Ofgem Greenlights Regional Energy Plans, But Concerns Grow Over Wales' Grid Capacity

Press Release
7^th April 2025

Ofgem Greenlights Regional Energy Plans, But Concerns Grow Over Wales’ Grid Capacity

Ofgem has approved the Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) to address energy supply and demand across the UK. However, CPRW, the Welsh Countryside Charity, warns that Wales faces an overloaded energy grid due to multiple uncoordinated projects. With a planning timeline stretching to 2027, CPRW calls for urgent action to prevent unnecessary developments that could overwhelm infrastructure and damage the Welsh countryside.

News that energy regulator Ofgem has given the green light for energy plans to be drawn up for Scotland, Wales and England, by the independent National Energy System Operator (NESO), are certainly to be welcomed, with the plans identifying what needs to be done in each area to protect security of supply, meet rising electricity demand and help to deliver a cost-effective route to net zero.

However, in the case of Wales, and perhaps other areas, the end of 2027 is simply too late.  Many projects, for both overhead electricity lines (pylons) and renewable energy will be approved by then, whether they are necessary or not.

Jonty Colchester, CPRW Chairman, said: “It is the consumers who will end up paying for the generous prices that make these projects so attractive to opportunistic developers. Instead of investing in local offshore building and servicing industry, all the proceeds will go to offshore speculators. There is a better way. Welsh Government should take it before it is too late.”

Jonathan Dean, CPRW Trustee, added; “The distribution grid in the whole of Wales is pushed to the limit, but it’s wires on poles we really need, not more pylons.  Small scale, location appropriate, generation is being held back due to failures at distribution level, while large scale, landscape damaging, transmission connected schemes are pressing ahead.  We will be able to get the power out of Wales, but not into our homes”

The aim is for Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) to coordinate the rapid expansion of local energy, but many parts of Wales are already seeing multiple projects, either approved by the Welsh Government as Developments of National Significance, or the U.K. Government as Nationally Strategic Infrastructure Projects.  There are projects which already have grid connection agreements that would deliver five times the 2035 Welsh Government solar target, and a similar “over supply” of battery energy storage systems (BESS).  Ofgem need to intervene now, not wait until the end of 2027.

More information can be found on CPRW’s website cprw.org.uk.