Energy Secretary Signals U-Turn on Grid Upgrade Timetable
The Energy Secretary has indicated the government will soften its grid upgrade timetable, according to officials familiar with the discussions.
The plan, revised
The original roadmap set binding deadlines for connecting new renewable capacity to the grid by 2030. The revised plan would stagger several of those deadlines by up to two years, with the official explanation expected to be supply-chain constraints on transformers and high-voltage cabling.
Why it matters
Grid connection queues are already the single biggest bottleneck for new generation projects. Analysts estimate that pushing back the deadlines could delay roughly 8 GW of planned capacity — the equivalent of several large gas plants’ worth of generation.
The reaction
Industry groups are split. Transmission operators welcome the flexibility; renewable developers argue the delays will push up project financing costs and jeopardise investment decisions already made.
A formal announcement is expected within two weeks.
Sources
- Department statement (expected)
- Grid operator capacity reports
- Industry association response documents