Clean Power 2030: What you need to know

What is clean power 2030?

Clean Power 2030 is a plan by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to decarbonise the UK’s power system by 2030. The report sets out the challenging hurdles that need to be overcome and the benefits to consumers, the economy and society, including Britain’s energy security.

Chris Binns, Chartered Senior Town Planning Consultant at Tetra Tech, has summarised the key information on solar, battery storage and grid connection in relation to planning projects.

Batteries:

• The pathways see battery capacity increase from around 5 GW in 2023 to between 23 and 27 GW in 2030.

• The main role of batteries today is to provide within-day flexibility by cycling regularly to help match supply and demand. They also provide vital system services, like frequency response, for which their role is likely to grow up to 2030 as use of gas generation falls.

• The connections queue is currently oversubscribed. Delivery relies on reforms to the connections queue, planning issues being resolved, and market structures providing the right revenue opportunities.

Solar:

• Onshore wind and solar are the cheapest clean power options available, with largely complementary generation patterns and potential, in some cases, to locate away from transmission constraints, often by connecting to the distribution network. These can deploy at a faster rate than offshore wind and include smaller community-scale projects.

• The pathways see a trebling of solar from 15 GW to 47 GW by 2030 which means scaling up annual delivery.

• The distribution network will play an important role in the deployment of renewable generation, with 90% of solar capacities connected to the distribution network in our pathways. The 2030 connection queue has higher capacities of solar and onshore wind than required. The technologies are mature with an effective support mechanism in place.

Grid Expansion:

• Without grid expansion, it won’t be possible to fully utilise renewables and gas will be needed instead. With no grid expansion, gas generation would only fall to 8.1% of generation, rather than to below 5% as needed for a clean power system, despite progress in other areas.

• The work needed to connect individual power generators, meet demand requirements, and ensure a safe, secure, and resilient network will be identified in the reformed connections process. The high number of network reinforcements, connections and associated enabling network/substation projects need a coordinated whole system approach to considering the network planning/delivery implications at transmission and distribution levels.

• Delivery of the 2030 transmission network is underway based on existing recommendations and plans. In the Pathway to 2030 report, 94 wider transmission projects were recommended across Great Britain. This has since been revised to 88 projects, after detailed design work by transmission owners (TOs) and NESO. To date, 9 of these have been built and 68 are in development, with expected delivery dates by 2030 or earlier. 3 projects identified as being critical to clean power have a current delivery date after 2030.

• Transmission and distribution network investment is essential to connect generation, ensure system security, and facilitate power transfer from generation sites to demand centres. The wider transmission network is crucial for clean power. Local network projects will be identified based on specific generation units through the reformed connection process, and may also identify other projects to ensure a safe and secure system.

• NESO will continue exploring grid-enhancing technologies (GETS). GETS are hardware and software solutions that help capacity increase along existing lines, allowing further capacity to be used ahead of and in parallel with network upgrading and new build. Some of these have already been deployed (e.g. smart valves) and more are being explored.

• Speeding up delivery of strategic transmission is critical but challenging. Bringing forward delivery dates on key projects would require accelerating and fast-tracking Development Consent Order processes, and changes to the Town and Country Planning Act.

• 3 projects have been identified as critical to delivering a network that supports the clean power pathways, but all have delivery dates after 2030. Support is needed to bring these projects forward for 2030 delivery, including action on removing the key challenges to delivery – regulatory funding, supply chain and accelerated planning processes.

Distribution Networks for Clean Power:

• Distribution networks are critical for meeting clean power 2030 efficiently. Connecting additional clean power sources like solar will play an important role in displacing the need for unabated gas.

• Developing new distribution network infrastructure (including substations and circuits) is generally easier than transmission infrastructure due to several factors:

Planning: Generally, fewer planning and DCO applications are required at lower voltages, as many new distribution connections need upgrades to existing overhead lines rather than new routes and are operating at lower voltages.

Regulatory processes: The regulatory and permitting processes for distribution networks are often shorter than those for transmission networks, expediting approval and construction timelines.

