Onshore wind and grid queue targeted in 2030 energy plan

Unveiled by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan provides a roadmap for decarbonising the grid by 2030, defined by at least 95 per cent of Britain’s electricity coming from low carbon sources. The new plan sets out how the government will build the generation and infrastructure needed to deliver that decarbonised system.

The document includes confirmation that onshore windfarms will be brought back into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime in England. This will make it easier to progress onshore farms larger than 100MW. Other measures include reforming the queue system for connecting new projects to the national grid, and allowing planners to prioritise critical energy infrastructure and speed up decisions.

“A new era of clean electricity for our country offers a positive vision of Britain’s future with energy security, lower bills, good jobs and climate action,” said Miliband.

“This can only happen with big, bold change and that is why the government is embarking on the most ambitious reforms to our energy system in generations.”

The plan was broadly welcomed by industry, though some voices urged the Labour government to go even further. Nigel Pocklington, chief executive at Good Energy, called on more transparency around the renewable tariffs offered by competitors.

 “Hearing the Energy Minister echo what we have been saying for years — that clean, home-grown renewable power is the only way to detach UK energy prices from volatile global fossil fuel markets — is very encouraging. But there remain areas we can go further, faster,” said Pocklington.

“The government expects the majority of investment to come from private sources. Addressing the issue of greenwash in energy supply would help this goal. Currently well over £1 billion a year is spent on certificates to label customers’ electricity supply ‘renewable’, without any evidence that that cash is stimulating renewable growth rather than filling the pockets of middlemen. 

“Establishing a better link between renewable generation and consumer and corporate demand for renewable supply would make the government’s goal easier to achieve."

Meanwhile, the changes to the grid queue and planning systems were also welcomed.

"Reforming the queue, as well as accelerating planning and consenting, remain the biggest barriers to enabling the government's clean power mission,” said Lawrence Slade, Energy Networks Association CEO.

"The government's clean power action plan provides clear direction and seeks to tackle planning and the connections queue head on. These are steps our members have been calling for and welcome.

"Without an upgraded grid, we will miss out on the opportunity to create jobs and unlock investment vital to the UK's economic success."