Grid capacity in Wales

Welsh Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 1 Feb 2022 Closed: 16 Oct 2023 Parliament page
The Committee has launched an inquiry which will explore the implications of grid capacity issues for the energy sector in Wales, particularly in relation to Wales meeting its net zero targets. Read inquiry launch and terms of reference
14 Recommendations
19 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
4 Events
Activity timeline 10 events
24 Jan
2023
Report published
21 Oct
2022
Report published
8 Jun
2022
Oral evidence
8 Jun
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
18 May
2022
Oral evidence
18 May
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 5, Palace of Westminster
27 Apr
2022
Oral evidence
27 Apr
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 5, Palace of Westminster
16 Mar
2022
Oral evidence
16 Mar
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 5, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
8 Jun 2022
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Oral evidence
Paul Van Heyningen · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Rt Hon Greg Hands MP · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
18 May 2022
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Oral evidence
Julie James MS · Welsh Government
27 Apr 2022
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Oral evidence
Ben Godfrey · Western Power Distribution Huub den Rooijen · The Crown Estate Julian Leslie · National Grid ESO Malcolm Bebbington · Scottish Power Peter Bingham · Ofgem Roisin Quinn · National Grid Electricity Transmission
16 Mar 2022
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Oral evidence
Chris Williams · Industry Wales Jon O'Sullivan · EDF Renewables Rhys Wyn Jones · RenewableUK Robert Procter · Community Energy Wales Tom Glover · RWE Generation
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First Report - Grid Capacity in Wales HC 218 21 Oct 2022 33 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
14 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Acknowledged
First Report - Grid Capacity in Wa…
We have heard that there are constraints on both the distribution and transmission grids in...
We have heard that there are constraints on both the distribution and transmission grids in Wales. Julie James MS told us Wales does not have the grid capacity it needs “right now”. However, Rt Hon Greg Hands MP told us … Read more
Government Response
The government recognises the challenges faced in Wales and evidence provided and states that network regulation is a matter for Ofgem.
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2 Recommendation Acknowledged
First Report - Grid Capacity in Wa…
We recommend that the Government explain the timescales of “today” and “tomorrow” in the context...
We recommend that the Government explain the timescales of “today” and “tomorrow” in the context of grid capacity in Wales. Further to this we recommend that the Government explains the evidence for its statement that the electricity grid in Wales … Read more
Government Response
The government recognises the challenges faced in Wales and evidence provided and states that network regulation is a matter for Ofgem.
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3 Conclusion Acknowledged
First Report - Grid Capacity in Wa…
To ensure that communities and business in Wales can decarbonise in line with government targets,...
To ensure that communities and business in Wales can decarbonise in line with government targets, grid infrastructure must be able to meet the projected increase in demand for electricity. The evidence we received suggested that the grid in Wales will … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of grid infrastructure to meet the projected increase in electricity demand. They reference the British Energy Security Strategy (BESS) and the appointment of an Electricity Networks Commissioner but do not commit to specific actions to address the identified issue.
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5 Recommendation Acknowledged
First Report - Grid Capacity in Wa…
We recommend that the UK Government task the new Electricity Networks Commissioner to determine the...
We recommend that the UK Government task the new Electricity Networks Commissioner to determine the grid infrastructure necessary to enable industry, communities and businesses in Wales to decarbonise heat and transport in line with net zero targets.
Government Response
The government is reducing timelines for delivering strategic onshore transmission network infrastructure and appointed an Electricity Networks Commissioner, who is leading a project to identify areas where improvements could be made.
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6 Conclusion Acknowledged
First Report - Grid Capacity in Wa…
We recognise the strengths of an electricity grid that serves the whole of Great Britain.
We recognise the strengths of an electricity grid that serves the whole of Great Britain. However, we conclude that there are distinct challenges and opportunities relating to grid infrastructure in Wales that require specific focus and intervention from the UK … Read more
Government Response
The Government recognises distinct challenges and opportunities relating to grid infrastructure in Wales and is taking various actions to support stakeholder engagement and coordinated and strategic electricity grid network design with the Welsh Government represented on OTNR governance forums.
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7 Conclusion Acknowledged
First Report - Grid Capacity in Wa…
The Committee welcomes that Celtic Sea projects have been included in the list of infrastructure...
