Between 2018 and 2023, over 60% of renewable energy project applications in Great Britain did not advance through the planning stage.
That’s according to Cornwall Insight’s Renewables Pipeline Tracker, which noted that 63% of these projects were either abandoned, refused, withdrawn, or expired without further action.
Currently, only 20% of these applications are still active, with statuses that range from planning submitted, to awaiting construction or under construction. Despite an increase in the overall number of applications submitted for renewable projects, the success rate remains notably low across all regions of Great Britain, with none exceeding a 20% approval rate.
Industry analysts suggest that this low success rate may be attributed to a rise in speculative applications, where developers submit multiple proposals with the expectation that most will not proceed. This practice not only inflates the queue for grid connections but also complicates the progression of viable projects.
Lucy Dolton, Assets and Infrastructure Manager at Cornwall Insight, commented, “The UK has set ambitious targets to boost renewable energy capacity. These figures reveal a substantial shortfall in meeting these targets, something which is largely driven by the slow pace of progress in deploying renewable energy projects.
“The total capacity of projects in the grid connection queue is currently well in excess of what is necessary for net zero generation capacity. However, considering the lengthy process for projects to progress through planning and gain grid connections, and the current volume of projects that are unsuccessful, the amount of this capacity that will ultimately connect could be much lower than the pipeline of projects suggests.
“It’s clear that an increasing number of the applications submitted are speculative, raising the numbers in the connections queue, and creating obstacles for projects that are mostly ready to connect.
“It is positive to see the work being undertaken across industry regarding reforming the connections process, addressing grid congestion for both new projects and the existing connection queue. The scale of the challenge is significant, but timely and measured changes will be key for maintaining momentum in the deployment of renewables across the UK.”
There have been numerous moves made by National Grid to try and free-up the connections queue, including offering an amnesty for those plans that are not ready to connect. However, this doesn’t solve the issue surrounding the sheer volume of renewable projects that are being rejected by local councils – that includes projects like this one in Kent.
Some in the industry have been calling for a streamlined planning process for renewable energy projects, which could alleviate the number of speculative applications – as developers would have more certainty regarding which projects will ultimately succeed.
While Labour is reportedly planning a ‘planning reform blitz’ if it wins the 2024 General Election, those plans appear to be aimed more at housebuilders, meaning there will still be much uncertainty as to whether the UK can meet its ambitious goals surrounding the installation of renewable generation.