Why Gate 2 status doesn't guarantee UK solar's 2030 delivery

NESO's connections reform successfully rationalised the grid queue, separating viable projects from speculative capacity. For solar, however, the framework's rigid deadlines compressed a year's worth of applications into local authorities often lacking the administrative capacity to absorb them, leaving most Phase 1 zones short of their permitted allocations. While the backlog has been cleared, whether the remaining pipeline can secure consent in time to meet 2030 targets remains a critical structural uncertainty.