The Committee welcomes that Celtic Sea projects have been included in the list of infrastructure projects in the UK Government’s Growth Plan and notes the recent decision by The Crown Estate to seek to accelerate the leasing process where possible. … Read more
Government Response
The Government recognises different regions have different challenges and is taking various actions to support stakeholder engagement and coordinated and strategic electricity grid network design, citing Welsh Government representation on OTNR governance forums and direct engagement with the Welsh Government.
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11 Conclusion
First Report - Grid Capacity in Wa…
Larger companies have a financial advantage linked to scale, whereas smaller energy projects are often...
Larger companies have a financial advantage linked to scale, whereas smaller energy projects are often reliant on the development of larger projects and the availability of spare capacity once these have been completed.
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15 Conclusion Acknowledged
First Report - Grid Capacity in Wa…
There is a multiplicity of different bodies involved in securing planning consent for grid infrastructure...
There is a multiplicity of different bodies involved in securing planning consent for grid infrastructure and this process needs to be streamlined. We welcome the commitment to cutting processing times by fifty per cent and appreciate the challenge that this … Read more
Government Response
The Government recognizes the need to streamline the planning consent process and is amending the energy National Policy Statements (NPSs) and working with Ofgem to expedite the regulatory approvals process.
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17 Conclusion
First Report - Grid Capacity in Wa…
The planning consent process has created a queue of renewable generation projects in Wales to...
The planning consent process has created a queue of renewable generation projects in Wales to which grid capacity has been reserved before planning permission has been granted.
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18 Conclusion
First Report - Grid Capacity in Wa…
The UK Government should work with National Grid ESO, NGET, the DNOs and Ofgem to...
The UK Government should work with National Grid ESO, NGET, the DNOs and Ofgem to revise consenting processes to align the allocation of grid capacity with the application for planning permission. National Grid’s work should be expedited on reviewing commercial … Read more
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27 Recommendation Acknowledged
First Report - Grid Capacity in Wa…
The Government should incentivise energy companies and transmission infrastructure owners to provide benefits to communities...
The Government should incentivise energy companies and transmission infrastructure owners to provide benefits to communities hosting network assets. Communities should be directly consulted on the benefits they would like to receive. A starting presumption 40 Grid capacity in Wales should … Read more
Government Response
The government states that it has already committed in the BESS to review community benefit options for electricity network infrastructure, and is currently engaging with stakeholders to explore a more standardised approach to local community benefit packages.
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30 Recommendation Acknowledged
First Report - Grid Capacity in Wa…
In order to utilise the opportunities for renewable energy generation in Wales a system of...
In order to utilise the opportunities for renewable energy generation in Wales a system of anticipatory investment in grid infrastructure needs to be created and implemented urgently. In the government response to this report, we request further information on the … Read more
Government Response
The Government is supportive of Ofgem's work to ensure its network price control is more forward-looking and enables strategic investment ahead of need. They regularly engage with Ofgem to understand their work on electricity network price controls and welcome the agile approach to regulation to enable strategic investment at the distribution network level across Great Britain.
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32 Recommendation Acknowledged
First Report - Grid Capacity in Wa…
Due to the urgency of the situation the UK Government needs to take control of...
Due to the urgency of the situation the UK Government needs to take control of electricity grid network design by setting deadlines and targets for Ofgem, grid Grid capacity in Wales 41 infrastructure owners and other significant bodies including National … Read more
Government Response
The government states its commitment to delivering a secure, resilient, net-zero network, engaging with stakeholders and speeding up planning processes, but provides no specific commitments beyond ongoing engagement and existing plans.
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33 Recommendation Acknowledged
First Report - Grid Capacity in Wa…
As well as considering the grid in Wales as part of a Great Britain enterprise,...
As well as considering the grid in Wales as part of a Great Britain enterprise, the UK Government must recognise the distinctive challenges and opportunities associated with the grid in Wales. The UK Government should engage directly and regularly with … Read more
Government Response
The Government recognizes the distinct challenges and opportunities in Wales and states that the Welsh Government is represented on OTNR governance forums, with ongoing engagement to deliver projects and develop strategic network planning exercises.
Wales Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 30 of 14 classified
Accepted 13
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 11
Deferred 1
Rejected 4
Total 14 recs + 19 conclusions