Distribution network headroom by DNO
All six GB distribution network operators publish substation headroom as open data. Delivery Year reads 5,038 substations from them; the latest files range from 11 March 2026 to 7 October 2026. Each operator sets its own method, so figures are not like-for-like across networks.
Data as of 7 October 2026. Built only from public data and our published method. Information only, not advice.
What each network publishes
Every GB distribution network operator publishes substation headroom in a capacity heatmap. Delivery Year reads 5,038 substations from them. The latest files range from 11 March 2026 to 7 October 2026.
| Network operator | Substations read | By level | Source file date | Median generation headroom (MW) | Median demand headroom (MW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Powergrid | 670 | 41 GSP, 78 BSP, 551 Primary | 27 July 2026 | 2.1 | 6.5 |
| UK Power Networks | 967 | 967 Primary | 23 July 2026 | 21.8 | 8.6 |
| SP Energy Networks | 766 | 40 BSP, 726 Primary | 12 June 2026 | 9.8 | 8.1 |
| Electricity North West | 458 | 17 GSP, 64 BSP, 377 Primary | 7 October 2026 | 11.2 | 4.3 |
| SSEN Distribution | 998 | 99 GSP, 80 BSP, 819 Primary | 11 March 2026 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| National Grid Electricity Distribution | 1,179 | 241 BSP, 938 Primary | 27 July 2026 | 11.1 | 7.8 |
Medians are across the substations read for that operator, including Grid Supply Points (GSP), Bulk Supply Points (BSP) and primary substations where published. Each operator uses its own study assumptions and its own mix of substation levels, so these figures are not like-for-like across networks.
Red, amber and green ratings
Ratings are each operator's own, with its own thresholds. Electricity North West publishes headroom without a rating. Where a network publishes no rating, our scores treat the rating as neutral rather than as a penalty.
| Network operator | Green | Amber | Red | No rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Powergrid | 226 | 175 | 269 | 0 |
| UK Power Networks | 936 | 3 | 28 | 0 |
| SP Energy Networks | 517 | 22 | 51 | 176 |
| Electricity North West | Not published | Not published | Not published | 458 |
| SSEN Distribution | 111 | 18 | 869 | 0 |
| National Grid Electricity Distribution | 613 | 141 | 389 | 36 |
Embedded capacity registers
Alongside headroom, each operator publishes an embedded capacity register of generation and storage of 50 kW or more that is connected or accepted to connect, updated monthly. On the Delivery Year map, 626 embedded-register projects are placed at their substation and 141 TEC entries at a matching Grid Supply Point.
Licences
- Northern Powergrid: Northern Powergrid Open Data Licence v1.0 (OGL-based; commercial use permitted). Supported by Northern Powergrid Open Data
- UK Power Networks: CC BY 4.0 (commercial use permitted with attribution). Contains data from UK Power Networks Open Data Portal, licensed under CC BY 4.0
- SP Energy Networks: CC BY 4.0 (commercial use permitted with attribution). Contains data from SP Energy Networks Open Data Portal, licensed under CC BY 4.0
- Electricity North West: CC BY 4.0 (commercial use permitted with attribution). Contains data from SP Electricity North West Open Data Portal, licensed under CC BY 4.0
- SSEN Distribution: CC BY 4.0 (commercial use permitted with attribution). Contains data from SSEN Distribution Data Portal (Generation Availability and Network Capacity), licensed under CC BY 4.0
- National Grid Electricity Distribution: NGED (WPD) Open Data Licence, based on OGL v3.0 (commercial use permitted with attribution). Supported by NGED Open Data. Licence: https://commercial.nationalgrid.co.uk/open-data-licence
Questions
What is DNO headroom?
Headroom is the capacity a distribution network operator reports as available at a substation for new generation (export) or new demand (import) before reinforcement, under that operator's own study assumptions.
Which DNOs publish headroom data?
All six: Northern Powergrid, UK Power Networks, SP Energy Networks, Electricity North West, SSEN Distribution, National Grid Electricity Distribution. Delivery Year reads 5,038 substations from their open data.
Can headroom be compared across DNOs?
Not directly. Each operator sets its own assumptions, thresholds and substation levels, and publishes on its own date. Compare substations within one network, and check the operator's own heatmap before relying on a figure.
What is an embedded capacity register?
A register each distribution network operator publishes of generation and storage of 50 kW or more that is connected or accepted to connect to its network, updated monthly, in a format agreed through the Energy Networks Association's Open Networks project.
Sources
- Northern Powergrid: network capacity heatmap · Northern Powergrid Open Data Licence v1.0 (OGL-based; commercial use permitted)
- UK Power Networks: network capacity heatmap · CC BY 4.0 (commercial use permitted with attribution)
- SP Energy Networks: network capacity heatmap · CC BY 4.0 (commercial use permitted with attribution)
- Electricity North West: network capacity heatmap · CC BY 4.0 (commercial use permitted with attribution)
- SSEN Distribution: network capacity heatmap · CC BY 4.0 (commercial use permitted with attribution)
- National Grid Electricity Distribution: network capacity heatmap · NGED (WPD) Open Data Licence, based on OGL v3.0 (commercial use permitted with attribution)
- National Grid Electricity Distribution: Embedded Capacity Register (description of the register)
- SSEN Distribution: Embedded Capacity Register (description of the register)
Figures are a snapshot of the latest published data and are rebuilt with every data refresh. Check primary sources before relying on any figure. Methodology & data use · Plans