The UK government is set to fast-track grid connections for clean energy projects, including wind and solar power, as part of its Plan for Change initiative, aiming for clean electricity by 2030.
The forthcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill will prioritise new transmission infrastructure, facilitating growth and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Decisions on onshore and offshore wind, solar power, electricity grids, hydrogen, carbon capture and nuclear power stations will be expedited.
The bill is expected to unlock £200bn ($258bn) in investment and protect households from volatile fossil fuel markets.
Projects currently face delays of up to ten years due to an outdated “first come, first served” process. The government plans to replace this with a “first ready, first connected” system to streamline infrastructure delivery, reduce planning delays and ensure a secure energy future for the UK.
The approval process for significant infrastructure projects will be accelerated by reducing consultation burdens and updating national policy statements every five years.
Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner stated: “Time and again blockers have been allowed to halt progress at every turn, which has weakened our energy security and left our country exposed to soaring energy bills for working people, families and businesses.
“Through our landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill we’re taking bold action to fix the broken planning system, paving the way for us to get Britain building more vital infrastructure.
“This is just one of many steps we’re taking to deliver our Plan for Change for working people and families with a decade of national renewal, unleashing growth to boost living standards, slash everyday costs and increase prosperity for all.”
The government aims to make planning decisions on at least 150 major infrastructure projects in the current parliament – tripling the previous parliament’s decisions.
Ten projects have already been agreed upon, including six solar farms, contributing nearly 3GW of clean energy.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will introduce reforms to accelerate the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan.
These include electricity bill discounts for residents near new pylons, an Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) “cap and floor” scheme for electricity storage investment, and replacing street works licences with permits to expedite electric vehicle chargepoint installation.
Further changes include updating planning rules for clean electricity infrastructure in Scotland and extending the generator commissioning period from 18 to 27 months for offshore wind farms.
Measures will also address excessive legal challenges to infrastructure projects, facilitating faster approvals for nuclear plants and wind farms.
The government will streamline environmental assessments to save developers time and money while promoting nature recovery and wildlife conservation.
The UK government also recently announced the Clean Industry Bonus (CIB) incentive scheme to support offshore wind projects and advance the country’s 2030 decarbonisation goal.
