Grid connections for businesses that will deliver clean energy are set to be prioritised in the UK.<\/p>\n
\u2018Zombie\u2019 projects will no longer hold up the queue for grid connections so that the government can prioritise businesses that will drive growth and deliver energy security.<\/p>\n
Companies are currently waiting up to 15 years to be connected to the grid, leaving promising businesses \u2018grid-locked\u2019, and over the last five years, the grid connection queue has grown tenfold.<\/p>\n
The reforms will help unlock \u00a340bn a year of mainly private investment, growing the economy, creating jobs and raising living standards as a key part of the UK Government\u2019s Plan for Change.<\/p>\n
Over \u00a343bn has been invested in the UK\u2019s clean energy industry<\/p>\n
This builds on the latest figures showing that since July, the clean energy industry is now booming in Britain, with \u00a343.7bn of private investment<\/a> being announced into the UK\u2019s clean energy industries.<\/p>\n Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: \u201cIn an uncertain world, our message to the global clean energy industry is clear; come and build it in Britain because we are a safe haven. If you want certainty, stability and security when it comes to your investments, choose Britain.\u201d<\/p>\n Lack of access to grid connections is holding back investment<\/p>\n However, lack of access to grid connections has been a significant factor holding back new investment in UK industries.<\/p>\n The plan comes after the Prime Minister has said that a new era of global insecurity means that the government must go further and faster in reshaping the economy and that this requires a new muscular industrial policy that supports British industry to forge ahead.<\/p>\n