Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Grid Capacity

Tuesday 10 June 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial reforms prioritize projects ready to connect to the grid and have strategic importance.
  • The connections queue includes more than 740 GW of capacity, much of which does not currently exist.
  • Building more grid infrastructure is necessary to support new developments and businesses.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sarah Green Lib Dem Chesham and Amersham
Energy
Context

Some projects wait up to 15 years to connect to the grid, and there are concerns about a 'zombie waiting list'.

Question

I thank the Minister for his response. He will know that some projects are waiting up to 15 years to connect to the grid, and the Secretary of State earlier referred to the zombie waiting list. Could I push him further and ask precisely what concrete steps the Department is taking to drastically cut that waiting list?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Michael Shanks)

We have outlined significant reforms to the connections queue. There is currently more than 740 GW in that connection queue, most of which does not really exist. We prioritise projects that are ready to connect to the grid and have strategic importance to the grid through our reforms. The clean power action plan will drive forward these strategic outcomes. This work is under way with the National Energy System Operator considering those proposals, freeing up a huge number of projects from the connections queue for new ones.

Answered
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Q2 Olly Glover Lib Dem Didcot and Wantage
Science & Technology Energy Environment
Context

Sites in Olly Glover's constituency host scientific and high-tech businesses. The Future Oxfordshire Partnership has raised concerns about grid constraints causing delays to decarbonisation activities.

Question

In my Oxfordshire constituency of Didcot and Wantage, sites at Culham, Harwell campus and Milton Park host a growing range of scientific and high-tech businesses, including a proposed artificial intelligence growth zone at Culham. Major housing growth also continues, and the new Valley Park development will use air source heat pumps. However, the Future Oxfordshire Partnership has raised concerns that grid constraints are causing significant delays to decarbonisation activities and creation of local power grids. What steps will the Minister take to address these problems and create an electricity grid fit for 21st-century Oxfordshire?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Michael Shanks)

There are two parts to addressing these problems. First, connections reform prioritises projects that are strategically relevant and ready to deliver. Second, building significantly more grid infrastructure is necessary. Members need a practical approach: support new grid infrastructure to unlock the potential of demand projects like AI growth zones.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide concrete steps or timelines for addressing specific issues in Oxfordshire but outlined general principles.

How: Working With Partners, Looking At This

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