National Energy System Operator

Read the latest edition of Energising Progress to see how we’re bolstering resilience to changing weather patterns with the Met Office and our other latest news. 📰 Read here: https://bit.ly/43jsFGZ ✉ Subscribe: http://bit.ly/3zrMmkc

We've extended our sponsorship of the Young Energy Professionals (YEP) Forum for another year into 2026. ✨ The forum, set up by Energy UK, is a community to promote the next generation of energy industry leaders, providing opportunities to meet, collaborate and develop. The news was announced by our Chief Operating Officer, Kayte O'Neill, in a keynote speech at the annual YEP Awards last night, which focused on the role of young professionals in the future transition and her own career experiences to date. 🔎 Read more: https://bit.ly/4ozTHCy If you're looking to start a career in energy, view our Early Careers opportunities which are designed to help you learn, grow, and make an impact from day one. 💼 See here: https://bit.ly/49H0p4R

This month, you’ll be able to start responding to our Regional Energy Strategic Plan (RESP) methodology consultation until 16 January.   Your responses will help us produce the final methodology which we plan to publish next summer once approved by Ofgem and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The final methodology will be implemented to produce the first set of 11 regional energy strategic plans (RESPs) across Great Britain. The consultation is seeking responses in relation to the main components of a regional energy strategic plan and also includes key information on how we’ll engage customers and stakeholders in relation to local energy planning activities. Join our webinar on 17 November at 1pm to find out more. Register: https://bit.ly/4oDiohh

Outdated grid processes have long held us back, but our connections reform programme is changing that. The current queue is around four times what’s needed for 2030 and double 2050. We've joined forces with industry, Government, and regulators to revamp the grid connection process. By prioritising projects that are ready and needed, we're unlocking £40 billion in annual investment, creating jobs, and setting the stage for future developments. Every pound will drive progress, ensuring energy security and reducing waste by building what's needed. Connections reform will send clear signals to investors and accelerate nationwide growth. Together, we're driving change for a brighter, secure, and sustainable future for Great Britain. Connections Reform: https://bit.ly/3LjT15r

As climate change continues to impact weather patterns, being able to accurately forecast future weather is crucial to protect the nation against potentially extreme weather events and get the most from Great Britain’s growing renewable energy sources. We’ve signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Met Office, strengthening our relationship with experts in weather forecasting to ensure the resilience of Great Britain’s energy networks as we transition towards a secure, affordable and clean energy system. Read more: https://bit.ly/47IQ4CZ

The Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) is a world-leading, first-of-its-kind plan to meet GB's growing future energy needs.    Throughout our engagement on the development of the SSEP, we’ve heard consistent feedback from stakeholders about the importance of accurate data, data assurance, and transparency, which we agree with.    Today we have published a detailed industry update to provide greater visibility of the data used in the SSEP - https://lnkd.in/ewgVUu2M   This update includes: - Links to data sources and datasets where possible - An overview of decisions made since the May 2025 methodology publication - Further detail on our technical and data assurance processes We’re committed to keeping stakeholders informed and will continue to provide regular updates as the plan evolves.

Unlocking the enormous offshore wind potential of the Northern Seas takes cooperation. In the Offshore TSOs Cooperation (OTC), which brings together twelve European electricity transmission system operators, we developed a Cooperation Paper with our partners WindEurope and HyNOS, a cooperation of seven Northern Seas Hydrogen TSOs. This paper sets out a practical, interface-oriented approach to regional infrastructure planning in the Northern Seas. It aligns planning and build-out of: · electricity grids; · offshore wind development together with WindEurope; · hydrogen networks together with HyNOS. The aim is to accelerate Europe’s energy transition and strengthen the resilience of our energy system. 🔎 View here: https://bit.ly/4oodbK3 Giles Dickson, CEO WindEurope: “This is a really welcome collaboration between the TSOs and offshore wind farm developers on the planning of the offshore electricity grid. Those generating energy offshore and those bringing it ashore must work closely together from an early stage, whether it is for radial connections or cross-border projects.” Christoph von dem Bussche, CEO GASCADE Gastransport GmbH and representing HyNOS: “Offshore hydrogen production – integrated in the offshore electricity grid – can be a key enabler for the successful build-out of offshore wind energy. Therefore, a close collaboration around the Northern Seas between Electricity TSOs, Hydrogen TSOs and wind park developers is essential to create synergies in the build-out of the future energy infrastructure system.” Pascal De Buck Willemien Terpstra This Cooperation Paper marks a strong step towards an affordable, secure, and integrated offshore energy grid for Europe. Together we are shaping the future of energy. #OffshoreWind #Hydrogen #EnergyTransition #NorthSea #GridInfrastructure #TSO #Interconnectors #TYNDP #Collaboration #NSEC 50Hertz Transmission GmbH, Amprion GmbH, Creos Luxembourg, EirGrid Group, Elia Group, Energinet, NGV, Réseau de Transport d'Électricité, Statnett SF, TenneT Germany, TenneT Netherlands, WindEurope, Giles Dickson, Energinet, Fluxys, GASCADE Gastransport GmbH, Gas Networks Ireland, Gasunie, National Gas, NaTran

In 2025 around 800GW of projects were waiting to connect to the grid – that’s four times what’s needed for UK Government targets for clean power by 2030 and double for net zero by 2050. This diagram shows the scale of technologies waiting in the queue, which was based on first-come, first-served basis. This was a system designed for simpler times with only a handful of large fossil fuel projects applying to connect to our grid. Without evolving the way the grid connection process works, project’s that are strategically aligned to Government targets and ready to build will be stuck behind projects that aren’t. Transforming the process will free up space to pave the way for Britain’s energy transition and meet the needs of the economy. Building what’s needed, when it’s needed and where it’s needed starts with changing the way projects connect to the grid.  Unsuccessful projects will be able to enter in future windows starting next year, where there is available capacity for strategic aligned projects. Read more: https://bit.ly/4qkHPpk 

Today Ofgem has published guidance outlining its response to the recent surge in demand connection applications.   As part of this we have issued a Call for Input to customers to gather information on the composition of the demand queue. This will inform the case for any regulatory and policy change necessary to deliver an effective demand connections process.   💬 Steven Wallace, Director of Engineering & Customer Solutions at NESO, said:   "The demand queue is a critical lever for unlocking capacity and enabling projects that matter most for the UK’s economic growth and ambitions in areas such as AI. This Call for Input is our customers' opportunity to shape reforms that balance innovation, fairness, and system resilience. Your contribution will help us deliver a smarter, more efficient connections process for demand customers.” See here: https://bit.ly/3LMSYiw

We’re transforming the way projects connect to Britain’s electricity system. We’re moving from an outdated, first come, first served approach to prioritising ready-to-go projects aligned with national targets, releasing capacity from those that aren’t. By doing this we can: 📈 Unlock £40bn annual investment which can power economic growth  🔌 Connect what’s needed, when it’s needed, where it’s needed  ✅ Free up space for projects that will power change Find out more. ⬇ Connections Reform: https://bit.ly/3LjT15r