The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has announced an extension to the notice period for the closure of its connections reform evidence portal.

This decision, which provides a minimum of 10 days' notice for the Gate 2 portal closure, aims to better support energy projects, particularly those from Scottish Renewables' members, in applying for crucial grid connections.

Stephen McKellar, Head of Grid & Networks at Scottish Renewables, commented on the development: "It is encouraging to see NESO taking further steps to address the significant challenges faced by our members. Confirmation that NESO will implement a minimum of 10 days' notice for the Gate 2 portal closure is welcome and responds to pressure from Scottish Renewables and our industry partners."


Mr McKellar affirmed Scottish Renewables' ongoing commitment to the process. "We will continue to work closely with NESO, members and trade associations to ensure that the connections reform process addresses all outstanding concerns and successfully delivers a fair assessment to the projects needed for a clean energy system," he added.

The extension is seen as a positive response to industry calls for more flexibility and support in navigating the grid connections process, which is vital for the deployment of clean energy projects across Scotland.