United Kingdom – October 12, 2026 -- National Grid Electricity Transmission is moving new transmission connection applicants toward shared "bay sharing" arrangements that let multiple customers with requirements of up to 450 MW connect through common facilities. The shift is part of Phase 2 of Connections Reform and aims to use existing assets more efficiently and reduce the need for dedicated infrastructure.
Three shared connection products are now on offer
Grid Parks connect up to three customers through a shared transformer and lower-voltage infrastructure. They suit smaller customers with requirements up to approximately 57 MW and are already used across the transmission network.
Super Grid Parks use higher-voltage infrastructure for larger customers or more customers, with projects of around 150 MW as the target. They are aimed at new substations where future customer growth can be planned.
Banking Compounds let multiple customers share a single transmission bay while keeping a high-voltage connection. They are designed for projects up to 450 MW and for areas where dedicated bays are unavailable or would not use the network efficiently.
Three legacy configurations are closed to most new applicants
Single HV busbar connections are no longer the standard for new smaller customers needing up to 450 MW, because a dedicated bay can reserve significantly more transmission capacity than many projects require.
Tertiary connections, made through the third winding of a Super Grid Transformer, are no longer offered for new applications. National Grid cites their complexity and comparatively high cost against newer shared solutions.
Minimum site interventions, known as tee-off connections, link directly to an overhead transmission line rather than a substation bay. They are no longer generally offered for new applications. Existing customers on all three legacy configurations remain connected.
Shared connections carry different operational characteristics
National Grid states that shared arrangements may operate differently from a dedicated connection. These differences will be addressed during the connection design and offer process.