Many thanks to all
We estimated that about 370 representations were submitted from Walberswick and WALL supporters, which does not include people from other communities who objected. National Grid Ventures (NGV) should have no doubt that we object equally strongly to the proposed landfall at G3, as we did to G2 and G1!
Formally, the next stage in the LionLink project is for NGV to submit their DCO (Development Consent Order) application to the Planning Inspectorate. NGV say that they plan to do this “in the first half of 2027” but we don’t know exactly when. WALL is therefore already gathering evidence that we can submit to the public hearings as we want to be ready! In addition, WALL and SEAS have been focusing on the immediate threat from the Sea Link project and challenging some of the economic assumptions that have been used to justify Government and regulatory support for Sea Link, LionLink and other projects.
Sea Link, further representations
The Planning Inspectorate submitted their recommendation on the Sea Link DCO application to Miatta Fahnbulleh (Secretary of State for DESNZ) at the end of July. Following her request for further information, WALL and SEAS asked their supporters to send emails to the SoS, pointing out that Ofgem (the Regulator for the energy sector) has now assessed the construction cost of Sea Link at approximately £3.2 billion – around three times the cost presented during the DCO examination - and urging the Government to conduct a proper independent assessment of the costs of Sea Link against far cheaper alternatives before any approval is given. Again, many thanks to all those WALL & SEAS supporters who sent in the emails to the Secretary of State. This all helps to keep up the pressure on the Government for proper scrutiny over these energy projects.
Ofgem Consultation 1 – Sea Link
Independently of the request from Miatta Fahnbulleh for more information on Sea Link, Ofgem launched its own consultation about the Sea Link project, asking for submissions by 29 September. A working group from WALL at short notice drafted an excellent, detailed, technical submission which challenged Ofgem’s provisional agreement to support NGET (National Grid Electricity Transmission) which is the developer behind Sea Link with £2.9billion of funding, referring to a number of outstanding risks with the project and demanding that Ofgem withhold approval of the proposed expenditure until full costs, delivery risks and consumer benefits have been properly addressed. The WPC also submitted an excellent response.
A full copy of the WALL submission can be seen here
And the Walberswick Parish Council submission click below
Ofgem Consultation 2 – LionLink and Nautilus
Ofgem has also initiated a separate consultation about two interconnector projects - LionLink and Nautilus. Both are commercial ventures being developed by NGV allowing it to profit from the import and export of electricity with the Netherlands (LionLink) and Belgium (Nautilus ). There is a developing international consensus on the negative impact on energy consumers of interconnector projects. WALL is currently drafting a response to this consultation. The deadline for submissions is 15 October. We will post a copy of the WALL submission on the website.
Labour Government and the ‘Great British Grid’
Many people will have seen the publicity about Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s speech at the recent Labour Party Conference and his call for greater accountability and public control of utility companies especially in the water and energy sectors. At the same time, he announced the establishment of a new state-owned body – Great British Grid (GBG).
Great British Grid to speed up connections and cut bills - GOV.UK
This body will have access to £4bn (from Great British Energy) primarily to speed up connections to the national grid, increase competition and reduce costs. It is not clear at this point what the implications of the establishment of GBG are for major energy infrastructure projects like Sea Link and LionLink on the Suffolk coast. However, we note the emphasis in the Prime Minister’s speech on greater accountability for utility companies and lower costs for consumers and will be lobbying the Government hard on these points in relation to LionLink and other energy projects in Suffolk.
In terms of lobbying the Government we’d also like to thank Tony Langham from Walberswick for quizzing Mattia Fahnbulleh at a fringe meeting at the Conference at about greater scrutiny of National Grid. Good job Tony! We aim to ramp up the pressure on the Government over the coming months.
If they believe in greater public accountability then they must listen to the communities being devastated by all these large energy projects.