Customers Express Interest in Fast Tracked Connections as Additional Capacity Reaches 20GW

We’re part of an industry-wide plan to accelerate the connection of up to 20GW of clean energy projects in collaboration with the wider National Grid group.

This follows our recent announcement that we would be unlocking an additional 10GW of additional capacity across our distribution network, to speed up the connection of scores of low carbon technology projects.

Since announcing the additional capacity, we’ve been in contact with more than 200 customers interested in fast tracking their connection dates in the first wave of the capacity release.

Of these customers, 70% have now shared additional data and information on when they hope to energise their projects including 16 who expressed an interest in connecting in the next 12 months and another 180 looking to connect within two to five years.

This will bring forward the delivery of some ‘shovel ready’ schemes by up to five years.

Alongside this, National Grid Electricity Transmission has offered earlier ‘plug in’ dates for 19 battery energy storage projects worth around 10GW – on average, four years earlier than their current agreement – bringing the total capacity of accelerated grid connections to 20GW.

This work is part on ongoing industry efforts, together with Ofgem and the UK government, to speed up and reform connections to help deliver a net zero energy future.

Cordi O’Hara, President of National Grid Electricity Distribution, said: “We’re delighted that so many customers have already expressed an interest in taking advantage of this additional capacity on our distribution network to accelerate the connection dates for their low carbon technologies.

“But we’re not stopping there. Our second expression of interest extends the offer to even more customers who will be able to benefit from our more agile approach to connections, enabling the UK to install the renewable generation needed to decarbonise the electricity system by 2035.”