Britain’s National Energy System Operator (NESO) has confirmed a new pipeline of shovel-ready energy projects that will be prioritised for grid connection, setting out a pathway to unlock 283 gigawatts (GW) of generation and storage capacity and 99 GW of transmission demand.
The changes replace the long-standing first-come, first-served queue with a system that advances projects aligned with national energy targets and demonstrably ready to build. NESO said the overhaul aims to cut delays and focus investment on assets needed to meet the country’s decarbonisation goals. “This sends clear signals to those investors and developers with ready-to-go projects, enabling them to get building to serve the future needs of society and the economy,” the operator said.
NESO identified 132 GW of projects as aligned with delivery of the UK government’s Clean Power 2030 target. Combined with around 111 GW of existing generation and storage already connected to the grid, these projects will underpin efforts to deliver secure, clean and affordable power, the agency said. A further 151 GW of future projects are considered necessary to meet Britain’s power system needs by 2035.
More than 300 GW of projects in the previous connection queue will not proceed to the next stage. NESO said some of these schemes were either not ready or not aligned with national priorities. The operator added the new approach is intended to ensure consumers do not shoulder unnecessary costs from projects that are unlikely to advance. “Transforming the connections process isn’t a silver bullet. Thousands of kilometres of new electricity lines and cables are required … and planning reforms must be implemented to speed up decision-making,” it said.
NESO will begin informing customers of their position in the new delivery pipeline, with Distribution Network Operators set to notify distribution-level applicants of their status at the same time.
Kayte O’Neill, NESO’s chief operating officer, said: “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.”
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the reforms address a system in which “zombie projects were allowed to hold up grid connections for viable projects that will bring investment, jobs and economic growth”. Ofgem chief executive Jonathan Brearley said the new pipeline “prioritises the projects Britain needs most”, while Chris Stark, head of mission control for Clean Power 2030, described the overhaul as “the single most important step we will take towards a clean power system.”
