Grid connection for clean energy projects brought forward
Electricity networks in England and Wales have enabled the grid connection offer dates of over 200 clean energy projects to be brought forward by up to as much as a decade.
The move will see 7.8GW of clean energy projects, more than double the output of Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, have connection offer dates brought forward by up to 10 years through the Technical Limits programme.
The scheme is allowing projects to connect to lower voltage distribution networks prior to reinforcement of the high voltage transmission network.
Networks have so far sent offers to 203 projects totalling 7.8GW with an average connection acceleration of 6.5 years. In total, 393 projects are eligible for the programme with the further 190 projects able to receive accelerated offers once they have progressed through the connection offer process. Last month a solar farm near Bridgwater in Somerset became the first project to be energised under this scheme.
Technical Limits, a collaborative project from National Grid Electricity Transmission, Energy Networks Association, the Electricity System Operator and the Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) forms part of the ongoing collaborative industry efforts, together with Ofgem and government, to speed up and reform connections to the grid.
Scottish Transmission and Distribution network owners have been involved in developing the Technical Limits programme and are in the process of rolling out the programme in their license areas also.
To deliver the accelerated offers engineers from National Grid and DNOs carried out detailed analysis of power flows across the boundaries between the transmission and distribution networks.
Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Justin Tomlinson said:
“Thanks to a team effort, over 200 clean energy projects will be connected to our grid earlier. It means thousands of homes and businesses will be powered by more renewable energy generated in Britain.
We are delivering the biggest reforms to the network since the 1950s – allowing us to hook more renewables up to the grid so households and businesses can benefit from cleaner, cheaper electricity.”
Alice Delahunty, President of National Grid Electricity Transmission added:
“Connecting projects to our transmission network, and unlocking capacity at lower voltage distribution networks, is a massive priority for us.
“The Technical Limits programme is a fantastic example of cross industry collaboration. This team effort has delivered an innovative solution to connect schemes more quickly. We’re pleased to see the first project connect earlier than expected and look forward to many more.
“It forms part of a wider range of measures to help connect projects faster, including upgrading the grid – the biggest upgrade in a generation – and working collaboratively with industry, government and the regulator on reforms to the connections process.”
Jack Presley Abbott, Ofgem Deputy Director for Strategic Planning and Connections, said:
“We’re now beginning to see the benefits of connections reform initiatives and we welcome the accelerated grid connections that the Technical Limits project is starting to deliver.
“However there is still much more to do. Many projects are still facing years of delay to connect to the grid. That’s why we’re continuing to work closely with the ESO, network operators, industry and government to ensure the range of reforms set out in the Connections Action Plan are driven through as quickly and effectively as possible to expedite the process for projects that are ready to connect to the grid.
“We look forward to seeing what further benefits are delivered through Technical Limits in later phases and across all of the Transmission Operators.”
Lawrence Slade, CEO, Energy Networks Association said:
“We are already connecting projects at a faster rate than ever before, but we need strategic changes, particularly in planning processes, if we are to go even faster in meeting the huge demand for new connections.”
David Wildash, Head of Connections at the Electricity System Operator said:
“We are pleased to have been a part of this collaborative effort to deliver accelerated connection dates for hundreds of projects – delivering on a key aspect of our five-point plan for connections reform.”
Image from National Grid