NORTHERN POWERGRID LEADS THE WAY ON INITIATIVE TO SPEED UP GRID CONNECTIONS

Across Great Britain, almost half of new large generation connections are being delayed by the need for significant upgrades to the transmission system, with many customers facing likely energisation dates of five to 10 years or more.

Northern Powergrid is the first GB distribution network operator to issue revised offers under an industry initiative designed to speed up the connection of battery storage and generation schemes that could help to address the current UK energy crisis.

Through the phased deployment of delegated technical limits, Northern Powergrid expects to be able to accelerate the connection of up to 4.4GW of customers’ projects, which is enough electricity to power over 10 million homes.

Along with other ‘quick win’ initiatives being implemented by the Electricity Network Association (ENA) Strategic Connections Group to speed up the connection process, the application of technical limits could enable earlier connections for many GB distribution customers.

Paul Glendinning, Director of Energy Systems at Northern Powergrid said: “This is a major milestone and a positive step forwards in enabling more customers to connect to our network.

“We have been collaborating with all the network operators to find innovative ways to speed up the connections process for our customers, some of whom are facing energisation dates of 2030 and beyond.

“We made a commitment to begin issuing revised offers for customers in the first phase by November 2023 and we have delivered on that promise.

“We’ll continue to work hard to bring forward connections dates for the other customers with projects that are being impacted by constraints on the transmission network; to facilitate quicker and cost-effective connections to our distribution network and to be an enabler of our region’s net zero ambitions.”