NESO Unveils New ‘Shovel-Ready’ Project Pipeline to Deliver Clean Power by 2030
Britain’s electricity system took a major step toward accelerating clean energy buildout today as the National Energy System Operator (NESO) announced a new pipeline of “deliverable, shovel-ready” projects that will be prioritised for grid connection. The reforms are designed to break the long-standing grid bottleneck and help unlock around £40 billion in clean energy investment every year, supporting the government’s Clean Power by 2030 target.
A Reset After Years of Grid Backlogs
NESO’s announcement follows a comprehensive overhaul of the grid connections process after the queue for access ballooned tenfold in five years. By 2024, more than 700 GW of projects were waiting—roughly four times what Great Britain is expected to need by 2030. Many of these were “zombie projects” unlikely to progress but still blocking space in the queue.
The new system moves away from the old first-come, first-served model. Instead, grid access will now be prioritised for projects that are genuinely ready to build and aligned with national energy goals.
What’s in the New Pipeline
As of today, thousands of developers—from wind and solar farms to battery storage operators and emerging hydrogen projects—will learn whether they are included in the reformed pipeline. In total, the pipeline covers:
283 GW of generation and storage capacity
99 GW of transmission-connected demand (including major industrial and data-centre loads)
NESO says the new pipeline gives a clear signal to industry about where new network infrastructure is needed and by when, allowing developers and investors to plan with greater certainty.
Near-Term Milestones
Projects in the first protected batch, scheduled to connect in 2026/27, will begin receiving formal offers with firm connection dates this month, with more letters issued into early 2026. All remaining connection offers under the new system are expected to be completed by Q3 2026. Developers that are not included but wish to reapply can do so from late 2026. To qualify, they must demonstrate both technical readiness and strategic alignment with the Government’s Clean Power Action Plan.
Why the Reform Matters
Britain’s electricity demand is expected to almost triple by 2050 as transport, heating and industry shift to cleaner power. Grid delays have been one of the biggest barriers to meeting climate targets and attracting energy investment. By clearing the backlog and focusing on deliverable projects, NESO aims to ensure Britain has the electricity capacity it needs beyond 2030 while creating clearer signals for network upgrades and regional planning.
Government Reaction
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband welcomed the change, arguing that the previous system had stalled progress:
“We inherited a broken system where zombie projects were allowed to hold up grid connections for viable projects that will bring investment, jobs and economic growth.
“Every solar farm, wind farm or battery storage facility we connect to the electricity grid brings us closer to clean, homegrown power that we control – so we can get bills down for good.”
The Bigger Picture
Today’s announcement is one of the most significant structural changes to Britain’s clean energy sector in years. If successful, the reforms could accelerate renewable deployment, bring investment certainty, and help stabilise electricity bills by increasing domestically generated clean power.
At the same time, the shift raises new questions: how quickly networks can scale to meet the pipeline’s demands, whether developers excluded from the initial list can realistically re-enter in 2026, and how the system will balance rapid growth with local planning constraints. For now, NESO’s reset marks a major milestone in Britain’s push toward a modernised, low-carbon grid—and sets the stage for a crucial few years in the race to deliver clean power by 2030.