UK Parliament Presents the Planning and Infrastructure Bill for Energy Transition Discussion
The UK government's latest Planning and Infrastructure Bill, tabled before Parliament on March 11, 2025, is poised to revolutionise the nation's clean energy sector. Designed to expedite the delivery of key infrastructure, including electric vehicle (EV) charging networks and long-duration electricity storage (LDES), the Bill aims to streamline and speed up planning processes, reform the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) regime, and provide greater government intervention and support in planning.
One of the Bill's key objectives is to remove bottlenecks that typically delay infrastructure projects, vital for the timely deployment of EV charging networks and LDES facilities. This will be achieved by enhancing local authorities' capacity to handle infrastructure applications efficiently, with the addition of 300 extra planning officers.
The reforms also include updates to the electricity grid connection process, which should facilitate faster approvals and connections for large-scale energy projects. This is expected to be a significant boost for developers of EV charging and energy storage projects, as it will improve the investment climate and regulatory certainty in these sectors.
The Bill supports the Government’s Clean Power 2030 target by emphasizing that clean energy infrastructure must be built as quickly as possible. This priority is likely to underpin sustainable growth of both EV charging infrastructure and LDES, helping the UK meet its decarbonization goals.
Longer-term measures such as a ten-year infrastructure strategy and updated National Policy Statements provide more predictability for investors and supply chains in these sectors. This predictability is essential for the long-term success of the clean energy sector, as it helps underpin sustainable growth and investment.
In addition to these reforms, the Bill enables forestry authorities to use forestry land for the development of renewable energy, providing a potential boost to the sector.
The Bill's impact on the clean energy sector is far-reaching, with the potential to accelerate the rollout of EV charging points and energy storage facilities. While direct mentions of EV charging and LDES are not detailed explicitly in the publicly available summaries, the Bill’s broad reforms to infrastructure planning, electricity grid connections, and emphasis on clean power infrastructure clearly indicate a positive impact on these emerging energy technologies.
The reforms are expected to be taken forward imminently, including by legislation through the upcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill. The government has also announced financial benefits for those living near new electricity infrastructure, further incentivising the development of clean energy projects.
In Scotland, the government has proposed reforms to develop a robust, timely, and proportionate consenting process involving local communities and authorities, in response to its consultation on electricity infrastructure consenting. This will help ensure that the benefits of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill are felt across the UK.
The Bill's proposals for electricity infrastructure include reducing legal challenges, streamlining EV charging infrastructure, and encouraging investment in LDES. These proposals, combined with the Bill's broader aims, suggest a comprehensive approach to accelerating the UK's clean energy transition.
One of the most exciting aspects of the Bill is the new scheme to unlock investment into LDES, which could save £24bn of electricity system costs between 2030 and 2050. This scheme, which is expected to open its first application window in April 2025, could be a game-changer for the clean energy sector in the UK.
The Bill's provisions also extend to the commissioning period for offshore electricity transmission systems, and it removes the automatic trigger for public inquiries into energy projects. These changes are designed to expedite the process for installing EV charging infrastructure and building renewable energy infrastructure.
The Bill's potential benefits are not just financial. The grid-forming batteries, which are a key part of the LDES scheme, will reduce carbon emissions and secure the future resilience of the electricity network. The Blackhillock grid-forming battery site, located between Inverness and Aberdeen, is expected to lower consumer bills by over £170 million over 15 years.
In conclusion, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill represents a significant step forward in the UK's clean energy revolution. By facilitating quicker planning approvals, streamlining grid connection processes, and providing strategic policy support, the Bill will boost investment and delivery of electric vehicle charging infrastructure and long-duration electricity storage. This, in turn, will help the UK meet its clean energy goals and decarbonization efforts.
- The Bill's updates to the electricity grid connection process will facilitate faster approvals and connections for large-scale renewable energy projects, providing a significant boost for developers in the finance sector.
- The UK government's emphasis on clean energy infrastructure, as outlined in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, is likely to underpin sustainable growth of the renewable-energy industry, particularly in sectors like EV charging infrastructure and long-duration electricity storage.
