
Large-scale rooftop solar projects in UK benefit from new NESO proposal
In a significant proposal aimed at accelerating the energy transition, the UK’s National Energy System Operator (NESO) has proposed raising the threshold for Transmission Impact Assessments (TIA) from 1 MW to 5 MW. This modification, put forward as an urgent change, seeks to reduce bureaucratic obstacles that have delayed or blocked numerous solar energy projects in the country, potentially benefiting both large-scale rooftop systems and small ground-mounted installations.
Crucial reform for solar energy
Currently, projects over 1 MW must undergo costly and complicated transmission impact assessments, which have significantly delayed their development. NESO’s proposal aims to remove this barrier, speeding up the grid connection process and allowing projects below the new 5 MW threshold to bypass the additional "Gate 2" process, which requires land rights validation and alignment with the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan.
The impact of this measure will be substantial, as NESO estimates that around 400 distributed generation projects will be freed from the "Gate 2" requirements, speeding up their implementation. This proposal comes sooner than expected and is anticipated to contribute to the "solar rooftop revolution" promised by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.
Positive reactions from the solar industry
The UK solar industry has welcomed the move. Chris Hewett, CEO of Solar Energy UK, commented: "Reducing barriers for renewable energy is always a welcome move, and we are delighted to see this announcement come earlier than anticipated. This will be a real economic boon, especially for large-scale rooftop projects and potentially for small-scale ground-mounted systems."
Although the proposal will apply only to England and Wales, a similar modification has already been implemented in Scotland, where the distribution network raised the TIA threshold, speeding up 35 projects in the northern part of the country. This change in England and Wales will align the region with procedures already adopted in Scotland, signalling a greater expansion of solar energy.
Accelerating commercial solar energy deployment
This initiative is expected to greatly accelerate the installation of solar panels on warehouses and other commercial buildings. In fact, two years ago, the UK Warehousing Association, in collaboration with Solar Energy UK, estimated that the sector could install up to 15 GW of solar energy if grid connection challenges were resolved.
Along with this measure, NESO has also announced plans to pause grid connection applications from the end of this month as it prepares to roll out additional reforms to speed up the connection of the most viable and advanced projects.
The reform is seen as a key step toward expanding renewable energy, particularly solar, in line with government objectives to reduce carbon emissions and ensure a cleaner, cheaper, and more secure energy supply.
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