Qualitative review and analysis of present and future grid connection challenges in Great Britain

Grid connection delays pose a significant challenge for the National Energy System Operator (NESO) in Great Britain (GB). As of 2024, the average time between a connection request and the issuance of an offer has reached five years, with some applications facing projected connection dates over a decade away. While NESO is undertaking a reform process to address these issues, this too introduces uncertainty, as some sites may lose their existing positions in the connection queue.This study presents a qualitative, sector-based analysis of current and emerging grid connection challenges faced by stakeholders across various energy production and consumption sectors. These sectors include transportation (with a focus on rail electrification and the growing deployment of electric vehicles), renewable technologies and energy storage, as well as the expanding presence of data centres and logistics hubs.Qualitative analysis is conducted to assess grid connection issues across different regions of GB, highlighting variations in future electricity demand and comparing these to national trends. The study also maps the geographic distribution of sector-specific energy demands, offering insight into regional disparities and the spatial concentration of anticipated load growth.