UK government wants to prioritize getting data centers access to the national grid

Date:
Fri, 13 Mar 2026 11:13:56 +0000

Description:
AI data centers, EV charging hubs and more could face fewer delays when
waiting for new grid connections.

FULL STORY
Some projects are facing 15-year waiting lists for grid connections
UK government is revising waiting list requirements to remove non-viable applications
Permission granted to some developers to build high-voltage lines and substations

The UK Government has set out plans to prioritize grid
connections for strategically important projects, recognizing the barriers
some AI data centers are currently facing.

Demand to connect to the transmission network has grown 460% in the past six months, and some projects are facing wait times of up to 15 years to get grid connections, the Government wrote , criticizing severe backlogs and oversubscribed queues. As part of the change, key priority sectors like AI
data centers, AI Growth Zones, electric vehicle charging hubs and electrified industrial sites will all benefit.

The Government says it will also remove speculative or
non-viable applications from the grid connection pipeline to clear the way, introducing stricter requirements to join or remain in the queue.

A new Connections Accelerator Service is also launching with further details due later this year, which would help certain projects get faster access,
with data centers potentially even eligible for discounted electricity costs.

In order to remove some of the pressure off the National Grid, the Government is also looking into permitting some developers to build their own
high-voltage lines and substations to further speed up connections.

So far, the National Energy System Operator (NESO) has cut the grid
connections queue by more than half by prioritizing viable clean energy projects, but the changes could have far greater implications on the economy, unlocking up to 40 billion per year of private investments and saving 5
billion in unnecessary grid upgrades.

NESO Chief Operating Officer Kayte ONeill wrote: "We are committed to working with government, industry and Ofgem to prioritise strategically important projects, while removing speculative applications."

Eleanor Warburton, Ofgem Director for Energy System Design and Development, agreed that there's a need for "bold action to deal with the growing
bottleneck in demand projects connecting to the grid."

Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/uk-government-wants-to-prioritize-getting-data-c enters-access-to-the-national-grid

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