Electricity Grid Connection Delays

#33 —

Welsh Affairs Committee

Recommendation: As well as considering the grid in Wales as part of a Great Britain enterprise, the UK Government must recognise the distinctive challenges and opportunities associated with the grid in Wales. The UK Government should engage directly and regularly with …

Report: Government response published

#32 —

Welsh Affairs Committee

Recommendation: Due to the urgency of the situation the UK Government needs to take control of electricity grid network design by setting deadlines and targets for Ofgem, grid Grid capacity in Wales 41 infrastructure owners and other significant bodies including National …

Report: Government response published

#31 —

Welsh Affairs Committee

Recommendation: The grid network has been built piecemeal on the basis of the energy needs of the nation over time. The energy system in the UK is changing and electricity grid network design needs to adapt to meet this change. We …

Report: Government response published

#30 —

Welsh Affairs Committee

Recommendation: In order to utilise the opportunities for renewable energy generation in Wales a system of anticipatory investment in grid infrastructure needs to be created and implemented urgently. In the government response to this report, we request further information on the …

Report: Government response published

#3 —

Welsh Affairs Committee

Recommendation: To ensure that communities and business in Wales can decarbonise in line with government targets, grid infrastructure must be able to meet the projected increase in demand for electricity. The evidence we received suggested that the grid in Wales will …

Report: Government response published

#8 —

Energy Security and Net Zero Committee

Recommendation: With electricity demand rising after years of decline and much existing infrastructure ageing, new infrastructure will be needed with concomitant costs. The energy transition needs a grid that can accommodate more distributed generation but, which by design, will experience higher …

Report: Government response awaited

#7 —

Energy Security and Net Zero Committee

Recommendation: Furthermore, there is an immediate need to improve the capacity of interconnectors and we recommend that the Government should secure the removal of barriers to efficient cross-border trading by Winter 2026. (Recommendation, Paragraph 36) Network costs

Report: Government response awaited

#44 —

Built Environment Committee

Recommendation: New towns will therefore compete with new and increased demand for electricity connectivity and supply. While they are critical for economic growth, the rapid development of data centres presents a challenge to the utilities industries, as they have significant water …

Report: Government response awaited

#43 —

Built Environment Committee

Recommendation: New towns will need to be connected to the National Grid before houses can be occupied. The Grid will need to meet the increase in demand which new towns will require. In addition to these challenges, the construction of new …

Report: Government response awaited

#101 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the Government review the planning regulations for the upgrade of power lines and simplify the process where possible to speed up upgrades, particularly in rural communities while still ensuring proper protection of the environment and heritage.

Report: Government response published

#100 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: The Committee heard that under current planning regulations, the full planning and land rights process is triggered even for small amounts of upgrade work. This process can be further delayed if landowners do not reach a negotiated settlement. All of …

Report: Government response published

#99 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the Government define and label grid upgrades to support chargepoint installations as ‘Nationally Critical Infrastructure’ projects and prioritise the grid upgrades needed to deliver EV infrastructure.

Report: Government response published

#98 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the Government consult Ofgem and industry to identify opportunities to increase anticipatory investment in grid upgrades for the distribution network to future-proof local grids for the EV transition.

Report: Government response published

#97 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We note the changes made to the RIIO price control to allow for more anticipatory investment and emphasise that this additional investment is essential to support chargepoint deployment at pace. However, we heard concern that this may still be insufficient.

Report: Government response published

#96 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the Government considers how best to prioritise EV chargepoints in the queue as projects of strategic and national importance.

Report: Government response published

#95 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We welcome the recently announced Connections Action Plan and urge the Government to move quickly to implement the crucial changes to address the delays currently experienced in the queue for grid connections. We recommend that the Government considers how best …

Report: Government response published

#94 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the Government designate low-carbon and renewable energy generation projects as strategically important net zero projects and fast track their progress through permitting and grid connection to achieve a decarbonised electricity grid as soon as possible and to …

Report: Government response published

#93 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We welcome recent announcements to improve queue management for transmission projects and to speed up the time needed to build new transmission infrastructure. However, these still do not allow for strategic prioritisation of low-carbon or renewable energy projects ahead of …

Report: Government response published

#57 —

Science and Technology Committee

Recommendation: There is an urgent need for key strategic decisions and investment into the transportation networks for both electricity and hydrogen. These network decisions should support the deployment of large-scale long-duration energy storage and a strategic energy reserve. These decisions should …

