Ofgem has announced a new connections system, which could be in place in spring 2025, would end the first-come, first-served system where clean energy generation or storage projects that we need cannot get plugged into the grid quickly enough, with some waiting a decade or more.

Under proposals published today, projects would be fast-tracked if they can be operational quickly and are needed to hit the government’s clean power targets for 2030. This new system, which prioritises projects that are “ready” and “needed” would see accelerated new offers made by the end of the year, with the first connected and operational from 2026. 

The proposed reforms are the result of over two years of activity across the energy industry covering consultations, code modification working groups and wider engagement to create these proposals submitted to Ofgem by the National Energy System Operator (NESO).

Commenting on the plans, RenewableUK's director of future electricity systems Barnaby Wharton said: "Promoting shovel-ready clean energy projects by removing speculative zombie schemes which are blocking them in the queue would help to reduce the huge backlog of grid connection applications across the energy sector, which now stands at over 700GW.

"As long as these measures are implemented in the right way, they should provide greater clarity for developers on faster timescales to connect to the grid, potentially unlocking up to £15bn investment in offshore wind alone, helping us to reach the Government's target of clean power by 2030".

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