June 2026
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This conference examined next steps for upgrading the UK’s electricity grid.
It brought together stakeholders and policymakers to assess priorities for investment, planning and delivery of electricity networks to support clean power targets and energy resilience objectives.
The conference followed the announcement of an Energy Independence Bill in the recent King’s Speech, which aims to speed up the build out of grid infrastructure through reducing delays, reforming land access rules and networks consenting.
Discussion also drew on key findings from the House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee’s Delivering Great Britain’s electricity grid infrastructure 2025 report, which warned that the UK is at risk of missing the policy target of decarbonising the electricity system by 95% by 2030 unless it increases the pace of grid upgrades.
Sessions in the agenda considered key issues and latest thinking on practical ways forward. Following publication of the Reformed National Pricing: delivery plan, areas for discussion included priorities for network planning and build, enabling faster and more reliable connection of new generation, and meeting increasing demand from large‑scale computing and data centres.
Market reform, network charging & system planning
Attendees examined the interaction of grid planning and investment decisions, with reform to market arrangements, network charging and energy planning outlined in the delivery plan.
Sessions considered priorities for the Centralised Strategic Network Plan in guiding network reinforcement, funding and investment options - including possible combinations of siting and investment levers - as well as its co-ordination with the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan and Regional Energy Strategic Plans. Delegates assessed how reform to Transmission Network Use of System (TNUoS) and connection charges can best support efficient siting decisions for new generation - as well as approaches to balancing investment with consumer affordability.
The way forward for network management to address constraints and optimise system use was also considered, including reform to the Balancing Mechanism, options for improving co-ordination of access, and incentives for encouraging energy storage and flexible demand.
Connection reform, queue management & system capacity
Strategic options for clearing and managing the connection queue backlog were discussed, following the surge in demand for connections.
Discussion assessed how contracted energy projects - such as those supported through Contracts for Difference following Allocation Round 7 and Ofgem’s Long Duration Energy Storage cap and floor scheme - can be aligned with connection capacity and market reform. We expected discussion to also reflect concerns that connections reform will favour short-term generation projects, looking at how to address the post-2030 pipeline and long-term strategic alignment.
This included how readiness and strategic alignment criteria should be applied across generation and demand, and ways to address speculative and non-viable applications. Delegates considered issues around perceived fairness and approaches to maintaining transparency and accountability in queue management, including how applications from high electricity demand users - such as data centres - should be treated within prioritisation frameworks, as well as the role of dispute resolution processes.
Infrastructure delivery, planning reform & supply chain capacity
Discussion considered strategies set out in the Constraints Management Action Plan for addressing network costs and constraints, and priorities for delivery.
Implications of recent and forthcoming planning reform for consenting, co-ordinating, and delivering grid infrastructure were examined. This included the updated National Policy Statements EN-1, EN-3, and EN-5 - designating electricity network infrastructure as a Critical National Priority - as well as revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework. Delegates also considered implications of the Government’s response to its Electricity Network Infrastructure consultation, which sets out reform for consents, land access and rights aiming to accelerate grid build; associated changes introduced under the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, including to pre-application consultation, post-consent process, and flexible consenting routes; proposals for further reform to judicial review for infrastructure; and measures in the forthcoming Energy Independence Bill.
Delegates assessed concerns regarding inconsistent interpretation and weighting of CNP status in consenting, and questions around balancing critical status urgency with biodiversity and environmental requirements, and community engagement.
Sessions also looked at what may be needed to bridge gaps between policy ambitions and operational delivery. Delegates examined network build requirements and constraints in supply chains, as well as manufacturing capacity and workforce skills, and their implications for addressing persistent connection delays.
Discussion considered chain and procurement challenges, looking at progress of Ofgem’s Advanced Procurement Mechanism, and options for enhancing visibility of procurement requirements, and integration of skills and workforce planning. Delegates reviewed the interim Electricity Networks Sector Growth Plan, assessing options for supporting domestic manufacturing capacity and workforces, alongside delivery of network investment programmes - such as the Great Grid Upgrade and the RIIO-T3 investment plan - and their role in supporting economic growth and objectives set out in the Industrial Strategy.
Digitalisation, AI & system resilience
Looking forward to the forthcoming Energy Resilience Strategy, attendees considered ways to strengthen resilience, minimise disruption, and protect asset quality, while preparing for rising electricity demand.
Delegates also considered the way forward for innovation in grid management, including potential opportunities for the deployment of AI, following the Government’s Technology Adoption Review and in anticipation of the review of AI use in electricity networks expected this summer. Discussion explored the application of digital tools for improved forecasting, flexibility, and system optimisation, alongside practical use cases for AI in grid planning, asset monitoring, predictive maintenance, and operational decision-making.
As well as key stakeholders those attending included parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and officials from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Department for Business and Trade; Department for Education; Department for Transport; Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government; Department for the Economy, NI; Climate Change Committee; Great British Energy; Health and Safety Executive; House of Commons Library; Ministry of Defence; Planning Inspectorate; National Audit Office; Government Office for Science; Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; Office for Investment; National Wealth Fund; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
