As part of the Chancellor’s series of meetings with the UK’s
growth sectors, , and the Energy Secretary
met with industry leaders
in No11 Downing Street this morning to discuss the implementation
of the Autumn Statement announcements on grids and renewable
energy.
They discussed the government’s ambitious plans to accelerate the
delivery of new electricity network infrastructure and speed up
grid connections as well as a broad package of support to the
renewables sector including the Green Industries Growth
Accelerator which will deliver up to £960m of supply chain
funding to five clean energy priority sectors.
The Chancellor set out how they are also engaging with industry
in the delivery of the Transmission Acceleration Action Plan
which will halve the time it takes to build new critical powers
lines from 14 years to seven.
Industry leaders, including representatives from network
operators and renewables firms, shared views on the government’s
new approach to the grid connections queue and how this can
improve investor confidence in the UK. They also discussed how
the first ever spatial plan for energy infrastructure could play
a useful role in the infrastructure and planning landscape.
The Chancellor closed the meeting by emphasising the importance
of ongoing work with network companies and the renewables sector
as a key vehicle that will help build a stronger economy,
including through an affordable transition to domestic,
sustainable energy.
Notes to editors
- The Chancellor and Energy Secretary met with Ofgem,
Electricity System Operator, National Grid PLC, Scottish Power
Energy Networks, SSE Networks, Energy Systems Catapult, Octopus
Energy, Siemens Gamesa and Siemens Energy, SeAH Wind, RWE and
Ørsted.
