ENA launches general election manifesto

Energy Networks Association (ENA) has launched its 2024 general election manifesto, setting out what a new government needs to proritise to help ensure Britain’s energy keeps flowing and meet 2050 decarbonisation goals.

The manifesto outlines four key priorities:

1. Upgrade the planning system

On average, construction of new transmission infrastructure takes 10 years, with the first seven years bogged down in planning. The ENA said “it’s time to introduce robust strategic spatial planning of energy infrastructure while streamlining and expediting the planning system to accelerate development of new projects and upgrades to existing infrastructure”.

2. Reform the connections process to accelerate clean energy projects

Over the last five years, almost 10GW of clean generation and interconnection have been connected to the transmission network in England and Wales alone. But, the ENA said that “as the result of an outdated process, the connections pipeline now sits at more than 12x what is needed to hit our net zero targets”.

It added: “We have seen significant progress through government and industry initiatives, but further action is needed to ensure the quick connection of viable clean energy projects”.

3. Create a stable policy and regulatory environment to unlock investment and supply chain capacity for the long term

The ENA said networks have driven more than £150bn in investment since the early 1990s, and its members were set to invest £33bn more into the system—£22bn into electricity distribution (2023-2028) and nearly £11bn into transmission (2021-2026).

“For sustained investment and to give a clear signal to the supply chain, we need a clear, consistent and enduring policy and regulation environment,” the ENA said.

4. Support evolution of regulation

The ENA said it “backs the current model for network regulation, RIIO” and that it had been “great for customers”. But, it added “evolving the framework is crucial to meet future goals like net zero, decarbonisation and economic growth”.

It said: “The next government should ensure our regulatory regime can continue to deliver a grid fit for 2050 by ensuring our networks are financeable and maintain the gold standard of investability”.

Lawrence Slade, Chief Executive, Energy Networks Association, concluded:

“Our networks are the enabler of the UK’s energy transition. With a month to go until the polls open, our manifesto sets out what we’ll need from the next government to accelerate progress.

“There’s widespread recognition and appetite to upgrade the planning system, further reform grid connections and enable decarbonisation. Getting this right means unlocking investment, jobs and supply chain opportunities for the years ahead.”

Image from Shutterstock

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