What Ofgem proposed
On 17 September 2026 Ofgem opened a consultation on a new financial commitment for battery storage projects in the grid connections queue. It is called the Oversubscribed Technologies Commitment Fee, and it would require battery developers to put money down to hold their place, from £3,000 per MW up to £25,000 per MW depending on how oversubscribed their area is.
Why the queue is a problem
- Around 90GW of battery capacity is already operating or sitting in the reformed connections queue.
- Ofgem estimates that about 24GW is needed to meet the 2030 clean power target, and around 29GW by 2035.
- That leaves roughly three times more battery capacity queued than the system needs, and some of it is unlikely ever to be built.
Projects that never get built still take up space in the plans. That makes it harder for networks to plan and invest, and slows down connections for projects that are ready to go. Ofgem's point is simple: the queue should reflect real projects, not placeholders.
What it means for businesses
- Waiting on a connection? If your site needs a new or larger connection, for example for electrification, EV charging or on-site generation, a shorter and more realistic queue should help in time. It will not change anything overnight.
- Planning your own battery? The proposal is aimed at battery storage projects in the connections queue. If you are planning storage at your site, it is worth confirming with your network operator whether your application would be affected.
- Ask for what you really need. Connection capacity has a cost, both in charges and in time. A realistic request, backed by your half hourly data, is usually quicker to process and cheaper to hold.
What happens next
The consultation ran for two weeks from 17 September, and Ofgem expects to make a final decision later in 2026. We will cover the outcome here when it is published.
For more on how network charges are set, see our guide to TNUoS and HV sites.
Common questions
What is the Oversubscribed Technologies Commitment Fee?
A proposed fee for battery storage projects in the grid connections queue, from £3,000 to £25,000 per MW depending on how oversubscribed the area is, designed to remove projects unlikely to be built.
Will this speed up my business connection?
Possibly over time. Clearing speculative projects should free up capacity and help networks plan, but the effect will build gradually rather than immediately.
Sources
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Renewing in the next twelve months?
Book a call and we will look at your timing and options against the current market.
Book a callThis page is general information, not advice on your specific circumstances. Contract terms, charges and scheme rules change, so it is worth confirming the detail for your sites before making a decision.