In his letter and accompanying report to Government, published on Friday (4th August ), Mr Winser called for a “dramatic increase” in electricity transmission infrastructure and the speed at which it is delivered.
Too few transmission lines have been built over the past 30 years, and expectations are that, without intervention, it would take 12-14 years to build new ones, from conception to commissioning, Mr Winser concluded.
Winser's recommendations seek to “reduce energy bills as much and as quickly as possible.” His report also acknowledges that, without reform, the grid network will continue to act as an impediment to net zero, powered by affordable renewable energy, due to shortages of grid capacity. This has led to long waiting times extending far into the 2030s, making some solar farms and commercial-scale rooftop solar projects financially unviable.
“We greatly support the recommendations and agree that they are needed to reduce the delivery time for strategic transmission to around seven years,” said Solar Energy UK Director of Policy and Delivery Gemma Grimes. “Any longer than seven years risks jeopardizing the attainment of net zero. The changes must be taken forward as a package to be most effective. Delivering the plan ultimately depends on Ofgem, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the planning system and government as a whole, fully backing the accelerated delivery of net zero - and enabling transmission and distribution network operators rather than constraining them.”
Mr Winser added that the key response to the grid challenge should be to draw up a 'Strategic Spatial Energy Plan' for Great Britain to forecast supply and demand and slash the timescale for construction to seven years.
Solar Energy UK (SEUK) particularly supports Recommendation 8; the creation of new 'Electricity Transmission Design Principles'. This should result in a clearer, more open and more transparent process for proposing new grid infrastructure and the consideration of its merits by the Planning Inspectorate. Related to this, the trade association also supports the delivery of a public information campaign on the need to upgrade the grid, as per Recommendation 12. Copper Consultancy's recent report on attitudes to solar farms demonstrates that the general public has little awareness of why this is necessary.
Seuk Also Backs The "Major Review of Engineering and Technician Skills" proposed by Recommendation 15. Without an approprioTly Trained and Skilled Workforce in Grid Infrastructure At All Scales, The Country Will Be Uno Unable To Connect The Government ' His , in turn, would mean a lost opportunity for thousands of additional green jobs.
Answering the skills and grid challenges are two of the prime focus areas for the government-industry Solar Taskforce, set to deliver its roadmap for 2035 early next year.
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