News and insights.
Grid, planning and policy updates in plain English, for developers and landowners in the South West.
Grid connections reform, explained for South West landowners
Why secured land now matters more than ever for solar farms, and what grid connections reform means if a developer has approached you about your land.
Gate 2 grid offers: where things stand in autumn 2026
Gate 2 grid connection offers are rolling out to distribution projects. The dates, the delays and what to check in your offer, in plain English.
Solar CCTV for farms: keep an eye on remote fields and yards
How solar-powered CCTV works on farms with no mains power, how to size it for winter, the data protection rules and what to check before you buy.
Solar electric gates for farms: power where there's no mains
How solar-powered electric gates work on farms, sizing for winter, the safety rules for powered gates, planning and public rights of way.
How much do solar farms pay per acre in the UK?
What solar farms pay landowners per acre in the UK, how the rent is structured, what affects it and the tax points to check before you sign.
Transmission impact assessments: what the 5MW threshold means for South West solar
The transmission impact assessment threshold in England and Wales rose from 1MW to 5MW. What it means for smaller solar projects in the South West.
What is a solar PPA? Solar for your business with no upfront cost
How a solar power purchase agreement works for UK businesses: no upfront cost, a fixed power price, who maintains it and what to check first.
What is private wire? Power straight from a solar farm to your site
Private wire sends power from a solar farm straight to a business by cable, avoiding some grid charges. How it works, the rules and what to watch.
Grid and policy, at the source.
Official documents we keep to hand. They open on the publisher's website.
- NESOConnections reform timeline (opens in a new tab)
- NESOStreamlining the connection of distributed generation (TIA threshold) (opens in a new tab)
- GOV.UKClean Power 2030 Action Plan: connections reform annex (opens in a new tab)
- OfgemReform package to speed up grid connections (opens in a new tab)
- South West Net Zero HubConnections reform explained (opens in a new tab)