‘Zombie’ electricity projects in Britain face axe to ease quicker grid connections
RA2 days ago7 min read1 comments
In a decisive and long-overdue move to untangle the congested arteries of Britain’s power grid, the National Energy System Operator (Neso) is wielding the axe, preparing to cull hundreds of dormant ‘zombie’ electricity projects that have languished in a paralyzing backlog. This purge, set to be communicated to developers, aims to liberate the connection queue for genuinely ‘shovel-ready’ ventures, a critical step toward the ambitious goal of constructing a virtually zero-carbon power system by the 2030s.The scale of the problem is monumental, a testament to years of policy ambition outpacing infrastructural reality. These phantom projects—often speculative applications for grid connections with little genuine intent or capacity to proceed—have created a logjam, blocking viable wind, solar, and battery storage schemes from plugging in.It’s an ecological and economic bottleneck; as the nation races against climate deadlines, ready-to-build renewable energy installations have been left idling, their potential carbon savings and energy security benefits locked away by administrative inertia. The clearing operation will bifurcate the queue: projects deemed credible will be prioritised for connection by either 2030 or 2035, while the rest face dismissal.This surgical intervention mirrors a necessary forest management practice—cutting away the deadwood so sunlight can reach the saplings. The context here is Britain’s legally binding commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, with interim targets demanding a radical and rapid transformation of its energy landscape.Experts have long warned that grid connectivity is the single greatest obstacle to this green transition, more pressing than technology costs or planning permissions. The backlog has stifled investment, inflated costs for consumers, and jeopardised the nation’s energy independence.Historically, Britain’s grid was designed for a handful of large, centralised fossil-fuel plants, not a decentralised, weather-dependent tapestry of renewable generators. Adapting this antiquated system has been a slow, complex dance of regulatory reform and physical upgrades.Neso’s action, while drastic, follows similar grid management strategies emerging in other European nations grappling with the same renewable revolution growing pains. The consequences of this purge will be profound.For the energy sector, it brings much-needed certainty, allowing developers with solid financing and permits to finally advance, potentially unleashing a wave of construction that could bolster jobs and regional economies. However, it also carries risks—the criteria for ‘credibility’ must be transparent and fair to avoid accusations of favouritism or of stifling innovation from smaller players.
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#National Energy System Operator
#grid connections
#renewable energy
#backlog
#zero-carbon
#infrastructure
#energy policy
