Octopus calls for development zones to speed up connections

Octopus Energy has called for dedicated renewable energy development zones to speed up the grid connection process.

It is part of the retailer’s five point plan to tackle grid connection delays, which also calls for greater competition, proactive queue jumping and enforceable sunset clauses on fossil fuel projects.

In relation to dedicated zones, Octopus claims a live database mapping substation capacity “could make connecting to the grid less opaque and more transparent”.

Octopus’ End the Gridlock report states: “We must make the grid smarter, more digitised, and fit for a dynamic renewable system.

“Through Octopus’ Winder platform, we’ve mapped out current substation capacity, piecing together the picture using regional DNO data. Yet in other countries this information is much easier to come by, for example in Spain, the Distribution Systems Operator (DSO) is obliged to share information about available capacity on a monthly basis.

“This doesn’t mean development will be guided only by where there’s capacity. But if we’re trying to accelerate building more green energy, this approach provides a helpful tool to show where it’s popular, and if there is capacity, we should be able to move really quickly. And every time a developer makes an application, they start from scratch to carry out a wide range of surveys – so we can do more with data here too.”

The retailer’s plan adds: “Previous surveys could be collated into a central database, layered with new surveys to create ‘zones’ ripe for green power. Pre-agreed ‘zones’ could have quicker planning and grid connection timeframes.

“This type of proactive approach already works very well for offshore wind in the UK and has led to a huge acceleration in Britain’s offshore wind capacity. This could be applied to onshore wind and solar too.”

Octopus’ five-point-plan to speed up grid connection times for renewable projects includes:

• Proactive queue jumping to connect renewable projects that are further along
• Enforce sunset clauses on grid offers so old fossil fuel ones don’t take up space
• A more transparent can-do attitude with data and tech driving it, creating ‘zones’ ripe for developing renewables quickly
• Increase competition in the grid connection process
• Enable collaboration between developers to share and reduce connection costs

Zoisa North-Bond, chief executive of Octopus Energy Generation, said: “To accelerate Britain’s colossal renewable energy opportunity and drive down energy bills fast, we need to connect cheap green projects to the grid quicker. There’s no time to waste in an energy crisis – we need to end the gridlock now.

“The single biggest blocker to renewables is waiting to connect to the grid, so we’ve identified quick wins that can genuinely make a difference today and connect wind and solar farms at pace. If we act fast, we can reduce reliance on expensive, polluting fossil fuels, and jump-start a cheaper, greener energy future for British homes and businesses.”

Last month Octopus Energy chief executive Greg Jackson expressed his frustration at the monopolistic nature of the transmission system, saying: “The thing that we would most love would be some form of contestability.”

Following Jackson’s comments, National Grid’s president of UK strategic infrastructure Carl Trowell told Utility Week the organisation would “not stand in the way” of competition in electricity transmission, as he unveiled a new approach to engaging consumers on the “Great Grid Upgrade”.

The need to speed up grid connections has been long called for. Regen chief executive Merlin Hyman recently told MPs that new solar and storage projects are now facing waits of 15 years or more in many parts of the country.

The Energy Networks Association announced its own three-point plan to speed up connections last month, which included reforming connection queue management, co-ordinating transmission and distribution connections and instigating flexible connections for storage.