UKPN Farm Solar Grid Connection 2026: G98, G99, Timelines
Published by SEO Dons · Last reviewed April 2026
If your farm sits in London, Essex, Kent, East Sussex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk or Suffolk, your solar connection is managed by UK Power Networks (UKPN). UKPN is the largest Distribution Network Operator in the UK by customer count, and in 2025-2026 it has become one of the most constrained networks for new distributed generation. Getting your connection right from the first application saves months on the queue.
G98 vs G99 - Which applies to your farm?
Every grid-tied solar system in Great Britain falls under one of two engineering recommendations. G98 covers single-phase installations up to 16A per phase, typically under 3.68kW. Every commercial farm solar system crosses this threshold immediately, which means your installation is a G99 application - requiring formal DNO approval before you can energise the system.
Systems up to 16 A per phase (3.68 kW) connect under G98; larger farm systems need a G99 application and, above a certain size, a network study. Timelines depend on system size, the local network and whether reinforcement is needed, and no official series publishes typical connection times; ask the network operator for its current quote-to-connection times before you commit to a harvest-linked date.
UKPN constraint hotspots for farm solar
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North Kent coast - limited headroom around the Hoo Peninsula and Thanet, with deep 11kV reinforcement sometimes required above 200kW.
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Rural Essex - high density of existing renewables has saturated several 33/11kV substations. ANM (Active Network Management) offers are increasingly common.
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East Anglia - the combination of solar farms and anaerobic digestion has created export constraints around Thetford and West Suffolk.
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South East London Green Belt - limited rural 11kV capacity despite proximity to urban demand.
What a G99 application costs in 2026
UKPN publishes its application and assessment charges in its connection charging statements; ask for the current figure for your system size. Reinforcement costs, if required, are quoted separately and depend on the network headroom at your supply point.
Our recommendation: always request a budget-only Minimum Cost Scheme quote before you commit. They reveal whether your site will need reinforcement long before you sign contracts.
How long does a UKPN farm connection take?
Typical 2026 timelines once a quote is accepted:
- Timelines depend on system size, the local network and whether reinforcement is needed, and no official series publishes typical connection times; ask the network operator for its current quote-to-connection times before you commit to a harvest-linked date.
We submit and manage the full G99 pack on every UKPN project we deliver - including the ENA EREC G99 Form A1-2, manufacturer type-test certificates, protection settings and commissioning notification. If your installer expects you to handle the DNO paperwork yourself, that is a red flag.
For farms outside the UKPN area, see our companion guides on Northern Powergrid, NGED and SP Energy Networks.
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