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HomeConnections ReformUnderstanding Connections Reform

Understanding Connections Reform

We are helping to deliver Connections Reform for customers across the Midlands, South West and South Wales.

This page explains why Connections Reform is happening, what key terms such as Gate 1 and Gate 2 mean, and how the process will move into future arrangements.

Background

Why Connections Reform was needed

Connections Reform is a major regulatory reset of Great Britain’s electricity connections system. It began taking effect in 2025 and is designed to move away from a "first come, first served" queue towards a process where projects that are ready and needed can progress more quickly.

It aims to unlock delivery, support investment and growth, strengthen energy security, and enable clean power, ambitions set out in Clean Power 2030.

Before Connections Reform, the queue of projects wanting to connect to the energy system exceeded even the most ambitious future clean energy scenario. Across the UK, the project queue reached a peak of 738 GW, three times more than the 200 to 225 GW of clean generation capacity required by 2030.

Some projects were speculative or not ready to progress. These were sometimes described as "zombie" projects because they held places in the queue without moving forward.

The result was that customers received timelines measured in decades to connect their energy project into the grid.

What is changing

The focus of the connections pipeline is now “first ready and needed, first connected”. This means the connections pipeline should only contain projects that are ready to proceed, strategically aligned and needed for the future energy system.

Initially, Connections Reform is focused on larger generation projects, projects which supply energy into the grid, above 5MW. Where the Grid Supply Point has Fault Level issues, this is 1MW. In time, the process will also include demand projects, which take energy out of the grid, such as homes and industrial sites.

The overall programme is also known as TMO4+, which stands for Target Model Option 4+. The programme includes two main processes:

  • CMP434, the ‘enduring process’ for future applications which need to go through a Transmission Entry Assessment (TEA).
  • CMP435, the one-off process to reset the old queue.This is also known as Gate 2 To Whole Queue (G2TWQ).

Who is involved

Connections Reform is led by NESO, overseen by Ofgem and involves network companies such as National Grid as transmission and distribution providers.

We work with partners at all levels to bring this change to life and creating a more credible, deliverable, energy system. As the country’s largest Distribution Network Operator, DNO, we advocate for the needs of our customers, while ensuring that the reformed connections pipeline is fair and equitable for projects of all sizes.

What this means for customers

Connections Reform is powering a path to cleaner, more affordable power: we’re proud to play our part.

Customers can use our tools and datasets to support their connections journey and join our monthly customer webinars to ask questions, stay up to date, and understand what Reform means for their projects.

We will continue to develop our services, so that we can remove delays, create certainty and inspire confidence for our customers.

 

Technology

This chart shows the current technology split in the connections pipeline. Battery storage is substantially oversubscribed and solar energy is slightly oversubscribed across our area. Other technology types are within the allocations set out in Clean Power 2030. 

Visit Clearview to see breakdowns by Grid Supply Point and license area, including where there may be additional capacity for new projects.

Visit Clearview
 

 

Connections pipeline

Customer connections are being placed into the reformed connections pipeline in two main stages, known as Gate 1 and Gate 2.

Gate 1

Gate 1 is for projects which are held in the queue but do not yet have confirmed details about where or when they will be able to connect to the grid. This may be because they have not provided evidence that they meet land requirements, or because they are not strategically aligned to Clean Power 2030.

If a customer wants to firm these up, they need to provide evidence of meeting the Gate 2 requirements including meeting strategic alignment criteria. This can only be done during an application window.

Gate 2

Gate 2 requirements are set out by NESO. They are evidence-based checks that show whether the project is ready to move forward and is needed for the future clean energy system.

If a project can pass these evidence checks and meet strategic alignment criteria, it can receive Gate 2 status. This means that it can secure a confirmed connection date, connection point and queue position.

An illustration of how the strategic alignment criteria can be met is illustrated in this diagram.

What happens after Connections Reform?

Connections Reform won’t last forever.  We’ve been getting future fit since the Connections Reform programme started.

Once the connections pipeline has been reordered, and all customers have received their updated offers, these projects will process through construction and energisation. NGED will also be entering into the enduring process, which is governed by a proposal called CM434. This dictates how all future applications for Generation projects which are required to go through a TEA will be submitted to NESO for assessment.

This enduring process will continue the improvements made during the Connections Reform programme.  It will be free of the zombie projects which blocked the previous connections queue.  

From National Grid, there will be continuous improvements in how we support companies to enter the pipeline and move confidently through it.  However, the significant changes which we have seen during Connections Reform are unlikely to be needed again.
 

 

Contact us

Email us if you have a question, did not receive a verification email or you want to give feedback on our webinars or supporting materials.

Due to the high numbers of enquiries, we aim to get back to you within 7 days.

For complaints relating to Connections Reform, read our complaints guidance.

 

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