Britain’s National Energy System Operator (NESO) has launched a three-week evidence window aimed at overhauling the UK’s grid connection process, in what it calls a “once-in-a-lifetime transformation” of the electricity network.
The move, which began on July 8 and runs until July 29, requires more than 5,000 projects with existing grid connection agreements to submit detailed evidence of their readiness to build and strategic value. The process marks the first step in shifting away from the long-standing first-come, first-served system that NESO says has contributed to delays and grid congestion.
“By prioritising agreements for projects that are critical and shovel-ready, developers will get the certainty they need to support investment decisions,” said Kayte O’Neill, NESO’s Chief Operating Officer.
Projects that submit evidence will be evaluated according to NESO’s published reform criteria and assigned to one of two streams. Those deemed ready for construction and aligned with the UK government’s Clean Power 2030 goal will receive modified connection offers with updated energisation timelines and infrastructure requirements.
Projects that fail to meet the new readiness threshold—or that do not submit evidence at all—will be issued provisional deferred offers with no guaranteed connection date. These projects may reapply in future application rounds or withdraw altogether.
The reforms come as the UK’s grid connection queue has expanded significantly, now exceeding 738 gigawatts (GW)—more than four times the generation capacity needed to meet the 2030 targets. NESO estimates that only about 170GW of that total will be required this decade.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks described the process as “a milestone in our work to overhaul the connections queue and unleash ready-to-go clean power projects,” encouraging developers to demonstrate that their schemes are ready to proceed.
Reorganising the grid queue is a central pillar of the government’s Plan for Change, aimed at unlocking up to £40 billion in annual private investment and accelerating the deployment of renewable energy, including doubling onshore wind capacity.
Ofgem’s Deputy Director of Strategic Planning and Connections, Jack Presley Abbott, said the changes would help “cut back red tape and fast-track ready-to-go home-grown clean power projects,” with benefits extending across sectors such as housing, transport, and healthcare.
NESO plans to publish a list of qualifying projects in September and begin issuing revised connection offers in the autumn, initially focusing on those due to come online in 2026–27. The operator aims to finalise updated contracts for all priority projects by early 2026.
Submissions from transmission-level and large embedded generators must be made directly to NESO, while smaller distribution-connected projects are required to file through their respective distribution network operators.
NESO emphasised that complete and accurate submissions are vital to ensuring a fair assessment process. O’Neill added that the reforms would also offer long-term confidence to consumers, ensuring the electricity system remains both clean and reliable.
