There is a risk of a complete standstill for Scotland’s community energy sector following the results of the connection queue reform being announced by the National Energy System Operator (NESO).
The reform has been designed to streamline the process for projects connecting to the electricity network, based on the Clean Power 2030 plan. As part of the process, new regional grid capacity requirements for 2030 and 2035 have been set. In Scotland, the full capacity for wind, solar and battery have already been allocated up to 2035. One consequence of this is that new community-led projects – including projects that communities have already spent years developing – will be unable to get a connection.
Community-owned energy projects across Scotland have had a transformational impact in communities across Scotland, tackling fuel poverty, creating jobs and retaining economic value in communities. In 2024, Scottish community energy organisations contributed £9.9million to local community economies from organisational expenditure and community benefit funds.
Not only will the results of the connection reform prevent other communities across Scotland from benefitting in the same way; it will also make it almost impossible to hit the Scottish Government’s 2GW community and local energy target by 2030. With the UK Government also having a 2030 community and local energy goal (of 8GW) the likelihood is that opportunities for community energy – and all of the social and economic value that it brings – will be diverted to other parts of the UK, disadvantaging Scottish communities.
Read more about our three asks for unlocking the grid for community energy in Scotland, in partnership with Regen:
Potential Sector Standstill Under New Grid Connection Reform Process
