Project designation

This update is related to Connections Reform. 

In addition to aligning with the Government’s Clean Power Action Plan, projects can be strategically aligned by being designated. Designated projects will receive a guaranteed place in the reformed connections pipeline if they also meet the readiness requirements. 

Project designation is very rare. We expect only a handful of projects out of thousands to be eligible. 

Initially, to be eligible projects must either be:  

• Projects that are new technologies and/or highly innovative, that are not included within the scope of the UK Government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan (CP30 Action Plan) or do not correspond with a technology that has been deemed by NESO to have met the strategic alignment criteria; and/or  
• Projects with very long lead times (i.e. long design, consenting and construction periods) that may be needed beyond the 2035 capacities within the CP30 Action Plan.

Applications for project designation status for long lead-time or innovative projects can be made at any time and do not need to be made in line with a live connections window. 

This means applications can be made in advance, ready for future windows. However, when a new window is announced, we will announce a “best endeavours” cut-off date for project designation applications. This means we will aim to review all applications that come in by that date, so projects have a status decision in time for the application window. 

The application form you need to fill in has been developed based on the Project Designation Methodology. 

On the application form, we ask whether projects meet the readiness requirements for Gate 2, and whether they have an existing grid connection agreement. 

We are not currently accepting applications for projects to be designated under the following criteria: 

• Critical to Security of Supply; 
• Critical to System Operability; or, 
• Materially Reduce Constraint Costs. 

Applicants seeking designation will be subject to a charge. The charge for assessing highly innovative projects is £5000 per innovative project. The cost for assessing long lead-time projects is £3000, as set out in the Charging Statement. Applicants will be liable for this charge whether they are successful or not. The charge reflects the cost of assessing applications. 

Access the form

Project designation decisions

Where a project meets the criteria for designation, NESO must consult for 28 calendar days. 

Following this consultation, Ofgem has a final right of refusal against any project designation decision within the following 28 calendar days. 

Details of consultations and decisions are in the table below. Anyone wishing to share a consultation view within the relevant time period should email their views to [email protected] with the subject header outlined in the table below. 

Following this, we will review all responses and make a final determination to approve or reject this application for designation.