10GW of “Zombie” Energy Projects Axed by Networks
Electricity network operators have successfully eliminated 10GW of dormant projects known as “zombie” projects since the inception of the Energy Networks Association’s Strategic Connections Group. This remarkable achievement has liberated crucial grid capacity, as per data released by the trade body.
The collaborative effort of network operators, the regulator, and the system operator through ENA’s Strategic Connections Group has made this feat possible. The initiatives undertaken have led to the removal of stagnated or speculative schemes – previously labelled as ‘zombie projects’ by the regulator – from the queue.
In the upcoming months, the Group will be focussing on additional initiatives in the next phase, including enhancing the effectiveness and coherence of the connection process between transmission and distribution networks. ENA and its network operator members are collaborating with the regulator to evaluate the requirements for achieving this coordination, which may involve implementing new codes or licence changes.
The Strategic Connections Group of ENA, comprised of network operators and industry partners, is dedicated to expediting grid connections. The group has prioritised practical reforms and is advocating for strategic alterations to the UK’s planning processes essential for expediting grid connections.
The actions being implemented include:
- Verifying that all projects in the queue are progressing as per schedule and meeting the outlined milestones in their contracts.
- In cases where a project is behind schedule, network companies are engaging with developers to identify the reasons for the delay and assisting in moving the project forward to meet current and future milestones.
- If a project has completely stalled and shows no signs of progress, networks are eliminating these projects from the queue and terminating connection contracts.
Lawrence Slade, the Chief Executive of the Energy Networks Association, commented:
“The removal of these stagnant projects is a crucial step towards expediting the UK’s grid connection process, but it is only a part of the solution. We are working towards better coordination of the connections process between distribution and transmission networks, and collaborating with the government and regulator to ensure that the planning system is prepared to facilitate the necessary connections for the UK’s clean energy future.
“We must also acknowledge that the existence of these projects highlights that the ‘connection queue’ itself requires further reform, given that there was 252GW more generation and supply capacity in the queue last year than what is projected to be required by 2050, even in the most ambitious plans for the UK’s grid.”
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