The planning system for electricity storage: follow up consultation
Read the full outcome
Detail of outcome
The government will legislate to remove electricity storage, except pumped hydro, from the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) regime in England and Wales. This means the primary consenting route for electricity storage (except pumped hydro) in England will be under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA). In Wales, planning decisions for electricity storage (except pumped hydro) of any size will generally be consented by the relevant Local Planning Authority under the TCPA regime, whereas currently this is only the case for electricity storage (except pumped hydro) below 350 MW.
Electricity storage is a key technology in the transition to a smarter and more flexible energy system and will play an important role in helping to reduce emissions to net-zero by 2050. These changes will make it simpler for large scale storage facilities to seek planning permission, helping to bring forward larger projects supporting more efficient grid balancing and management of intermittent renewable generation.
To achieve this, we will introduce 2 statutory instruments, one under the Planning Act 2008 and one under the Electricity Act 1989. These will begin their passage through Parliament on 14 July, when the first order (under the Planning Act 2008) will be laid before Parliament.
Detail of feedback received
We received 28 responses from a range of stakeholders, including:
- storage developers
- industry bodies
- energy suppliers / generators
- other (including a university and charity)
There was considerable support for removing most types of storage from the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) regime.
Original consultation
Consultation description
In January 2019 we held a consultation on the treatment of electricity storage within the planning system.
Based on the responses and evidence received, we are now running a follow up consultation on proposals to carve out electricity storage, except pumped hydro, from the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) regime in England and Wales. This new consultation contains a summary of responses and the government’s response to the first consultation.
Under the proposals this type of storage would generally be consented by the relevant Local Planning Authority in England. Decisions for such projects of any size in Wales would generally fall to be consented by the relevant Local Planning Authority under the TCPA regime, whereas currently this is only the case for electricity storage (except pumped hydro) below 350MW.
The proposals outlined within this consultation apply to England and Wales only.
We have included a preliminary analysis of the potential costs and benefits of the proposals, and have published draft legislation implementing the proposal here.
Documents
Updates to this page
Last updated 14 July 2020 + show all updates
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Government response published.
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First published.