In Great Britain, NESO’s December 2025 connections reform prioritised deliverable, “shovel-ready” projects—a signal that grid readiness is now central to value and transaction timing. Not as a replacement for relationships, but as an execution layer that helps professional counterparties navigate a more demanding market. Hottest markets in 2026 and factors shaping dealsIn 2026, “hot markets” are not defined by installed capacity alone. Why platform-driven M&A is emergingRenewables-specific M&A platforms such as Nrdeal are helping improve deal flow. As 2026 intensifies the premium on execution certainty, platforms are likely to play a larger role as an alternative way to run renewables M&A, where quality, structure and speed are key features of the process.