Clean energy hubs offer promising solution to grid bottleneck

A new report from energy analysts Cornwall Insight has highlighted the potential for hybrid clean energy hubs to ease grid connection bottlenecks and help accelerate the country’s decarbonisation efforts.

The report, commissioned by Telis Energy UK, has identified hybrid energy hubs (HEH) as a promising solution to the grid capacity challenges that could slow down the UK’s path to net zero by 2050.

These hybrid hubs would co-locate multiple low carbon generation technologies – like battery storage, solar and onshore wind – behind a single grid connection. The research found that this approach could maximise the energy transferred to the grid, with the hybrid hubs generating over 50% of the time compared to just 11% for standalone solar and 30-35% for wind power alone.

The report says this more efficient use of the grid connection could translate into cost savings for consumers through lower wholesale prices, reduced balancing costs, and less impact on network costs. The hubs would also require less total land use compared to having multiple individual renewable energy projects.

The report also identified that a new approach to financing will be needed to support multiple technologies in one hub and highlights the need for clarity from the UK government in areas such as REMA and connections reform, which will be critical to ensuring that HEHs can deliver on their promising potential impact on the UK’s energy grid.

Ratnottama Sengupta, senior consultant at Cornwall Insight:

“Meeting the climate targets of grid decarbonisation and net zero will be no small feat. With competition for grid connections causing a bottleneck for the renewable rollout, and a well-publicised backlog of grid connection approvals, innovative solutions to speeding up renewable rollout need to be considered. In today’s grid environment hybrid energy hubs offer a promising solution.

“Through integrating a variety of renewable technologies, such as wind and solar power with flexible storage solutions like batteries and hydrogen, all connected to a single grid connection, these hybrid energy hubs could make the most of available resources and increase the amount of clean power on the grid, all while enhancing grid stability.

“Of course, nothing is without its challenges, particularly with changing policies and regulations on the horizon creating uncertainty. However, the benefits of hybrid energy hubs could outweigh these concerns, and if the hurdles can be overcome, hybrid energy hubs could become a powerful tool in our transition to a net zero future.”

William Duncan, CEO at Telis Energy UK:

“This report demonstrates what we have known for a long time at Telis, that driving renewables and energy security in the UK requires a multi-technology approach. We are steadfast in our commitment to bringing innovative clean energy hubs to the UK, and are confident that this approach will solve multiple issues from intermittency to grid connection issues. To make this ambition a reality, the industry will need the support of policymakers to ensure that regulation is adapted to match innovation in the sector.”