Oral Answers to Questions

Anna McMorrin Excerpts

Tuesday 18th April 2023 Commons Chamber

[Seema Malhotra (Feltham and Heston) (Lab/Co-op)]

8. What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of lead times for connecting renewable energy projects to the grid.

[Anna McMorrin (Cardiff North) (Lab)]

17. What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of lead times for connecting renewable energy projects to the grid.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Andrew Bowie)]

Reducing connection timescales is a high priority for the Government. We will publish a connections action plan in the summer, which will articulate actions by Government, Ofgem and network companies to accelerate network connections for renewable energy and other projects.

[Andrew Bowie]

I thank the hon. Lady for her question. It is interesting that she references Gordon Brown, because it was under his Administration that the decision was taken not to invest in new nuclear, which, by the way, would have solved part of the problem we find ourselves in right now. However, I think everyone in the House would acknowledge that the situation regarding grid connection times is not acceptable. That is why we have commissioned the Electricity Networks Commissioner, Nick Winser, to submit recommendations to the Government on how we accelerate delivery of network infrastructure. He will publish his report in June.

[Anna McMorrin]

The Minister completely failed to answer the question. The CEO of Solar Energy UK has said that solar infrastructure projects are being delayed into the 2030s—15 years or more—meaning that operators will not connect them to the grid. Renewable energy is cheap and will help to bring down the current absurd energy prices. Are the Government purposely trying to keep energy prices high and at the mercy of fossil fuels, firmly leading us on the highway to climate hell?

[Andrew Bowie]

Frankly, that question is utterly ridiculous. It is because of the Government’s investment in new renewable technology that we are powering ahead and leading the world in reaching our net zero obligations. Half our energy now comes from renewable sources. I have already acknowledged that the delays to grid connections are completely unacceptable, which is precisely why we commissioned Nick Winser to develop his report. We will be publishing his recommendations in June.