海角视频

Earlier this month, an independent report commissioned by the 海角视频 Government made the case for households living in the path of new electricity pylons to be given cash payments, as part of a series of initiatives to speed up the planning process and deliver projects faster.

The report also supported the use of 鈥渃ommunity payments鈥� for areas where new, visible infrastructure, such as substations, are built, which could be used to pay for local programmes, such as energy efficiency schemes or electric vehicle charging points.

The report鈥檚 author, the 海角视频鈥檚 first Electricity Networks Commissioner, Nick Winser, was unequivocal that the 海角视频鈥檚 efforts to hit net zero targets were being held back by the pace of new grid connections, an essential piece of the energy infrastructure jigsaw, as new wind and solar farms, as well as new nuclear stations, start coming online.

The queue for a 海角视频 grid connection is already the longest in Europe, while National Grid has warned that five times more power lines need to be built in the next seven years, than in the last 30, if we are to support a transition to greener energy.

The report has been a year in the making and the government has broadly welcomed its recommendations, having previously stated an objective of 鈥渉alving鈥� the 12-14 years it currently takes to build new power lines.

Support has also come from industry, with the Energy Networks Association, the industry body representing the 海角视频鈥檚 energy network operators, describing it as a 鈥渕ajor intervention鈥� from the commissioner that takes a long-term view of the whole energy system. The response from the National Infrastructure Commission was similarly positive, welcoming 鈥渁 single version of the truth鈥� on future network capacity and citing the need for 鈥渢ransformational change鈥� in our electricity network.

Introducing reforms that make it easier to consent new overhead power lines isn鈥檛 universally welcomed, however. Much has been made in the media of high-profile MPs, including 海角视频 Environment Secretary, Therese Coffey and former Home Secretary, Dame Priti Patel, opposing plans for new lines within their own constituencies, while campaign groups have criticised the use of community payments as 鈥減aying off鈥� communities with nominal sums, rather than investing in the right projects in the right locations.

Looking at the picture here in Wales, the debate often feels even more heated. As the Welsh Government pushes on towards its target of 100% of our electricity being delivered by renewable sources by 2035, there has been vocal opposition to wind turbine and pylon proposals right across the country, with visible protests at this year鈥檚 Eisteddfod and Royal Welsh Show.

The Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW) recently called for a pause on new onshore wind and ground-based solar farms, along with their accompanying grid connections, which it says are in danger of 鈥渋ndustrialising鈥� the Welsh countryside, arguing for a shift to offshore wind and rooftop solar installations in built up areas. It welcomed the move by Rural Affairs Minister, Lesley Griffiths, to block two solar farms near the Gwent Levels on bio-diversity grounds, but that decision is being challenged by the developers.

When Freshwater first got involved in delivering consultations on new energy and infrastructure projects, around two decades ago, the public was largely unaware of the science and many simply opposed plans 鈥榦n principle鈥�. The debate, as well as the climate science, has certainly moved on and people have a far greater understanding of the issues involved. But the challenge for developers to persuade individuals and communities to see the 鈥榖igger picture鈥�, when considering whether to support a project in their area, still remains.

The Winser Report advocates the use of payments as a means of reducing 鈥渨idespread opposition鈥� to strategically important projects. It also highlights the need for 鈥渢ransparent, respectful and efficient鈥� engagement with local communities, while warning that continued delays in grid upgrades have the real possibility of hitting the public in the pocket through rising energy bills.

The Welsh Government says it is committed to supporting 鈥渁 range of technologies鈥� to deliver our future electricity needs but also wants local communities to gain directly from energy generated in Wales. Some communities are already benefiting, such as those living near RWE鈥檚 wind farm in Brechfa Forest, who made 86 successful applications for more than 拢1m worth of funding in the first three years of a fund set up in 2018. Wales鈥檚 largest wind farm, Vattenfall鈥檚 Pen y Cymoedd, set up a community fund worth 拢1.8m per year until 2043 to benefit projects and communities in the upper reaches of the Neath, Afan, Rhondda and Cynon valleys.

But while public opinion in favour of renewable energy has grown steadily, with two thirds of respondents to a 2022 Opinium poll saying they would be happy for a windfarm to be built near them, many fear the sheer scale of the transmission challenge is already making pylons the new battleground for hearts and minds.

Meeting the energy infrastructure challenge will top the agenda when policy makers and leading industry experts meet in Cardiff at the beginning of October, for the annual Planning for Infrastructure in Wales conference, organised by our sister company, Waterfront.

Compensation for communities, sympathetic siting and innovative technology will all play a role in delivering the urgent grid upgrade needed, but effective communication, education and a willingness from communities to host local infrastructure as a matter of national need will remain a crucial part of the net zero mission.

Angharad Neagle is chief executive of Freshwater 海角视频, the Cardiff-headquartered communications consultancy.