‘Wait and see’ approach to distribution connections criticised

Solar companies have accused the government of taking a “wait and see” approach to reforming distribution network level connection problems, which could lead to further delays in the system.

Solar Energy UK (SEUK) claims that the government is overlooking issues at a distribution network level as it drives to solve the backlog of transmission connections.

The trade body points out that a “significant number” of policy documents have been released on solving transmission connection queues, while there has been little progress at a distribution network level.

The statements are made within SEUK’s submission to the House of Commons energy security and net zero committee’s ongoing inquiry into a flexible grid for the future.

EUK claims that the “seemingly wait and see” approach to distribution level issues is leading to further delays.

The submission adds that it would be helpful to understand how the government plans to address these distribution level delays, which it says are detrimental to the deployment of rooftop solar devices.

The response also highlights major problems with the UK’s grid, which it describes as “no longer fit for purpose”.

“Without significant intervention it (the grid) will impede the UK’s ability to deliver on its climate targets,” the submission adds.

On top of being quoted connection dates as far off as 2037, developers are experiencing year long delays on current such agreements, according to SEUK.

It is also warns that the transition to the Future Systems Operator must be “ready to carry out its duties from day one” in order to avoid further operational hold-ups.

SEUK also calls on the government to follow Scotland’s lead by drawing up bespoke fees for renewable energy projects.

It says the current structure of planning fees do not reflect the true complexity or cost to local planning authorities of processing solar planning applications.

The response recommends that the government could rework the planning fees structure so that they are technology specific and based on councils’ actual workload dealing with solar and other renewable energy applications.

It adds that it would be sensible for England and Wales to follow the approach in Scotland where energy generation is split out from residential and non-residential development in the planning fee structure.

Within this energy generation category, solar has its own fee schedule, which is capped over a certain threshold, in Scotland.

SEUK also strongly recommends that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, which oversees planning, should look into additional financing mechanisms to ensure councils have the resources to deal in a timely manner with problems, such as shortages of ecology specialists, who are often required to handle solar applications.