UK to support plans for expediting construction of power networks

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The government is planning to reduce the average time it takes to deliver major electricity transmission projects in the UK from 14 years to just half that.

Energy Secretary Grant Shapps is expected to endorse a report by industry veteran Nick Winser this week, outlining ways to accelerate the construction of electricity networks in Britain.

Shapps intends to address planning delays associated with renewable energy projects during a meeting with energy companies, assuring them that regulatory barriers will be eliminated to facilitate their investment.

Industry representatives attending the meeting in Downing Street on Wednesday will advocate for low-carbon energy and the necessary measures to achieve it.

The transition from fossil fuels to wind turbines, heat pumps, and electric cars requires a significant overhaul of infrastructure to generate and distribute electricity.

The government aims to decarbonize the electricity system by 2035, while the Labour Party has set a goal of achieving this by 2030 if it wins the next general election.

Winser was appointed as the UK government’s first “electricity networks commissioner” with a mandate to expedite the delivery of major transmission projects. In June, he informed MPs that he expected to reduce the project completion time from 14 years to seven.

Winser emphasized the importance of strategic planning, transparent information to communities, and a system that allows communities to directly benefit from new power lines.

National Grid, the FTSE 100 company responsible for Britain’s main electricity network, has called on the government to reform the planning system to accelerate the delivery of clean energy projects. The CEO of National Grid, John Pettigrew, stated that incremental change is insufficient and advocated for a transformative approach.

Oil and gas companies, including Shell and BP, will be present at Wednesday’s meeting where Shapps will urge them to invest in the UK North Sea. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has also expressed support for granting over 100 new oil and gas exploration licenses in the North Sea.

Shapps believes that the government’s commitment to renewable energy and carbon capture and storage technology will provide businesses with the certainty needed to invest in Britain and reduce emissions. However, the US is offering attractive tax breaks to attract energy investment.

During the meeting, Shapps plans to address concerns about potential disruptions to the country’s power supply by reassuring the industry that the government will work with law enforcement to prevent protesters from interfering.