Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of reprioritising the grid connection queue to favour viable projects with planning consent over (a) stalled and (b) speculative projects that have booked grid capacity.

Government is working at pace with Ofgem, the Electricity System Operator (ESO), and network companies to accelerate electricity network connections. The ESO is developing proposals with stakeholders to raise requirements to obtain and retain a connection agreement. Under these proposals, stalled or speculative projects that cannot demonstrate sufficient progress would be removed from the connection queue and capacity reallocated to viable projects.

The ESO expects to submit its proposals to Ofgem in December 2024, for a decision in spring 2025.