UK streamlines connections for small-scale energy projects
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Ofgem has approved a modification to the Connection and Use of System Code (CUSC) in the UK, enabling faster connections for small-scale energy projects, such as community energy projects.
The modification, CMP446, raises the threshold for requiring an Evaluation of Transmission Impact Assessment (TIA) from 1MW to 5MW, where fault level issues aren’t present, enabling faster connections for smaller projects.
According to the National Energy System Operator (NESO) in a release, since 2016, distributed generation projects exceeding 1MW in England and Wales have been required to undergo a TIA to assess their impact on the transmission network and determine whether network reinforcements are needed.
While essential for larger projects, NESO says the process often delayed smaller initiatives with minimal impact on the grid.
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According to NESO, by reducing the risks and costs associated with the 1-5MW range of distributed generation projects, developers can proceed with less financial burden as small projects would no longer be subject to significant transmission works. This could lead to lower energy bills for consumers and provide energy investors with more certainty.
The modification they say is especially beneficial for community energy projects, which often fall under the 5MW mark.
Once implemented, these projects will be able to connect quicker and contribute to local renewable energy generation and sustainability goals.
The change directly impacts 337 projects totalling 682MW currently in the connections queue, by allowing them to proceed without the need for a TIA.
The modification took effect on 12 May 2025, and is part of a comprehensive set of connection reforms in the UK designed to overhaul the grid connection process and prioritise projects ready to connect to the grid.
To support the implementation of CMP446, NESO collaborated closely with National Grid and other distribution network operators to evaluate the impact of raising the TIA threshold.
Commenting in a release was Matt Vickers, director of Connections Reform, NESO: “This change to the connections process is an important step in supporting future community energy and smaller scale projects to connect to our electricity distribution networks. By raising this threshold, we can unlock the connections process for over 682MW of smaller projects without sacrificing on resilience of our electricity networks.”
The new threshold does not affect projects in Scotland, where a TIA is required for projects above 200kW on the mainland and 50kW on the Scottish islands.
