Scottish operators quadruple impact assessment threshold for grid connections

SSE’s transmission and distribution businesses have increased four-fold the threshold at which new projects will require a transmission impact assessment (TIA) in a bid to connect more renewable energy projects to their grid network in the north of Scotland.

SSEN Transmission and SSEN Distribution announced the impact assessment threshold increase from 50kW to 200kW, which will see more projects being able to connect to the power grid without the cost and delay that comes with the assessment needing to be carried out.

The change means that around 35 customers in mainland Scotland, with a combined generating potential of over 5MW, will now be able to connect significantly earlier than previously anticipated. The threshold adjustment also allows some prospective customers to save on the cost of application fees.

The change comes into effect for SSEN Transmission’s mainland operating area in the north of Scotland but does not include grid supply points on the islands surrounding the mainland, where the threshold remains 50kW due to transmission network constraints.

Have you read:
Ofgem approves £3.4bn for ‘superhighway’ cable between Scotland and Yorkshire
Shetland Islands connects to the GB power grid

A 130kW industrial customer connection project in Dundee shows the impact of the change of TIA threshold.

Under the previous threshold of 50kW, the scheme was given a proposed 2031 connection date, with extensive work needed to be carried out. Now, the project can connect to the transmission network as soon as it is ready, says SSEN, allowing more clean power to flow through the grid.

According to the operators in a release, the update follows a thorough review that considered a range of factors, including the likely number of customers, risk assessment of the security of the transmission network, and a study of the contribution new technologies can make.

Said Josh King, the managing director of Gensource and chair of Solar Energy Scotland: “We welcome the recent decision to reduce barriers to renewable energy generation and storage. This significant development follows ongoing dialogue between SSEN and Solar Energy Scotland (SES).

“The increase in the upper limit for renewable connections from 50kW to 200kW brings SSE’s limits in line with the rest of mainland Scotland. This move will be particularly beneficial for businesses in the North of Scotland, supporting them to decarbonise their operations and generate clean, affordable energy.”

SSEN Transmission will continue to review the TIA threshold and assess any future opportunities to further increase it or identify any emerging concerns around network security that might require it to be adjusted.