Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 20
20
Deferred
Implement Connections Action Plan, prioritising renewable energy and decarbonised applications connections.
Conclusion
The Government and Ofgem must implement in full the changes proposed in the Connections Action Plan. This must entail, for example, the prioritisation of short- term grid requirements, so as to incentivise network operators to prioritise renewable energy connections. The connection of grid inputs from solar and wind, generation, and outputs serving decarbonised applications such as heat pumps and electric vehicle charging, must be prioritised in parallel with connections for larger nuclear and carbon-emitting technologies. (Paragraph 93) 46 Enabling sustainable electrification of the economy
Government Response Summary
The government's response outlines a planned national public awareness campaign for early 2025 to promote the importance of new electricity network infrastructure, which does not address the recommendation to implement the Connections Action Plan in full or prioritise renewable energy connections.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
As was proposed by former Electricity Networks Commissioner Nick Winser in his independent report13, an overarching national (GB-wide) public awareness campaign is planned for launch early in 2025. This campaign is being developed by the Electricity Networks Association and Transmission Owners and is supported by a steering group including the UK Government and devolved administrations. The campaign will focus on the importance of new electricity network infrastructure to achieve a decarbonised power system and to meet the growing demand for electricity as heat, transport and industry electrify. It will also cover wider benefits that new network infrastructure will bring, for instance new job opportunities.