Electricity Grid Capacity 2025-07-15
2025-07-15
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Questions & Answers
Q1
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Context
Local plans in Bicester and Woodstock anticipate significant new employment sites for job creation and economic growth. Tritax Big Box has expressed interest in installing solar panels on 100% of usable roof areas but faces difficulties getting a permit to generate electricity or consent to export to the grid, currently expecting only to install panels on 25%.
What steps are being taken to increase electricity grid capacity? In my constituency, Tritax Big Box wants to put solar panels on 100% of usable roof areas for new buildings but expects to cover only 25%. They cannot get a permit to generate or export electricity. How can we turn this into a win-win opportunity?
Our ambition is to see solar panels on as many rooftops across the country as possible, making it a win-win. I am happy to discuss this with the hon. Gentleman if he writes to me with specifics. We are also looking at reforming processes to ensure more power can be generated and exported.
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Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Select Committee report highlighted inconsistency in guidance and energy plans over which comes first—the grid connection or the planning consent. This inconsistency hinders increasing electricity generation and grid capacity.
The challenges of increasing electricity grid capacity include getting planning consent and grid connections. The Select Committee's recent report pointed out inconsistencies between grid connection requirements and planning consents, leading to delays. Will the Minister address this inconsistency?
We need to look at aligning processes where they are not coherent. We also aim to bring together strategic spatial energy plans, holistic network design, and land use frameworks to ensure coherent planning across the country.
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