UK cuts grid queue by 64%, slashes wait times to boost renewables

Britain's energy regulator Ofgem approved reforms April 15 to more than halve the country's grid connections queue, prioritizing ready-to-go wind, solar and energy storage developments that until now have been blocked by stalled or speculative "zombie" projects.

The new process is aimed at accelerating clean energy developments that can connect quickly to achieve a power mix that is at least 95% low carbon by 2030, Ofgem said.

It will replace Britain's existing first-come, first-served system that has led to a connections queue of 765 GW across transmission and distribution networks, the energy regulator added.

Almost two-thirds of the connections queue will be deprioritized through the reforms; 360 GW were identified as not yet ready to connect and a further 122 GW were put back for not aligning with the 2030 clean power plan.

The UK needs between 204 GW and 231 GW of generation, storage, interconnectors and flexibility by 2030 and up to 318 GW by 2035 to reach net-zero by 2050, according to government estimates.

Officials said the connections reforms will slash existing wait times, which in some cases can be a decade or more, and help unlock GBP40 billion in investments per year. The first projects to benefit from the new system could be operational by 2026.

"Houses and hospitals, electric vehicle charging stations, datacenters and the emerging AI sector will also all benefit from the new streamlined fast-track approach, which will help boost energy security and drive down bills," Ofgem CEO Jonathan Brearley said.

Grid access 'biggest challenge'

The reforms were drafted by National Energy System Operator alongside the energy industry, and were backed by Ofgem with a "minded-to" decision in February.

The plans will be supported by the government's new Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which was introduced to parliament in March and includes other measures to accelerate the deployment of wind, solar and transmission projects.

On the demand side, the reforms will help fast-track 42 GW of projects across manufacturing, industrial services, chemicals, minerals and datacenters, Ofgem said.

A lack of access to grid connections has been a "significant factor" holding back new investment in domestic industries, according to the government. Investment commitments from datacenters alone have reached GBP38 billion since July 2024, but grid access is the "single biggest challenge facing these projects," it said.

"In an uncertain world, our message to the global clean energy industry is clear: come and build it in Britain because we are a safe haven," UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said. "If you want certainty, stability and security when it comes to your investments, choose Britain."

Reforms bring 'clarity'

Ofgem's approval will be followed by a standstill period of 56 days for the license changes, followed by a four-week notice period. Distribution customers will submit evidence starting in May and transmission customers in July, the energy regulator said.

The new system will be based on longlisting and shortlisting processes, known respectively as "Gate 1" and "Gate 2."

NESO will notify projects that have secured a place in the reformed queue from September, with revised offers to be issued from the fall, focused initially on projects connecting in 2026 and 2027.

Ofgem expects all Gate 2 offers to be issued to projects requiring connections by 2030.

The next window for new applications beyond the current queue could open before year-end, Ofgem said.

"This reform will tackle an oversubscribed connections pipeline, and help give us clarity around future network needs so that we can get the right mix of clean power projects plugged in to the right places to achieve net-zero," said Alice Delahunty, president of electricity transmission at National Grid.