UK Prioritises Clean Energy Grid Access in Bold 40 Billion pounds Investment Push
UK speeds up clean energy grid access, with the aim of releasing 40bn pounds a year of private investment and reducing delays for renewables under new reforms.
In a groundbreaking move, the UK government is going to make clean energy schemes the top priority for connecting to the grid to trigger 40 billion pounds a year in private investment and spur the country’s transition to green energy. Ofgem will reportedly endorse the National Energy System Operator’s (NESO) overhaul plan today to simplify the process of grid connection for firms providing renewable energy.
Today, businesses take up to 15 years to connect to the grid and the waiting list has fourfold over five years. Such delays have stunted investment in clean energy with promising businesses grid-locked. The new policy will cut “zombie projects” that are neither ready nor aligned with the nation’s ambitions, making space for essential shovel-ready projects.
The reforms are part of the UK government’s broader “Plan for Change” to increase economic growth, drive jobs and provide long-term energy security. Since July 2024, 43.7 billion pounds worth private investment has been pledged in the UK’s clean energy sectors, with data centres alone accounting for 38 billion pounds.
We're introducing the most radical changes in a generation to the way projects connect to the electricity grid.
— Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (@energygovuk) April 15, 2025
Priority will be given to the generation and storage projects that are most viable and that will help us reach clean power by 2030.
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Future industries like AI, wind, solar and EV infrastructure will be expedited to gain grid access. The strategy will save on bills by not spending tens of billions of pounds reinforcing the grid unnecessarily and saving 5 billion pounds for bill payers.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband emphasized that the reforms will accelerate the UK’s clean power goals, stating “These changes will axe zombie projects and fast-track high growth firms to get Britain building again.”
The proposal, endorsed by NESO and Ofgem, represents a landmark step towards delivering clean power by 2030 while re-establishing Britain as a secure, stable place for international clean energy investment.
