‘Milestone moment’ for electricity grid as new rules mean ‘zombie’ projects can be terminated

Business

The energy watchdog has introduced rules to speed up the amount of time it takes energy projects to connect to the national grid and begin powering it.

New Ofgem regulation will allow stalled energy schemes to be kicked off the list of generators and storage projects waiting to be connected, freeing up space for ready-to-go projects to provide energy to the grid.

At present, a first come, first served system for connection is in place, whereby a long queue means newer energy schemes are not powering homes and businesses, despite being in a position to do so.

It’s led to a queue of projects with the ability to generate 400 gigawatts of power – the capacity to meet more than Britain’s energy needs – waiting to be hooked up, behind so-called zombie projects.

Some can wait years to be plugged in.

Such of these projects may be “speculative”, Ofgem said, or unviable but have applied for a connection ahead of newer projects that are ready to feed the grid.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Sky’s Hannah Thomas-Peter explains how at the moment there aren’t enough cables between Scotland and England to transfer wind power to more densely populated areas in the south of the country

Under the new rules, dates for meeting production targets will be included into connection contracts. If the energy projects don’t meet those dates, they can be removed from the connection waitlist.

More on Energy

“We want new power on the grid as quickly as possible, so if you’re ready, you can connect sooner. If you’re not ready and are blocking the progress of others, you’ll be removed – you can’t sit on the queue with no consequences,” said Eleanor Warburton, Ofgem’s deputy director for institutions for net zero energy systems management and security.

Read more from Sky News:
‘Damning’ report calls for major National Grid changes
No emergency coal-fired power to keep lights on this winter

Later this month, on 27 November, the Electricity System Operator (ESO) will publish guidance on how the new powers will be used with the first removals likely to happen as early as 2024, Ofgem said.

From then all customers with an existing connection agreement will be given the option of having queue management milestones applied to the existing connection date or they can submit a modified application which will have new queue management dates.

The new rules had already been promised by the National Grid ESO.

“This is a milestone moment in the ESO’s efforts to lead the transformation of the grid connections process, making it fit for purpose for a modern network that is rapidly evolving and decarbonising,” said the chief engineer and head of networks at the ESO, Julian Leslie.

“The ESO will be uncompromising in our approach to driving out projects that cannot meet their connection date, paving the way for more viable projects that have a real chance of plugging into the grid, energising the UK economy.”

Products You May Like

Articles You May Like

NARUTO The Symphonic Experience’s 2025 North American Tour Dates
5,000-Year-Old Relics Discovered in Iraq Suggest a Mysterious Early Government Collapse
Guardian signs controversial deal to sell The Observer to Tortoise Media | Money News
Consequence Crossword: “Arguably a Christmas Movie”
Super Micro gets Nasdaq extension, can file financials by February