At Solar & Storage Live in London earlier this year, connections reform was a key topic.
Matthew Vickers, Director of Connections Reform at the National Energy System Operator (NESO), spoke about the organisation’s role in improving how new projects connect to the grid.
In this interview, Vickers outlines why reform is needed, what changes are planned, and what they could mean for the solar and storage sector.
“Reform helps by clearing out slow or speculative projects that are clogging the queue. That gives investors and developers clearer signals and a better chance of timely connection.”
What is NESO, and why was it created as a new public organisation?
Matthew: NESO was created in October last year under the Energy Act. We came into being under the current government and have several key responsibilities.
We manage and direct the flow of electricity across Great Britain’s electricity system, offer independent advice to the government and Ofgem, and undertake strategic planning of both the electricity and gas systems.
Our goal is to take a whole-system approach, ensuring energy security, supporting the transition to net zero, and keeping bills as low as possible for consumers, businesses, and communities.
What’s your role in connections reform, and why did the process need to change?
Matthew: When we transitioned from being National Grid ESO to NESO, we gained responsibility for reforming the connections process.
That means making sure the new generation and demand connections – essential for growth – can access a system that works. And frankly, the old system didn’t.
Connections used to be rare – our chief engineer recalled one year when there were only 11. Recently, we processed 300 in 48 hours.
The queue now stands at around 800GW – twice what’s needed for 2050 – and includes many stalled or unviable projects, which block progress. Some applicants are being offered connection dates in the late 2030s.
We’re moving away from the outdated first-come, first-served model. The new approach is based on project readiness and alignment with the government’s Clean Power Plan. We’ve worked closely with industry through consultations to design a reform package that’s ambitious and realistic.
We’re now awaiting Ofgem’s sign-off, which we expect within a few weeks. Then we can begin reordering the queue and making space for the clean energy growth needed by 2030.
What does this mean for the solar and storage sector?
Matthew: It’s a really exciting time. Just 15 years ago, there were only 26MW of solar on the system, and storage wasn’t even considered mainstream. Now we’re targeting 47GW of solar and 27GW of storage by 2030.
Reform helps by clearing out slow or speculative projects that are clogging the queue. That gives investors and developers clearer signals and a better chance of timely connection.
It also helps network operators understand what to build, where, and how quickly – essential for keeping costs down while building a secure, diverse, and modern energy system.
What’s next in the process, and are you confident the reforms will work?
Matthew: Ofgem has already consulted on its decision, and we expect a final ruling in the next couple of weeks. After that, we’ll move into implementation, working just as collaboratively as we did during reform. Listening is key.
We’re already holding events – like our Connections Conference in Edinburgh—to help projects understand what they need to be in the queue and what to expect.
We’re also working with networks to deliver reordering and new offers as quickly as possible. We know certainty is important, so that’s our focus.
In parallel, we’re also looking at raising the threshold for transmission impact assessments from 1MW to 5MW. That’s great news for smaller solar projects, as it means a more proportionate process and faster progress for those developments.
You were a speaker at Solar & Storage Live in London – what were the key audience takeaways?
Matthew: First, just how much opportunity there is for solar and storage. The sector has come a long way in 15 years, and it’s only going to grow. On 1 April, we hit a new record – 12.2GW of solar on the system.
Storage is also vital – not just for balancing supply and demand, but for maintaining system stability. As the shape of the energy system evolves, storage will play an increasingly important role.
Connections reform is a key enabler. It clears the path for projects that can make a real difference. I also spoke about how essential collaboration has been throughout the reform process – and how it will remain so during implementation.
Finally, we’re not pretending we know exactly what the world will look like in 5, 10, or 15 years, so we’ve built in flexibility.
The Clean Power Plan is evolving, and with tools like spatial and regional energy planning, we’ll be able to adjust and optimise the system as we go.
In short: there’s huge potential ahead, and we’re committed to helping the industry realise it.
Solar & Storage Live in Birmingham is on the horizon, so don’t miss out on your free ticket to the UK’s largest solar and storage show. Or, find a Solar & Storage Live event near you.
