Energy & Utilities Energy and utilities

Grid Connection for Energy Projects

How to connect electricity generation projects to the UK grid. Understand the difference between DNO and National Grid routes, the G99 connection standard, and the April 2025 Ofgem reforms that promise £5 billion in savings and faster connection timelines.

UK-wide
Guide summary

You need a grid connection agreement to export electricity from your project. Smaller projects (under 50MW) connect via your local DNO, larger ones via National Grid. New rules since April 2025 aim to shorten wait times and save costs.

  • Projects under 50MW connect via local Distribution Network Operator (DNO)
  • Projects 50MW+ connect via National Grid ESO
  • G99 standard applies to generators up to 50MW
  • Connection wait times can be up to 15 years for large projects
  • Connection costs can reach millions for 20MW+ projects
  • April 2025 reforms prioritise projects with planning consent
  • New 'First Ready, First Connected' process removes delayed projects
  • Grid connection can account for 70% of hydrogen project costs
  • After securing agreement, allow months for design and construction
  • Reforms expected to save £5 billion and reduce delays
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UK-wide

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Connecting to the electricity grid is a critical milestone for any electricity generation project. Whether you're developing a wind farm, solar array, or hydrogen production facility with electrolysis, you cannot export power without a grid connection agreement.

The path you take depends on your project's capacity: smaller projects (typically under 50 MW) connect via your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO), while larger projects connect to the transmission network via National Grid ESO.

Grid connection reforms (2025)

In April 2025, Ofgem approved major reforms to the electricity connections process. The 'First Ready, First Connected' (TM04+) process came into force in January 2025 for new transmission connection applications, with reforms expected to deliver significant savings across the industry and significantly reduce connection wait times.

Key changes include:

  • Queue management: Projects that fail to meet milestones (planning submission, land agreements) will be removed from the queue, freeing capacity for shovel-ready projects
  • Prioritisation: Projects with planning consent or environmental permits receive accelerated connection timelines
  • Strategic network planning: Network operators must publish long-term capacity plans to guide project siting decisions
  • 'First Ready, First Connected': Transmission applications follow a two-gate process (TM04+) where Gate 2 offers require proof of planning progress

These reforms are designed to clear the 700GW+ connection queue - over four times the installed capacity needed by 2050 - and accelerate the transition to clean energy.

What happens after securing a connection agreement

Once you've accepted a connection offer and paid your deposit, you'll work with the network operator to design the connection infrastructure, agree protection settings, and schedule commissioning tests.

For transmission connections, you must also execute a Connection and Use of System Code (CUSC) agreement, which governs ongoing use of the transmission network and includes charges for system operation.

Allow several months between securing your connection agreement and energisation for design work, construction of grid infrastructure, and compliance with Grid Code or Distribution Code technical requirements.