Report: Government response published

#56 —

Science and Technology Committee

Recommendation: Transportation and transmission networks for hydrogen and electricity will need to be substantially improved and expanded. There is a need for sensible coordination in the design of hydrogen and electricity systems. Co-locating electrolysers and hydrogen-to-power generation with storage seems the …

Report: Government response published

#42 —

Science and Technology Committee

Recommendation: Ofgem and the ESO should reduce the grid connection queue urgently and speed up timelines to connect projects to the grid. They should publish updates on how the reforms are progressing reducing the queue of proposed projects. They should consider …

Report: Government response published

#41 —

Science and Technology Committee

Recommendation: We heard from would-be long-duration energy storage project developers that connecting to the grid is a barrier that can prove fatal to projects. The Committee welcomes the recent announcement that Ofgem is reforming the queue to remove non-viable projects, as …

Report: Government response published

#11 —

Science and Technology Committee

Recommendation: There are long lead-in times for delivering energy storage—typically estimated around 7–10 years for most technologies. If the Government waits until there is a clear picture of exactly how supply, demand and the energy system will evolve, it cannot possibly …

Report: Government response published

#2 —

Science and Technology Committee

Recommendation: Domestic energy storage is not just about a resilient decarbonised grid—it is about the security and stability of the whole economy. The global energy crisis that began in 2021 has been an object lesson in the UK’s vulnerability to global …

Report: Government response published

#1 —

Science and Technology Committee

Recommendation: Energy storage can provide benefits to the grid. It can reduce curtailment and grid congestion, avoiding wasting energy and reducing the cost of renewable electricity. Energy storage facilities provide power that can be turned on and off at will, enhancing …

Report: Government response published

#13 —

Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee

Recommendation: To improve investment into the UK, the Government should focus on the factor conditions rather than government-to-government deals. These are competitive energy costs, faster grid connections, expeditious planning processes, and governance simplicity for investors. We reiterate the recommendations in our …

Report: No government response linked; deadline passed

#11 —

Energy Security and Net Zero Committee

Recommendation: The lack of progress towards the delivery of the 8GW of community energy by 2030 highlights the need for the Government to reduce the disproportionately high costs and long delays community energy projects face when seeking grid connections. (Conclusion, Paragraph …

Report: Government response published

#10 —

Energy Security and Net Zero Committee

Recommendation: The grid connection reforms process has not benefitted community energy. The regulatory framework disproportionately disadvantages community energy projects compared to commercial developers and jeopardises their financial viability. The lack of a regulatory definition, ownership agnosticism and the absence of clear …

Report: Government response published

#10 —

Scottish Affairs Committee

Recommendation: Grid capacity is one of the biggest barriers to achieving Clean Power by

Report: Government response published

#13 —

Welsh Affairs Committee

Recommendation: The UK Government should focus on maintaining a close working relationship with the Welsh Government, particularly in regard to major energy systems challenges such a grid capacity and port infrastructure. To facilitate effective collaboration, where renewable energy projects in Wales …

Report: Government response published

#2 —

Scottish Affairs Committee

Recommendation: The grid is critical for renewable energy to reach consumers. Urgent investment is needed in the grid to ensure that net zero targets are met. The grid needs to be reinforced and expanded to ensure that renewable energy generated in …

Report: Government response published

#29 —

Welsh Affairs Committee

Recommendation: The UK Government should use National Grid ESO’s Future Energy Scenarios to work with energy companies and grid infrastructure owners to determine areas where anticipatory investment in grid infrastructure would be justified to achieve net zero targets. Where anticipatory investment …

Report: Government response published

#24 —

Welsh Affairs Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the Government engage directly with community energy projects in Wales to understand the difficulties they face connecting to the grid. The UK Government should lead a working group made up of the Welsh Government, grid infrastructure owners, …

Report: Government response published

#23 —

Welsh Affairs Committee

Recommendation: We have heard that community energy projects face specific difficulties in connecting to the grid, and that the UK Government is not aware of those difficulties.

Report: Government response published

#9 —

Welsh Affairs Committee

Recommendation: Upfront connection costs can be prohibitive and prevent the development of energy projects. This results in a “chicken and egg” situation whereby developers wait for other developers to commit to the funding of connection costs.

