Scaling community energy for 2030
The UK is currently engaged in a massive, unprecedented effort to connect thousands of potential renewable energy projects - many of which are stuck in a years-long queue - to the national grid system, and to link the power they can generate with the areas where it is most needed.
In the third session of this inquiry, the Committee will consider what regulatory solutions and policy interventions could help minimise the high costs and long delays faced by community energy groups when seeking to connect to the grid. These groups are contributing to the national goal of achieving 8 gigawatts of community energy generation by 2030.
Meeting details
The Committee is examining how the right interventions could unlock the potential of community energy to deliver a significant share of the renewable power Britain needs to achieve homegrown energy security. It will hear from front-line groups about the challenges they face at both transmission and distribution levels- and the perceived lack of a level playing field between community energy groups and commercial developers.
Key questions include:
- How can we support and prioritise projects that are needed for 2030?
- Is the current voluntary approach to shared ownership of energy projects working to deliver the gigawatts required on the grid?
The session will also consider the perspective of commercial developers on the challenges of scaling community energy.