This week marks the opening of NESCO's Connections Reform evidence submission window, the next step in radically transforming the way projects connect to Britain’s electricity network. 

Until 23:59 on 29 July, energy generation and demand projects with an existing connections agreement can begin submitting evidence to showcase their readiness and strategic alignment with the UK’s energy goals. Although the window is open for four weeks, we urge customers to submit evidence as early as possible.

Reforming grid connections 

Connections reform will open the way for clean power projects like new wind and solar farms to connect to the power grid, ending a growing gridlock. It is an instrumental step in achieving the government’s Clean Power 2030 ambition, which will help unlock up to £40 billion a year of private investment in clean homegrown power, bolstering economic growth.

To tackle the connections queue, which has grown tenfold in just five years, we’re abolishing the first-come, first-served connections approach that has led to unviable and speculative ventures holding up promising clean energy projects that are ready to connect to the grid.

The current connections queue stands at 738GW, more than four times the clean generation capacity required by 2030. The new assessment process creates a simpler, more transparent, and more timely way for the projects Britain needs to connect to the grid. 

Kayte O’Neill, Chief Operating Officer, NESO:
“NESO opening the evidence window today is a key moment in the once-in-a-lifetime transformation of our electricity network, and a vital step for delivering clean power by 2030, while also helping supercharge economic growth for Great Britain. 

“By prioritising agreements for projects that are critical and shovel-ready, developers will get the certainty they need to support investment decisions. It also gives energy consumers, from households and hospitals to electric car charging stations and data centres – the confidence of clean and stable power for generations to come.

“We advise all applicants to ensure they submit the correct evidence, so that we can assess applications fully and fairly.” 

How to submit evidence

All applicants currently in the connections queue have until 23:59 on 29 July to submit their application and evidence here. Projects will be assessed and assigned a status based on their readiness and strategic alignment with the UK’s energy goals. They will then be placed in one of two streams that govern how projects enter and progress through the connections process.

Those placed in ‘Gate 2’ will be judged to have met our criteria for connection, and will receive a confirmed modification offer, including updated connection dates, site details, and any required reinforcement works.

Projects that do not meet the readiness or strategic alignment criteria will be placed in ‘Gate 1’, which means they remain in the system but with a provisional deferred connections offer. These projects will not receive a confirmed connection date but will have the opportunity to reapply through future biannual application windows for a ‘Gate 2’ status. Alternatively, they will have the choice of terminating their connections request.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: 
“Today marks a milestone in our work to overhaul the connections queue and unleash ready-to-go clean power projects that will help us reach our 2030 target. 

 "Developers in the queue now have the chance to demonstrate to NESO that their projects are ready to progress.

 "This is our Plan for Change in action, taking us a step closer to building an energy system that takes Britain off the rollercoaster of global fossil fuel markets and can bring bills down for good."

What if my project already has a signed connection agreement?

All customers with current signed connections agreements, that have not yet connected to the grid, will need to submit an application with the required evidence in order to be assessed for a ‘Gate 2’ contract offer. Customers that do not submit evidence will automatically be assigned a ‘Gate 1’ connections offer. Transmission connected customers or large embedded generators must submit evidence directly to us. Smaller distribution projects should submit evidence directly to their DNO, who will then pass it onto us.

When will I know if my project has a place in the new queue?

We’ll begin notifying customers which projects have been successful (subject to detailed checks) in securing a Gate 1 place in the reformed connections queue from September, before starting to issue revised connection offers during the autumn, prioritising those due to connect in 2026 and 2027. We aim to have made all offers for projects needed to meet the government’s 2030 clean power target by early next year.

Jack Presley Abbott, Deputy Director of Strategic Planning and Connections at Ofgem: 
“Harnessing more of our homegrown power potential will improve our energy security by reducing Great Britain’s reliance on volatile global energy markets and stabilising consumer bills.

“The reforms to the connections queue will cut back red tape and fast-track ready to go homegrown clean power projects so they are connected as soon as possible. This change will mean better connections for public services, including housing, hospitals and EV charging stations, as well as new industries like data centres which are key to boosting economic growth.”

Are you submitting evidence?

If you’re planning to submit evidence, read our connections reform evidence handbook which will guide you through the process.