UK energy regulator Ofgem has announced plans to fast-track cheaper, cleaner power plugging into the electricity grid.

The connections system, which could be in place in spring 2025, would end the first-come, first-served system where clean energy generation or storage projects cannot get plugged into the grid quickly enough, with some waiting a decade or more.

Under proposals published this month (www.ofgem.gov.uk/consultation/consultation-connection-reform-tm04-enablers-including-statutory-consultation-modifications-licence-conditions), projects would be fast-tracked if they can be operational quickly and are needed to hit the government’s clean power targets for 2030. This system, which prioritises projects that are ready and needed would see accelerated offers made by the end of the year, with the first connected and operational from 2026.

“This is a step change in tackling delays and shortening queues on what is currently an outdated and unwieldy system,” said Akshay Kaul, Ofgem’s director general for infrastructure. “It is key to achieving the clean power mission by 2030. Britain will not get a clean power grid by 2030 unless an unprecedented volume of new renewable power and storage is connected to electricity networks. That’s why we’re cutting back the red tape and replacing the out-of-date connections system. It will also help speed up connections for public services, including housing, hospitals and EV charging stations, as well as new industries like data centres which are key to boosting economic growth.”

Energy secretary Ed Miliband added: “We have enough energy projects in the grid connection queue to deliver clean power by 2030, but many are stuck behind speculative schemes, leading to delays of up to ten years. These reforms are critical to deliver clean power by 2030, which will bring forward an estimated £200bn of private investment. Our clean power action plan will fix the broken first-come, first-served system and these changes will mean a targeted approach which prioritises quicker connections for the right projects in the right place, so Britain can accelerate towards a new era of clean electricity.”

The clean power action plan requires capacity on the grid doubling within five years, requiring investment to be unlocked, new infrastructure accelerated and renewable technology brought in at scale, so it is vital those projects that are most viable and needed are connected as quickly as possible.

Ofgem’s decisions aim to break down barriers to ending Britain’s fossil fuel dependency, while keeping the costs of the energy transition under control for consumers.

These proposed reforms are the result of over two years of activity across the energy industry covering consultations, code modification working groups and wider engagement to create these proposals submitted to Ofgem by the National Energy System Operator (NESO). This collaboration reflects the commitment across the energy sector to deliver a more efficient, connections process to deliver clean power by 2030 and net zero by 2050.

Ofgem is now asking anyone with an interest to respond to the consultation by Friday 14 March 2025.

“Charge UK’s members are deploying charge points at a record rate, with close to 75,000 public charge points now in place and a new charger installed every 25 minutes,” said Vicky Read, CEO of Charge UK. “For the network to continue to grow at this exponential rate, so that drivers have the confidence to switch to electric, it needs to be as quick and easy as possible for our members to secure grid connections and energise their installations. The changes by Ofgem to speed up these connections will be vital in getting more charge points in the ground, especially where they are needed the most. This will provide more choice to today’s EV drivers and serve the millions of additional EVs that will come onto our roads in the coming years.”

The consultation is a follow-up from the policy consultation (www.ofgem.gov.uk/consultation/proposed-licence-changes-enable-tmo4-connections-reform) Ofgem published in November 2024.