More than half of connection offers for energy projects in Britain's sub-2030 pipeline have now been issued, marking a key milestone in reforms aimed at accelerating clean energy deployment, the National Energy System Operator said on Wednesday.
NESO, working with the Energy Networks Association and network operators, said 58% of connection offers had been issued as of June 10. The offers cover 713 of 1,223 projects and represent around 37 gigawatts of new electricity generation and storage capacity, including offshore and onshore wind, solar, battery storage, and hydro projects.
The reforms replace the previous "first-come, first-served" connections system, which industry participants said created bottlenecks and lengthy delays as projects accumulated in the queue.
Connection offers specify when and where projects can connect to the grid and identify any transmission or distribution network upgrades required, providing developers with greater certainty to proceed with investment decisions.
NESO said projects supported through the process could help unlock up to 40 billion British pounds ($54 billion) of annual clean energy investment and support Britain's economic growth and decarbonization goals.
"Today's milestone shows connections reform is delivering real results," NESO Chief Operating Officer Kayte O'Neill said, adding that the changes were helping ready-to-build projects connect faster.
Distribution network operators have led the issuance of offers for projects seeking connections to lower-voltage distribution networks, while NESO has overseen offers for projects connecting to the high-voltage transmission system.
ENA Chief Executive Lawrence Slade said network operators were already focused on the next phase of delivery following the completion of offers for protected projects.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks said upgrading the grid and speeding up clean energy connections would help shield consumers from fossil fuel price volatility and support efforts to reduce electricity bills.
Britain is also pursuing network expansion and planning reforms as part of its target to deliver a clean power system by 2030, NESO said.