The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has opened the window for evidence for reforming the grid connections.
The evidence that is open today (July 8) and remains open until just before midnight on July 29. Energy generation and demand projects with existing connection agreements are invited to participate.
The much -discussed process has two goals. One is to cut projects in the queue with a less than serious prospect to continue that contributed to bottlenecks (so -called ‘Zombie projects’).
The other gives priority to PV and Wind Renewable Energy projects that match the goals of the National Clean Power 2030 (CP2030) Action Plan.
In its CP2030 report, Neso has identified that challenges for implementing the plan include the planning reform and reform of the grid connection, and the system operator decides on the technologies and locations to set priorities for connection, together with the equal Buildout and the update of infrastructure.
Quey recipients can submit their application and evidence to the portal, from where they are assessed and a status assigned based on readyness and strategic coordination with British energy goals.
Neso will place submissions in two streams: those who meet the connection criteria are referred to as ‘gate 2’ and will receive a confirmed modification offer with updated connecting data, Site data and required network reinforcement works as applicable.
Projects that have been determined not to meet the criteria are placed in the stream ‘gate 1’, which means that they remain in the system with a provisional offer of deferred connections and may re -request for ‘Gate 2’ status via Biannual Application Windows. Developers who do not want to apply for again can end their application.
Participation in the process is mandatory. Projects with signed schedule connection agreements that are not yet connected, and that do not submit any evidence and submit an application, are automatically assigned to the ‘Gate 1’ status.
Neso wants to inform projects that start this year in the fall and complete the process at the beginning of 2026.
‘There was one -off transformation of our electricity network’
The opening of the evidence window is an “important moment in the one-off transformation of our electricity network and an essential step for supplying clean power by 2030, while also helping overloading economic growth for Great Britain,” said Neso Chief Operating Officer Kayte O’Neill.
“By giving priority to agreements for projects that are critical and that are ready for Schep, developers will get the certainty they need to support investment decisions,” said O’Neill, adding that it would also give energy consumers that they can benefit from “clean and stable power for generations,” generations long. “
After Neso has proposed the final proposal of his reform method At the end of last year, Regulator Vangem officially approved the reform of the connections. At the time the government Energy Fair Department and Net Zero (DSNZ) noted that some projects are waiting for up to 15 years For their connection.
According to OFGEM, the queue length had been narrowed over the past five years, with 756 GW of projects in the queue from February 2025. Of these, 587GW was waiting for the transmission level and 178 GW to connect to the distribution network.
Although some work has been done to speed up the process, and the queue is now a total of around 738 GW – which is four times the capacity of clean energy generation that is needed to achieve CP2030 objectives – that his new assessment process will create a simpler, transparent and faster way for projects to connect to the grid.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks said that the opening of the evidence window was a milestone to overhaul the queue and “unleash ready-made clean power projects that will help us reach our goal 2030.”
“Developers in line now have the chance to prove Neso that their projects are ready to make progress,” Sank said.
“This is our plan for change in action, so that we are one step closer to building an energy system that large -lane of the roller coaster of the global fossil fuel markets of global fossil fuel markets and can bring bills down forever.”
Shanks spoke on the recent Clean Power 2030 SummitWith the UK Solar Summit, organized by our publisher Solar Media.
