UK's NESO Clears Grid Queue Backlog: 283 GW Advanced Toward Clean Power 2030 Goal

National Energy System Operator (NESO) of Great Britain has pushed forward 283 GW of energy projects and removed more than 300 GW from the grid connections queue as part of a sweeping reform of how projects secure access to the electricity network.

The changes replace the long-criticised first-come, first-served approach with a system that favours schemes ready to build and aligned with national decarbonisation and security-of-supply goals.

From Oversubscribed Queue to Prioritised Pipeline

Under the previous regime, the grid connection queue had swelled to more than 700 GW of proposed capacity, roughly four times what is expected to be required by 2030. 

NESO said it has now assessed around 3,000 applications, resulting in a prioritised pipeline and a separate “Gate 1” category for projects that must meet additional criteria before they can be considered for a future slot.

Of the projects moving forward, 132 GW are aligned with the UK government’s 2030 clean power target. When combined with around 111 GW already connected, they account for most of the capacity expected to be needed to hit that milestone. An additional 151 GW has been identified as necessary by 2035 to ensure long-term security of supply.

Technology Mix and Projects Held at Gate 1

The confirmed pipeline includes 34.5 GW of battery storage, 32.1 GW of offshore wind, 29.9 GW of solar, and 13.1 GW of onshore wind capacity prioritised for delivery by 2030. NESO will now issue connection offers in two tranches, designed to support deployment timelines to 2030 and 2035, respectively.

Not all projects have progressed in this round. Capacity sitting at Gate 1 pending future eligibility includes 152.9 GW of batteries, 35.9 GW of solar and 13.4 GW of onshore wind, which could still move forward if they meet the new readiness and policy-alignment thresholds.

‘Vital First Step’ to Unlock Investment

NESO described the queue reform as essential to channelling capital into projects that can realistically be built this decade, while stressing that deeper network upgrades remain necessary. 

The operator noted that new transmission lines, subsea cables and planning reforms will be required to deliver the system Britain needs in the 2030s.

NESO chief operating officer Kayte O’Neill said transforming the grid connections process is a “vital first step in unlocking the capacity needs for a secure, affordable energy transition”. “These changes will cut grid bottlenecks by prioritising ready-to-build projects, giving certainty about when and where they can connect and unlocking billions in clean energy investment,” O’Neill said.

Economic and Industrial Implications

Chris Stark, head of the government’s Mission Control for Clean Power 2030, said the old queueing arrangements had “held back” Britain’s economy by slowing down deployment of critical generation and storage assets. 

“The energy projects our country needs now have the green light to deploy at a pace we haven’t seen for decades,” Stark reportedly said, signalling expectations of faster build-out and associated economic activity.