Connections:

• Delivery of a clean power system in 2030 will require an installed generation and storage capacity of around 210-220 GW, and significant levels of new demand connections to the electricity network across transmission and distribution.

• The timeline for connections reform runs through to spring 2025, after which significant work is required to issue new connection offers in line with the updated rules and government’s plan for clean power by 2030.

• Central to the proposed connections reform is the creation of a direct link between the technology and capacity needed, by location, in the government’s plan for clean power by 2030, and the connection offers that are made.

Critical Enablers:

Planning, consenting and communities: Huge volumes of projects must pass through the planning system to start construction on rapid timescales, while maintaining community consent. Construction for many of the projects must begin in the next 6-24 months to be in place by 2030, and upcoming planning reforms will need to be streamlined.

Planning, Consenting and Communities:

Where are we now?

• Most of the energy infrastructure required to deliver clean power by 2030 is already in the development cycle.
• An independent report commissioned for ESO in spring 2024 suggested that only 10 GW of solar and 10 GW of battery storage had obtained the relevant planning consent as of April 2024.
• Communities will be at the heart of the delivery of net zero in Great Britain, and the planning process is a key route through. They can have their say on plans for energy infrastructure in their area and raise concerns about the impact on their local environment.

Where do we need to get to?

• Unprecedented volumes of clean energy infrastructure projects are needed to meet the Government’s energy ambitions.
• Construction for many of these projects needs to begin in the next 6-24 months.
• Considering the time it has taken for significant energy projects to get planning consent in recent years, those timelines look challenging.
• Engaging and bringing along local communities that host energy infrastructure will remain key, both in enabling delivery and maintaining widespread public support for the clean power mission.

What are the challenges and opportunities?

• There are challenges around societal and consumer acceptance, engaging local communities, resourcing of local planning authorities and statutory consultees, ensuring the right data is available to make decisions and the experience of consenting major energy projects.
• Improvement opportunities exist through coordination between developers in the building and development of infrastructure, engagement with statutory consultees, and the Government’s upcoming planning reforms.
• The Government has taken steps in the planning system to enable clean power – including the removal of the moratorium on onshore wind in England, and the recently announced joint UK and Scottish Government consultation on changes to the planning regime to support energy infrastructure.

Actions needed to drive change

• The planning and consenting processes for energy infrastructure must be shorter to ensure delivery by 2030. The current approach can take over 2 years for approval on some projects, and poses a significant delivery risk.
• To be built in time, the next 6-24 months are critical for projects to clear planning and move into construction. Expediting the planning process, while maintaining community consent, will be vital to delivering the clean power mission, and maintaining momentum after 2030.
• Improved coordination and transparency between developers and statutory consultees, and ensuring there is capacity in the system will help enable acceleration. As will cooperation between all levels of government: national, devolved and local.
• Community consent and maintaining public support is vital to net zero delivery. Those asked to host energy infrastructure should continue to be engaged throughout the development process, even as it accelerates, and feel tangible benefit from the critical role their areas play in building a clean, secure and low-cost electricity system.

Wider Environmental and Local Community Impacts

• Power projects have significant impact on the wider environment and local communities, making it crucial to consider these factors in their development.
• Conducting thorough environmental impact assessments, engaging with stakeholders and affected local communities and implementing mitigation measures can help minimise negative impacts and enhance project sustainability.
• The planning and consenting process for new generating sites and infrastructure development covers local environmental factors such as noise, vibration, visual impact, flood risk, heritage, ecology and waste management.
• In a clean power system, more power needs to be transported over greater distances. This requires various technologies, like overhead lines, underground lines and subsea cables. Each have distinct characteristics and environmental impacts, but it is possible to minimise impacts. Having a clear plan for clean power allows for considerations for the environment holistically across the programme, making choices that reduce impacts to the environment and communities, and support nature positive solutions.
• Strengthened engagement between developers, local authorities and communities is vital for building trust, addressing community concerns and incorporating them into network plans to minimise overall impact on local people.

Tetra Tech’s understanding of emerging trends in developments combine practical advice and local drivers to achieve outcomes that meet client needs across small and large developments, regardless of location or complexity.

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