Report: Government response published

#8 —

Welsh Affairs Committee

Recommendation: We note the work by the Welsh Government to develop a long-term plan for energy networks in Wales and call on the UK Government to explain how it is engaging with this. The UK Government needs to explain how it …

Report: Government response published

#7 —

Welsh Affairs Committee

Recommendation: The Committee welcomes that Celtic Sea projects have been included in the list of infrastructure projects in the UK Government’s Growth Plan and notes the recent decision by The Crown Estate to seek to accelerate the leasing process where possible. …

Report: Government response published

#6 —

Welsh Affairs Committee

Recommendation: We recognise the strengths of an electricity grid that serves the whole of Great Britain. However, we conclude that there are distinct challenges and opportunities relating to grid infrastructure in Wales that require specific focus and intervention from the UK …

Report: Government response published

#5 —

Welsh Affairs Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the UK Government task the new Electricity Networks Commissioner to determine the grid infrastructure necessary to enable industry, communities and businesses in Wales to decarbonise heat and transport in line with net zero targets.

Report: Government response published

#4 —

Welsh Affairs Committee

Recommendation: While we understand that the UK Government must consider the energy and network needs of the UK as a whole, we consider that it would be inequitable if the UK were to benefit from Wales’ natural resources for renewable energy …

Report: Government response published

#45 — Enable National Grid ESO to require projects meet strengthened grid connection milestones.

Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee

Recommendation: The UK’s “first come first served” approach to grid connections is failing to deliver the volume of connections required. Projects which may be speculative or slow-moving risk being prioritised over those that are more viable. While we welcome National Grid …

Report: Government response published

#42 — Accelerate investment in future grid capacity ahead of need to prevent generation curtailment costs.

Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee

Recommendation: We join many other organisations from across the sector in calling on Ministers, Ofgem and network owners to help recover lost ground by accelerating investment in future grid capacity now ahead of need. The increasing costs associated with turning off …

Report: Government response published

#41 — Inadequate grid network capacity and connection delays are hampering low-carbon power delivery.

Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee

Recommendation: A lack of network capacity and delays to securing grid connections are together hampering the delivery of low-carbon power and driving potential investments overseas. For too long, transmission and distribution network owners have been able to delay or avoid the …

Report: Government response published

#24 — Government delay in shore power policy for UK ports is unwelcome during grid connection challenges.

Environmental Audit Committee

Recommendation: It is regrettable that the Government has changed course on its policy on the provision of shore power to UK ports. In a period where grid connections are currently at a premium and demand for electricity supply is increasing, the …

Report: Government response published

#19 — Electricity grid connection processes remain unfit for purpose, delaying charge point rollout

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: As with motorway service areas, many of these locations are limited by the strength of the local electricity network and the ability to enhance and connect to it. The Government recognises that the processes to receive electricity grid connections are …

Report: Government response published

#18 — Complex electricity network decisions demand earlier strategic settlement and community involvement.

Energy Security and Net Zero Committee

Recommendation: The complex judgments involved in evaluating different options for electricity network infrastructure not only raise a strong argument for settling these strategic considerations at an earlier stage, but also heighten the need for affected communities to be involved in those …

Report: Government response published

#17 — Review removing specific electricity distribution infrastructure from NSIP regime for faster delivery.

Energy Security and Net Zero Committee

Recommendation: The Government should review whether some types of electricity distribution infrastructure should be removed from the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime and instead consented under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989, to speed up delivery critical to Clean Power …

Report: Government response published

#11 — Strengthen NPS guidance on grid connection weight and clarify future connection prospects assessment.

Energy Security and Net Zero Committee

Recommendation: The National Policy Statements should give significant weight to the availability of a grid connection, as a paramount consideration in determining where electricity generation projects can be located. However, by the same token, where a project has not yet secured …

Report: Government response published

#10 — Review interaction between development consent and grid connection application processes for greater coordination.

Energy Security and Net Zero Committee

Recommendation: There needs to be more coordination between the application processes for development consent and a grid connection, given that each is highly relevant to the other and both will be influenced by the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, the Strategic …

Report: Government response published

#11 — Strengthen National Policy Statement for Ports to support shore power and electric vessel charging

Transport Committee

Recommendation: The Government should strengthen the National Policy Statement for Ports to better support the provision of shore power and electric vessel charging infrastructure as decarbonisation options, recognising the critical interface between ports and the energy grid. It would also assist …

Report: Government response published