UK’s National Grid accelerates 20GW of clean energy connections

National Grid is accelerating the connection of up to 20GW of clean energy projects to its electricity transmission and distribution networks in England and Wales as part of ongoing collaborative work across industry in the UK.

On its transmission network, 19 battery energy storage projects worth around 10GW will be offered dates to plug in, averaging four years earlier than their current agreement, based on a new approach which removes the need for non-essential engineering works prior to connecting storage.

The new policy is part of National Grid’s connections reform initiative targeting transmission capacity, spearheaded by the ESO – which owns the contractual relationship with connecting projects – and actioned jointly with National Grid Electricity Transmission (ET), which designs and builds the transmission infrastructure needed in England and Wales to plug projects in.

On its distribution network in the Midlands, South-west of England and South Wales, the additional 10GW is hoped to accelerate the connection of scores of low carbon technology projects, bringing forward some ‘shovel ready’ schemes by up to five years.

A further tranche of clean energy projects – primarily batteries and hybrids (batteries co-located with wind or solar) – will be offered accelerated transmission connections as part of another phase anticipated in the new year, which could bring forward another 10GW.

Traditionally National Grid carries out network reinforcements before a project plugs in – sometimes adding years to a connection – based on the assumption that batteries could charge at peak times and export when generation is high, exacerbating system peaks and constraints.

Following technical analysis by electricity transmission engineers, National Grid will now offer selected battery projects a transmission connection before network reinforcements are made, on the agreement that the ESO can adjust the battery’s behaviour in certain operating conditions to reduce system impact.

National Grid has already been in contact with more than 200 projects interested in fast-tracking their distribution connection dates in the first wave of the capacity release, with 16 expressing an interest in connecting in the next 12 months and another 180 looking to connect within two to five years.

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A new approach

The new approach to transmission storage connections – a flagship policy in the ESO’s five-point plan to speed up connections – comes as National Grid ET undertakes an extensive review of projects in the connections pipeline in England and Wales to identify which can come forward based on new planning assumptions agreed with the ESO.

Responding to the news, Julian Leslie, ESO head of networks and chief engineer, commented: “We’re pleased to see the tangible delivery against one of the key points of our five-point plan to speed up connections to the transmission grid for battery and storage projects.

“The ESO will continue to work with Great Britain’s Transmission and Distribution Owners, Ofgem, Government and the wider industry to solve one of the key challenges facing our energy system today.”

Alice Delahunty, president of National Grid Electricity Transmission, said in a release: “We’re committed to speeding up connections and creating a ‘fit for the future’ process for plugging projects into the grid.

“Bringing these battery projects forward is one of a range of actions that our electricity transmission business is delivering alongside the system operator and wider industry to unlock clean energy capacity in England and Wales.”

Engineers from National Grid’s distribution business are also working through the potential for acceleration and will be contacting project owners individually to discuss next steps.

The accelerated 20GW of storage projects equates to the capacity of six Hinkley Point C nuclear power stations and follows months of work and engagement with industry, Ofgem and government to find innovative solutions that will make plugging in clean energy projects faster and more flexible.

That includes collaborative action between Britain’s transmission and distribution networks – part of the Energy Networks Association (ENA)’s three-step plan for connections – to manage their technical interface more effectively to unlock gigawatts of capacity.