SSEN Distribution expedites timescales for 25 projects to unlock grid capacity

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution has enabled accelerated timescales for 25 projects to connect to distribution networks through their Technical Limits programme.

The programme, which expects to unlock over 7GW of new electricity capacity in two of the utility’s distribution network licence areas, analyses power flows across grid supply points (GSPs) where the transmission network connects to the distribution network.

If the power flow through a GSP is kept within a certain level, then schemes connecting to the GSP won’t impact the transmission system, allowing distribution customers to connect before transmission reinforcement completes.

According to UK-based grid consultancy Roadnight Taylor, the DNO – in this case, SSEN Distribution – monitors power flow through supergrid transformers and controls the output of customers connecting under the Technical Limits scheme, so that the limit is never exceeded.

“The Technical Limits programme is all about maximising the availability of the networks that we have in place today, on the way to upgrading them to meet the needs of tomorrow,” said Chris Hewett, chief executive of Solar Energy UK, in a release.

“This means that some projects can be accommodated only at reduced scale, for time being at least. So, I am glad to hear that several of the connections offered for solar installations so far this year have been curtailed by less than 5%. We hope to see many more come through in the coming months.”

First tranche

Within the programme, a review of the first tranche of six GSPs has accelerated timescales for 25 projects, including one offer to Wokingham Solar Farm to bring forward its connection by up to 13 years.

Since the turn of the new year, SSEN has issued new connection offers to all customers whose projects relate to these initial six GSPs.

Each of these customers will now be able to connect to the electricity network ahead of schedule by between two and 13 years. SSEN expects the first of these projects to connect in mid-April.

The first tranche of projects to be offered earlier grid access comprises around 50% battery storage, 40% solar generation and 10% battery/solar hybrid projects.

Offers are only being made where curtailment will be limited, with a third of the projects under 3% curtailment, or where a higher threshold is likely to be manageable due to the technology.

Of the total 7GW of expected capacity to be unlocked, 2.5GW have already been released in central southern England. The remainder will be unlocked across SSEN Distribution’s licence areas in England and Scotland, the equivalent capacity to power four million homes, or 19 million solar panels.

The second tranche of offers for SSEN’s central Southern England licence area, and the first wave of revised offers for its north of Scotland licence area, are due to be issued in the coming months.

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Generating early connections

Said Susana Neves e Brooks, SSEN’s head of Connections, Policy, and Performance, in a release: “We’re committed to working closely with all our customers with the aim of providing timely connections to the grid, and finding solutions that deliver faster timescales wherever possible.

“We’re pleased that through the co-ordinated approach with our customers and National Grid Electricity Transmission, projects are now getting earlier connection dates which are helping them realise their ambitions much sooner.”

Said Stephen Conway, leader of Wokingham Borough Council, which is developing Barkham Solar Farm, a project being progressed with a curtailment level of less than 3% with renewable power expected to be generated at the site as early as summer 2026:

“This is fantastic news and reflects the work we’ve done to build strong relationships with SSEN and demonstrates why schemes like this are so important locally.

“By generating renewable energy locally and putting it back into the grid, schemes like this have a significant part to play in securing sustainable power supplies, stabilising the costs of energy, and helping protect residents from further cost of living crises in the longer term.”

Added Paul Lowbridge, head of Customer Management at National Grid Electricity Transmission:

“Connecting projects to our transmission network and unlocking capacity at lower voltage distribution networks is a massive priority for us, so it’s great to see the progress being made by SSEN.

“Technical Limits are one of a range of measures to help connect projects faster, including grid upgrades – the biggest in a generation – and working collaboratively with industry, government and the regulator on reforms to the connections process.

“It’s all paving the way for the more fundamental connections reform that we’re collectively working with government and the regulator to deliver to keep Britain on track for a secure, affordable, and net zero energy system.”

SSEN’s Technical Limits programme is being delivered in partnership with National Grid Electricity Transmission in England and SSEN Transmission in Scotland.

The programme’s work to free up extra capacity on the distribution network is an important interim measure to support customers and enable net zero progress, while longer-term work to reinforce the transmission network is completed.

In addition to these longer-term benefits, this newly unlocked capacity will support progress towards the UK Government’s target of 70GW of solar generation by 2035.