Lack of grid capacity is holding back renewables delivery, particularly for the solar sector in Scotland.
Writing in The Scottish Farmer, Jamie Storry, National Sales Manager for Emtec, said “Urgent action is required to enable the deployment of on-site renewables in Scotland and further throughout the UK. The perfect environment exists to encourage their installation: the political will, planning policy, financial incentives and green credentials are all there. The key component missing is grid capacity.”
The renewables sector has urged action on this issue for more than a decade, but distribution network operators continue to be one of the biggest barriers to the deployment of renewable electricity generation. In Scotland, grid connection can be particularly challenging even near to the Glasgow/Edinburgh corridor, which itself is near capacity.
Mr Storry is particularly concerned about “behind the metre” systems, designed to offset a site’s grid-bought electricity consumption to save money.
Systems such as these can have an immediate and beneficial impact on businesses cash flow – and they can ease grid capacity.
“A favourite stock defence of the [distribution network operators] is that they “never say no” to a connection request.” Mr Storry says that “whilst this is technically true, they just create a prohibitive barrier to the project.”
Mr Storry cited recent examples, including:
- A planned 1MWp solar system, where the electricity would mostly be consumed on-site, was reduced to 200kWp because of constraints.
- A large commercial system for an agricultural supply business was advised that it could not be connected until 2032. (This organisation’s electricity bill has quadrupled since last year and the proposed PV system would immediately reduce their reliance on the grid by 45%.)
Mr Storry said, “Urgent action is required, but I am afraid we will not get it unless grid capacity is recognised as the national scandal that it is.”