The NOA is our recommendation for which reinforcement projects should receive investment during the coming year to facilitate the development of an efficient, coordinated, and economical system of electricity transmission. This must be consistent with the National Electricity Transmission System Security and Quality of Supply Standard (NETS SQSS), as well as the development of efficient interconnection capacity.
The NOA methodology describes how we assess the required levels of network transfer, the options available to meet this requirement and recommends options for further development. The methodology also describes the end to end process from the analysis to the publication of the NOA report and identifies the roles and responsibilities of the Electricity System Operator (ESO) and onshore Transmission Owners (TOs). The holistic network design (HND) and offshore transmission network review (OTNR) are considered in our NOA work.

Draft NOA 2023 Methodology
We have published our revised Network Options Assessment (NOA) 2023 methodology for consultation. The consultation will last six weeks and close at 5pm on Monday 26th June. Your responses will help improve the onshore assessment of network options to meet the growing GB electricity transmission system needs.
This methodology describes the end-to-end process - from our analysis to the publication of the onshore network options assessment. It also details our process for assessing interconnectors, Network Services Procurement, and Interested Persons’ options.
You can submit your response to us by email to [email protected].

NOA 2022 methodology
The NOA methodology describes how we assess major National Electricity Transmission System (NETS) reinforcements to meet the requirements identified from the outputs of the Future Energy Scenarios (FES) and Electricity Ten Year Statement (ETYS).
In this document, we explain how the options submitted by stakeholders are assessed in the NOA and how we make the recommendations.
Learn more about the NOA methodology
Latest news
NOA 2022/23 methodology submitted to Ofgem
We have finished our review of the NOA 2022/23 methodology and submitted it to Ofgem on 27 July 2022. Thank you for your feedback, and link to the 2022-23 methodology.
UoM review of the NOA Process - Economic Aspects
In 2020 the University of Melbourne reviewed the NOA Process as part of an innovation project. Download their report on the economic aspects.
UoM review of the NOA Process - Technical Aspects
In 2020 the University of Melbourne reviewed the NOA Process as part of an innovation project. Download their report on the technical aspects.
Our NOA methodology has been approved
Ofgem have approved this year's NOA methodology and the letter is now available.
Contact us if you have a question, want to share some insight or have feedback on any part of the NOA or its methodology.
We consult on the NOA methodology in the late spring of each year. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates.