UK overhauls grid connections queue

Britain’s NESO has announced the results of their connections reform review, prioritising approximately 382GW of projects under a new pipeline of deliverable, ‘shovel-ready’ energy projects.

This defined set of deliverable projects will form a new pipeline, says NESO, as the system moves from a first-come, first-served model to one that prioritises projects ready to meet Great Britain’s energy and economic needs.

Of the 382GW of projects, 283GW include generation and storage capacity and 99GW include transmission-connected demand. 

NESO, the UK’s Energy System Operator, worked alongside investors, government, networks and energy regulator Ofgem to overhaul the connections process in the country, which saw a queue of projects grow to over 700GW. 

The country and its operators had been struggling with a slew of ‘zombie projects’ taking up space in the queue, which became equivalent to approximately four time the projected energy need of Great Britain by 2030. 

The first batch of protected projects are scheduled to connect in 2026/2027 and will begin receiving formal offers with confirmed connection dates throughout December and into the new year, with remaining offers to be finalised by Q3 2026.

According to NESO, this reform will unlock £40 billion ($53.3 billion) in clean investment annually.

Commenting in a release was Kayte O’Neill, Chief Operating Officer, NESO: “Transforming the grid connections process is a vital first step in unlocking the capacity needs for a secure, affordable energy transition. 

“These changes will cut grid bottlenecks by prioritising ready-to-build projects, giving certainty about when and where they can connect and unlocking billions in clean energy investment.

Said Fintan Slye, NESO's Chief Executive Office (CEO): "I'm proud to share a major milestone: The new pipeline of projects that are ready to connect and needed. This is a turning point for Great Britain's energy future."

Jonathan Brearley, CEO, Ofgem: “We are embarking on the biggest transition our energy system has ever undergone. 

“Together we’ve cleared the gridlock and created a new pipeline that prioritises the projects Britain needs most. We are building grids as fast as the sector possibly can, while ensuring generation gets connected. Every step is focused on delivering real value for customers and creating an energy system that works for the future.”

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Chris Stark, Head of Mission Control for Clean Power 2030: “Queuing is a very British tradition, but the queue to connect to Britain’s grid has held back our economy. 

“This overhaul of the connections process is the single most important step we will take towards a clean power system. The energy projects our country needs now have the green light to deploy at a pace we haven’t seen for decades. This unlocks the modern, clean energy system Britain needs for 2030 and beyond.”

Clare Jackson, CEO of Hydrogen UK: "We are pleased to see the results of NESO's Connections Reform. Hydrogen has an important role in the UK's Clean Power ambitions, supporting energy demand while driving industrial decarbonisation. The results open the door and free up space for further hydrogen innovation and accelerated project development.

"Hydrogen’s standout advantage is its ability to store energy at scale, providing the flexibility and reliability needed to deliver power on demand and strengthen the resilience of our future energy system."

Said Lawrence Slade, Chief Executive of ENA: “This announcement from NESO marks a pivotal moment for the energy sector as a whole. 

“The complex task of reforming the connections queue has required deep collaboration across the sector. Networks have played a critical role by working closely with customers and industry, conducting detailed evidence checks and providing timely submissions to NESO. 

“Ultimately, this reformed connections process will mean fair and faster connections for GB customers.”