TO BE PUBLISHED June 2025
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This conference will focus on grid infrastructure reform across England, Scotland and Wales.
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to discuss the way forward for accelerating connections, streamlining regulatory processes, delivering network upgrades, and practical steps that will be needed if the Government’s targets for clean power and supporting economic growth are to be achievable.
Connections reform
Delegates will assess NESO’s first ready, first connected grid connections reform package recently approved by Ofgem and scheduled to go live in Q2 of 2025, alongside the new Connections Reform Annex published in December, which outlines reform to the energy grid connections process, aiming to address bottlenecks in the current system.
Areas for discussion include stakeholder preparedness and potential concerns, looking at whether additional reforms may be required to ensure that the new system can facilitate both the move to decarbonisation and the UK’s forthcoming Industrial Strategy. There will be a focus on strategies for addressing challenges, including connections for renewables, battery storage, and new nuclear projects, alongside serving growth-related infrastructure such as AI data centres, industrial electrification, and housing developments.
Delegates will consider implications of prioritisation decisions, the robustness of data used to assess grid impact, and coordination with broader objectives, such as proposals in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill currently progressing through Parliament and the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan.
Infrastructure development and modernisation
Priorities for the delivery of new grid infrastructure will be examined as National Grid begins the Great Grid Upgrade, with 17 infrastructure projects across England and Wales aiming to connect 50GW of renewable energy - primarily offshore wind - to homes and businesses by 2030. Those attending will also look more widely at modernisation of transmission and distribution networks, the integration of modern technology and modernisation of ageing infrastructure, and the way forward for interconnectors and smart grids, alongside National Grid’s RIIO-T3 investment plans.
Delegates will assess progress and lessons learnt from major grid upgrade projects underway, such as the Sea Link, Grain to Tilbury upgrade, and other HVDC framework contracts awarded in March 2025 as part of the Great Grid Upgrade. Questions surrounding the scale of the upgrade and planning and community impact will be considered, as well as plans and options for alternative measures, including zonal pricing, to address regional disparities and underpin efficient grid expansion.
Investment
Delegates will also examine funding for new developments, including public, private, and blended investment models, as well as the impact of grid connection delays on funding initiatives through Great British Energy and the National Wealth Fund. The role of Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund and Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment framework will also be discussed, in terms of driving investment whilst mitigating cost impacts on consumers.
Collaboration and coordination
Further sessions examine collaboration between key bodies, including Mission Control, NESO, Ofgem, National Grid, regional authorities, and devolved governments, with discussion on frameworks for delivering network reform at pace. We also expect discussion on possibilities for new legislation to align grid reform with Clean Power 2030 targets, alongside the role of Regional Energy Strategic Plans and longer-term electricity market reform through REMA.
Overall areas for discussion include:
- policy: legislative and regulatory coordination - the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and Ofgem reforms - implications for strategic energy planning
- connections: NESO’s reform package - assessing readiness for implementation - implications for prioritisation - aligning connections reform with 2030 Clean Power targets
- grid capacity and demand: balancing requirements for renewables, battery storage, and new demands - infrastructure for AI data centres, public facilities, housing, and industry needs
- connections backlog: addressing zombie projects - assessing new financial commitment measures - considerations for fair prioritisation - potential for legal challenges
- transmission and distribution infrastructure: delivery challenges - RIIO-T3 investment plans - supply chain readiness - planning and permitting - workforce capacity and skills
- regional disparities and network planning: options for zonal pricing or reformed national pricing - strategic role of Regional Energy Strategic Plans - ensuring equitable access to grid infrastructure
- finance: mix of private and public investment - impact of delayed connections on funding for energy projects - role of GBE and the National Wealth Fund
- regulatory coordination: collaboration between key agencies - transparency and efficiency in regulatory processes - achieving timely decision-making
- communities and planning reform:
- delivering infrastructure whilst respecting public and environmental considerations - frameworks for community benefits
- potential reform to consenting processes, including proposed bill discount schemes for residents closest to new transmission infrastructure
- longer-term electricity market reform: implications of REMA - potential for locational pricing - securing grid resilience and flexibility in a decarbonised energy system
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates.
