National Grid delays force postponement of wind farms

The construction of wind farms are being postponed because of delays connecting to the National Grid.

Developers are being told they must wait until 2018 before their generators can be connected, despite £14bn being invested up to 2012 to upgrade the system.

Hertfordshire-based Renewable Energy Systems has delayed six wind farms because it will take until at least 2016 before they can be connected to the grid.

According to the Times, National Grid is barred by the regulator Ofgem from investing in new transmission lines until developers with specific proposals and funding apply for connection.

A proposal to widen the regulator’s role to allow the National Grid to build the infrastructure before generators are built will be debated tomorrow in the House of Lords.