The research shows that the UK is investing four times more on renewable energy projects than on the electricity cables needed to connect them to the grid and consumers. In fact, for every pound the UK has spent on renewables it has spent only 25p on the cables and power lines, placing the UK eighth in an index of the world’s 10 biggest energy markets.
The report found that the UK is significantly behind Germany, Spain and Italy in constructing the electricity grids that are needed to support the growing number of renewable projects under construction, and is also behind China, the US, Australia and Brazil. The UK is only ahead of India and Japan.
The report, commissioned by ScottishPower, was published just days after it was revealed that the UK had been paying for wind turbines to be turned off during windy weather, due in part to not having enough grid infrastructure to carry electricity to where it was needed.
The UK would seem to be a victim of its success in rolling out renewables faster than other countries, leading to a grid that is, “creaking at the seams.”
Much of the blame is being put on the government’s planning and consenting regime so its recent call for fast-tracking of planning for economic infrastructure projects has been welcomed by the industry and regulators alike.
