transition to a net zero energy system. This new policy is a game-changer for battery storage and other clean energy projects, as it will significantly reduce the time and cost of connecting to our networks. We look forward to working with National Grid ET and the distribution network operators to implement this policy and unlock more capacity for the benefit of consumers and the environment. However, we also acknowledge that there are still barriers and bottlenecks in the system that need to be addressed, as we cope with the increasing complexity and variability of the energy landscape. We are working hard to overcome these challenges, but we also need more support and guidance from the government and regulators, as well as more innovation and cooperation from the industry, to ensure that we can deliver a secure, sustainable and affordable energy system for the future.”