Consultation outcome

The treatment of electricity storage within the planning system

• From: Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
• Published: 14 January 2019
• Last updated: 15 October 2019 — See all updates

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

This consultation has concluded

Detail of outcome

Based on the responses and evidence received, the government is conducting 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.

The follow up consultation contains the summary of responses and government response to this consultation. It also includes an annex containing a preliminary analysis of the potential costs and benefits of our proposals. Draft legislation implementing the proposal has been published alongside the follow up consultation.

Detail of feedback received

We received 31 responses from a range of stakeholders, including:

• storage developers
• industry bodies
• local authorities
• energy suppliers / generators

There was broad support for the new composite threshold for storage co-located with another form of generation. However the majority of stakeholders disagreed with the proposal to retain the 50MW NSIP capacity threshold.

The evidence submitted has informed the government’s follow up consultation and amended proposals to carve out electricity storage, except pumped hydro, from the NSIP regime in England and Wales.

---

Original consultation

Summary

We're seeking views on proposals for amending the treatment of electricity storage within the planning system.

This consultation ran from
10am on 14 January 2019 to 11:45pm on 25 March 2019

Consultation description

The Progress Update to the Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan, published in October 2018, stated that we would consult on the treatment of electricity storage within the planning system.

This consultation considers and seeks views on the following proposals:

• to retain the 50MW Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) threshold that applies to standalone storage projects
• to amend the Planning Act 2008 to establish a new NSIP capacity threshold for composite projects including storage and another form of generation, such that a composite project would only fall under the NSIP regime where either the capacity of the storage element is more than 50MW or the capacity excluding any electricity storage is more than 50MW

The proposals outlined in this consultation are intended to apply to England only.

The consultation includes an annex containing a preliminary analysis of the potential costs and benefits of our proposals.

Documents

Consultation on proposals regarding the planning system for electricity storage

PDF, 452 KB, 33 pages

Published 14 January 2019
Last updated 15 October 2019 + show all updates

1. 15 October 2019

   Follow up consultation published, containing government response to this consultation.

2. 14 January 2019

   First published.