A new Kent County Council energy strategy setting out how the council will respond to grid capacity problems and rising electricity demand was considered by the Growth, Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee on 10 November 2026.
Kent County Council’s Growth, Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee considered a proposed energy strategy for the county on 10 November 2026. The committee was asked to endorse the strategy or make recommendations to the Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Special Projects, David Wimble, ahead of a formal Cabinet Member decision.
Grid constraints identified as a key problem
The strategy paper described significant electricity grid constraints across Kent, with five of the county’s six grid supply points currently showing maximum lead times for connection extending as far as 2036 or 2037 for already-approved projects. The paper set out the backlog at each site: Northfleet East had the largest transmission backlog at 1,072 MW with a maximum lead time to 2037, with 29 solar and battery projects accepted but not yet connected. Kemsley had a backlog of 363.6 MW to 2036, Canterbury North 543.8 MW to 2036, Sellindge 418 MW to 2037, and Richborough 489.9 MW to 2037. Kingsnorth was listed as having no current backlog, with a lead time to 2026.
The report stated that the council would work with Kent businesses to secure grid connections through emerging Regional Energy Strategic Plans and would lobby central government to accelerate the connections reform process.
Demand projected to rise sharply
The strategy cited projections from UK Power Networks showing that even under the most conservative demand scenario, the number of battery electric vehicles (cars) in Kent could rise from 35,725 in 2025 to 471,930 by 2035. Domestic heat pumps were projected to increase more slowly, from 3,644 in 2025 to 3,976 by 2035 under the same scenario.
The paper noted that much of the county is already operating at or near grid capacity, and that the push to electrify domestic heating and transport would place growing demands on the electricity network.
Strategy priorities
The council’s stated vision was to secure a resilient energy system that meets Kent’s current and future economic and housing growth needs and reduces reliance on volatile international energy markets. The strategy identified the following areas of focus: solar generation, nuclear generation, hydrogen production, a Dungeness Decommissioning Academy and Nuclear Skills Campus, the Port of Dover, data centres, community energy, heat networks, and grid constraints.
The council had not published the minutes of the meeting at the time of writing, so the committee’s decision is not yet on the public record.