The results are in for connection reform

This week, the first results of the National Energy System Operator’s (NESO) connection queue reform began rolling in.

The reform is a government-led effort to speed up how quickly projects can connect to the electricity network. At its heart is a major reset of the system, moving away from “first come, first served” to “first ready, first connected”.

As part of the overhaul, new spatial caps have been introduced for different renewable technologies. These caps will shape where and how projects can connect by 2030 and 2035. Under the new framework, projects that meet strict readiness criteria and fall within available capacity receive Gate 2 offers, with confirmed connection dates, locations and queue positions. Less advanced schemes receive Gate 1 offers, which are indicative only and offer no firm timeline, effectively placing projects on hold.

The principle behind the reform has long been accepted. Under the old system, the grid connection queue had grown to more than 700 GW, around four times the capacity expected to be needed by 2030 to meet Clean Power ambitions.

But knowing it had to happen doesn’t really soften the blow. Watching the policy play out in practice this week has been painful, and many developers who have spent years, and millions, progressing projects now find them potentially paused indefinitely

Industry headlines have focused on the scale of the reset. This includes 283 GW of viable projects fast-tracked, over 300 GW removed from the queue and an estimated £40 billion per year unlocked for clean energy investment. Beneath those figures, frustration has been building, particularly in response to Ed Miliband’s description of delayed schemes as ‘zombie projects’.

Hundreds of projects that were actively progressing, complete with land agreements, environmental surveys and multiple rounds of consultation, have been cleared from the queue. Development teams that have already committed significant capital are now facing stark choices. They may continue investing at considerable risk, wait for the next NESO application window, or hold further work until there is clearer direction from the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan.

Even for those that have secured a Gate 2 offer, there’s probably little time for celebration. Another fixed milestone is approaching in 2029, when the UK is next expected to head to the polls for a general election. Reform continues to poll strongly, holding an eight-point lead nationally, and has made its opposition to ‘net stupid zero’ clear.

Against this backdrop, pace, certainty and political resilience could be as critical as grid capacity.