National Grid has welcomed the publication today by the Department of Energy and Climate Change of a report from a cross industry group mapping out the future of the UK electricity grid to 2020, setting out how renewable energy and carbon reduction targets can be met. 

The proposals for new strategic investment in the transmission networks, which include building new assets and reinforcing some existing lines, will allow for about 30% of UK’s electricity to come from renewable sources.  The report has been prepared by industry for the Electricity Networks Strategy Group, which brings together industry, Government and Ofgem.

“This report lays out what is now a widely-held vision for the future. We’re proud of the key role we have played within the Energy Networks Strategy Group.  While this forms only part of the large body of work we are doing in this area, the report marks a step change, giving a clear view of what needs to be delivered,” said Chris Bennett, National Grid’s future network transmissions manager.

“Having the transmission network ready in time to meet the challenges of 2020 and beyond will be key.  We start from the solid foundations of a reliable transmission system that has benefited from already high levels of ongoing incremental investment.

“We will continue to play an active role in the development of the regulatory framework needed for this strategic investment worth billions of pounds. We continue to push forward with the complex technical changes to the industry rules, as part of the Transmission Access Review, which will help new generators connect as quickly as possible.  Finally we need to be sure that planning difficulties are overcome and the new National Policy Statements set out the case for this important infrastructure”.

National Grid has already delivered

• new extremely detailed studies of the technical capability of the transmission network allowing the most to be squeezed out of the existing system in advance of planned reinforcements
• using guidance from Ofgem allowing a more pragmatic interpretation of industry rules, to prioritise projects that are ready to connect rather than a strictly “first come first served” basis as was necessary before
• using further guidance from Ofgem that has allowed National Grid to consider the benefits of carbon savings from allowing early connections for renewable generators, alongside any additional “constraint costs” (the costs of managing congestion on the system), as part of the cost benefit analysis used to determine whether projects can connect in advance of planned network reinforcements

National Grid will be launching an industry consultation in April which will look at how the challenges of operating the system in 2020, the balancing of supply and demand second by second, can be met.

Ends

Contacts for further Information:

Stewart Larque
01926 01926 655274
Stewart.larque@uk.ngrid.com