Clean energy projects prioritised for grid connections

Ofgem is expected to confirm the National Energy System Operator's ambitious new plan to reform grid connections and unlock billions of investment.

Additional quotes. Additional detail in editors' notes

So-called ‘zombie’ projects will no longer hold up the queue for connection to the electricity grid to prioritise businesses that will drive growth and deliver energy security. 

Companies are currently waiting up to 15 years to be connected to the grid leaving promising businesses ‘grid-locked’, and over the last 5 years, the grid connection queue has grown tenfold.      

The changes will help to kick-start the economy to put more money in working people’s pockets, the first priority of the government’s Plan for Change. 

Ofgem is expected to confirm the ambitious new plan later today (Tuesday 15 April), drafted by the National Energy System Operator in partnership with the energy industry. 

The reforms will help unlock £40 billion a year of mainly private investment, growing the economy, creating jobs and raising living standards as a key part of the government’s Plan for Change. 

This builds on the latest figures showing that since July, the clean energy industry is now booming in Britain, with £43.7 billion of private investment being announced into the UK’s clean energy industries. 

Too many companies are facing gridlock because they cannot get the clean energy they need to drive growth and create jobs.