Guest Blog: Land at the Heart of Grid Reform: Navigating the New Connection Process
As the Transmission Owner for the north of Scotland, SSEN Transmission plays a vital role in supporting the transition to net zero by connecting renewable generation projects, such as wind, solar and hydro projects, to the electricity network.
New Criteria for Grid Connection Applications
In response to a rapidly increasing volume of connection applications and a congested connection queue, the National Energy System Operator (NESO) has been working with SSEN Transmission, other electricity networks companies and developers to reform the connections process. These reforms, approved by Ofgem in April 2025, mark a significant change – putting land and planning requirements at the heart of the grid connections process. For landowners involved in, or considering hosting renewable developments, these changes to the grid connections process are particularly relevant.
Under NESO’s new connection rules, projects must meet strict readiness criteria to receive a full connection offer and secure a place in the connections queue. This includes providing evidence, including secured land rights, compliance with NESO’s minimum acreage guidelines, and a clearly defined red line boundary diagram. Alternatively, projects can follow the Development Consent Order (DCO) process, demonstrating readiness through submission (and validation) of a planning application. Full details and required evidence documentation are outlined in NESO’s Gate 2 Criteria Methodology, designed to help navigate the new process.
In addition to demonstrating land readiness, projects must also align with the Government’s strategic energy plans, currently assessed against the Clean Power 2030 (CP30) Plan. This strategic alignment ensures that connection offers are prioritised for projects that are needed to deliver a balanced and secure energy mix, in line with strategic plans.
New Timelines and Milestones in Connections
Once contracted, projects must continue to demonstrate progress through NESO’s Queue Management milestones, which include key development stages such as submission and achievement of planning consent. Projects that fail to meet these milestones risk losing their place in the queue.
The redesigned connections process is expected to go live by the end of this year. Under the new framework, known as TMO4+, NESO is introducing defined application windows - for both new connection applications and significant modifications to
existing connection agreements. The first application window under the new process is expected to open in late 2025.
Ahead of the new process going live, NESO is now beginning to review projects in the current contracted connections queue against the new criteria. This will create a new and more streamlined connections queue. Projects that are more advanced - such as those with planning consent or a support contract (e.g. a Contract for Difference) - will be protected and prioritised in allocating capacity and forming this new queue.
Regular updates on connections reform can be found on NESO’s Connection Reform website pages here.
Note:
- Projects below Transmission Impact Assessment threshold and distribution-connecting demand project do not require to adhere to new TMO4+ connections criteria.
- Transmission-connecting demand projects must achieve the ‘readiness criteria’ but are not subject to strategic alignment criteria.
The views expressed in this blog are those of SSEN Transmission and do not necessarily reflect the views of Scottish Land & Estates. No liability can be accepted by Scottish Land & Estates or any of its staff for any misstatement in it or omission from it.
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