What is Connections Reform?
Connections Reform is a project being run by National Energy System Operator (NESO), formally National Grid Energy System Operator (NGESO), to change the way connection application to the transmission system are handled.
There is a lot of information available from the NESO here, so we have provided some quick fire answers to a few key questions below.
Article by Pete Aston
Pete joined Roadnight Taylor from WPD (National Grid Electricity Distribution), the UK’s largest DNO, where he was Primary System Design Manager. He led a team of sixty responsible for all connections and reinforcement of the extra high voltage network, and had oversite of the relationship and interactions with the then National Grid Electricity System Operator (NGESO) at the Transmission/Distribution (T/D) boundary.
26 June 2024
Why is Connections Reform happening?
The extremely large pipeline of accepted offers for electricity connections across the country (about 700GW at the time of writing), far exceeds the projections of required capacity to meet net zero. As such, there are lots of schemes in the queue that will never proceed, many of them being large-scale batteries. The current connections regime is based on a ‘first come, first served’ approach, where customers who applied earlier (but who aren’t proceeding) can block later customers with viable projects ready to build. This has led to very long predicted connection dates for many customers.
When did Connections Reform start?
NESO first started planning Connections Reform in 2022, and in July 2023 issued their first public consultation.
What is the Connections Reform proposal?
Connections Reform will bring in an annual application window for transmission connections and move to a ‘first ready, first connected’ approach. This will provide a Gate 1 position for customers, at which customers will only have an indicative point of connection, will not have any indication of the enabling works required to make the connection, and will not have a connection date.
Until customers reach Gate 2, their project will effectively be on-hold. To reach Gate 2, customers will have to demonstrated they have met certain requirements, which may include obtaining land rights and committing to submit a planning application within a certain timeframe.
NESO has indicated that they would like Gate 2 criteria to be applied to the existing queue, i.e. if customers with existing accepted offers have not met the Gate 2 criteria, then they move to a Gate 1 position (and have no agreed connection date or point of connection).
What are the next Connections Reform steps?
Two industry panels have been convened to prepare CUSC Modification Proposals (CMPs). CMP434 is to plan the implementation of connections reform. CMP435 is to plan the application of Gate 2 criteria to the existing queue.
These are due to conclude late summer / early autumn 2024, at which point Ofgem will need to decide whether to accept the proposals. Connections Reform is due to be implemented in January 2025.
How can Roadnight Taylor help?
Roadnight Taylor can help clients to understand the implications of Connections Reform on their projects.
To find out more call us on 01993 830571 or send us a message via our contact form.
