GB BESS buildout forecast, October 2026: 17.7 GW by the end of 2029
GB BESS buildout forecast, October 2026: 17.7 GW by the end of 2029
We recently refreshed our GB BESS pipeline. Connections reform pushed many projects’ connection dates further out, so we have also updated our short-term BESS buildout forecast.
The forecast uses the pipeline to set how much capacity is coming, and past delivery to set how fast it arrives.
We now expect 17.7 GW of batteries by the end of 2029: 2.9 GW below our October 2026 release. The projects are there but the pace of buildout is far from where it needs to be to hit the CP30 BESS goals.
In addition, CMP470, a proposed connection queue fee, has limited impact on our short-term forecast, but it could push individual projects due after 2029 out of the queue, as a result of paying higher securities.
Catch up on our latest buildout and pipeline analysis:
- October 2026 GB BESS pipeline update: how we rebuilt the pipeline
- Q3 2026 buildout report: the latest fleet numbers
- July 2026 CMP470 update: how the CMP470 fee would work
Key takeaways
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