Executive Summary

• This year’s Solar & Storage had three dominant topics, according to renewables experts at Eland Cables; here are their key themes from the event.
• Grid connections and NESO reform remain a critical pressure point, energy security and independence are now driving mainstream market demand, and the role of government in accelerating the transition continues to divide opinion across the board.
• During the event, there was broad recognition that delivering the next phase of the energy transition will rely on a robust supply chain as well as policy and regulations.

 

Solar & Storage Live London 2026 reflected an industry that is confident in its direction, but increasingly focused on the practicalities of delivery. Across keynote sessions and panel debates, the agenda repeatedly returned to the same central questions: how quickly the UK can unlock grid capacity, how policy and regulation can best support deployment, and how solar and storage can strengthen Britain’s long-term energy security.

While the technology and investment appetite for renewables are clearly in place, this year’s event emphasised that structural reform, rather than innovation alone, will shape how fast projects move from ambition to operation.

Drawing on insights from across Eland Cables’ renewables experts, three dominant themes stood out: grid connections and NESO reform remain a critical pressure point; energy security and independence are now driving mainstream market demand; and the role of government in accelerating the transition continues to divide opinion.

Grid connections and NESO reform: progress, but pressure remains

Grid access was among the most consistently referenced issues throughout the conference programme. From utility-scale solar developers to storage specialists and commercial and industrial users, speakers acknowledged that connection delays continue to constrain the pace of deployment, despite reform momentum following the transition to the National Energy System Operator in December.

Deborah Graham-Wilson, Head of Communications and ESG at Eland Cables, observed that this was one of the clearest areas of consensus at the event.

“What was striking this year was how universal the conversation around grid access has become. Whether sessions focused on utility-scale generation, storage, or large energy users, the underlying challenge was the same: demand and capability exist, but connection timelines are still limiting what can be delivered.”

Several speakers also highlighted that accelerating connections will depend not only on policy reform, but on the readiness of the underlying electrical infrastructure, including substations, cabling and balance-of-plant components that are often on the critical path for project delivery.

NESO reform featured prominently in policy-focused sessions, particularly around queue management, data transparency, and long-term system planning. However, many discussions reflected a lingering sense of uncertainty about what reform will mean in practice, and how quickly its benefits will be felt on the ground.

“There’s optimism about reform,” Graham-Wilson adds, “but also pragmatism. The industry understands that the structural changes made at the end of last year are not a quick fix. There is still a ‘what now?’ feeling, and a recognition that it will take time before processes start to feel consistently faster or more predictable.”

This cautious mood was echoed across panels, with several speakers stressing that meaningful progress will depend on implementation as much as governance change.
Energy security and Britain’s energy independence move centre stage
Energy security featured strongly across keynote discussions and investment-led panels, reflecting how geopolitical uncertainty and market volatility have reshaped priorities across the sector. Solar and storage were repeatedly positioned not just as decarbonisation solutions, but as strategic assets supporting national resilience and economic stability.

These conversations were reinforced by recent real-world data reported by the National Energy System Operator. In late April, NESO confirmed a record-breaking period during which zero carbon sources supplied almost 99 percent of Britain’s electricity during a peak afternoon window. Solar also set new records during this period, reaching 14.8 GW at midday and then surpassing 15 GW shortly afterwards. Speakers regularly referenced these moments as tangible evidence of how quickly renewables, particularly solar, are becoming a core part of the UK’s energy mix.

Matias Ramon i Mendiola of Eland Cables highlighted how this framing is influencing conversations across the supply chain.

“Energy independence has become a practical priority, not a political slogan. The agenda made clear that solar and storage are being viewed as essential infrastructure, capable of reducing exposure to price shocks and strengthening the UK’s domestic energy system.”
The growing interest in co-located solar and battery storage projects, flexibility services, and private networks reflects this shift. Rather than focusing solely on generation capacity, the market is increasingly concerned with how energy is managed, stored, and deployed when and where it is needed most.

“What’s encouraging,” says Ramon i Mendiola, “is the scale of ambition combined with commercial realism. The conversations weren’t about whether demand exists. They were about how quickly projects can be delivered within current constraints.”

Regulation and government action: differing views, shared goals

If grid reform and energy security were common ground, regulatory strategy prompted a broader range of perspectives. Across policy and investment panels, speakers revealed contrasting views on how government involvement should evolve to support large-scale renewables deployment.

Some argued that excessive regulation and slow decision-making are creating unnecessary barriers, particularly for projects that are technically viable and well-financed. Others contended that clearer, stronger regulation is needed to provide investor confidence and accelerate the transition at scale.

Jean-Sebastien Pelland, Executive Director at Eland Cables, observed that the agenda reflected these differing perspectives.

“There’s a clear split in opinion, not on the destination, but on the mechanism. Some believe reducing government friction is the fastest way to unlock projects, while others see robust regulation as essential for long-term certainty and credibility.”
From Pelland’s perspective, many stakeholders are seeking clarity rather than deregulation.
For suppliers operating across multiple project types and regulatory frameworks, consistency was seen as particularly important to maintaining quality, compliance and delivery timelines across complex energy infrastructure projects.

“What came through strongly is that the industry wants consistency. Clear timelines, transparent grid processes, and stable policy frameworks help developers, investors, and suppliers plan with confidence, regardless of where they sit in the value chain.”

What Solar & Storage Live London 2026 tells us about the market

This year’s Solar & Storage Live agenda portrayed a sector ready to scale, but increasingly focused on execution. The appetite for solar and storage is growing across utility, commercial, and industrial markets, driven by energy security concerns as much as decarbonisation goals.

For energy-intensive sectors, including data centres, the themes explored at the event reinforce an important lesson: energy infrastructure strategy is becoming inseparable from broader economic and operational planning.

“This year’s discussions underlined how interconnected the energy system has become,” Graham-Wilson concludes. “Grid reform, regulation, storage, and supply chain resilience aren’t isolated issues. They are all part of the same challenge of delivering the energy transition at pace.”

Across the agenda, there was broad recognition that delivering the next phase of the energy transition will rely not only on generation and policy, but on robust supply chains capable of supporting projects from design through to long-term operation.

As Solar & Storage Live London continues to grow, the 2026 edition made one thing clear. The future of the UK’s energy system will be decided less by ambition and more by how effectively structural barriers can be removed to turn demand into delivered capacity.