UK Power Networks is expediting connection dates for more than 40 new energy projects this year, unlocking generation and battery storage capacity. The revised offers, in some cases, bring forward connection dates by over a decade. The initial phase involves the release of 2.3GW across eight Grid Supply Points (GSPs) in 2023, with an additional 1.7GW across four GSPs in early 2024.
Customers in UK Power Networks' distribution areas accepting the revised offers can connect as soon as they are ready to commence construction. The initiative, facilitated through the Strategic Connections Group under the Energy Networks Association, aims to accelerate connections for renewable energy sources.
Utilizing its distributed energy resource management (DERMS) platform, the largest operational deployment of its kind in the UK, UK Power Networks is at the forefront of a collaborative effort among networks to reduce waiting times for distributed energy resources seeking new capacity on the national transmission system.
The DERMS platform, initiated in 2019, leverages UK Power Networks' experience to enable assets like large-scale battery storage to tap into existing system capacity. By providing insights into addressing constraints on the national transmission network, the platform plays a pivotal role in shaping a whole-systems approach to deliver the necessary capacity for reaching net zero.
Matt White, Head of Network Strategy at UK Power Networks DSO, emphasized the collaborative nature of networks working together and adopting a comprehensive approach. White stated, “Our DSO is demonstrating how the technology, people, and data it is developing are making a tangible difference to our customers by fast-tracking gigawatts of capacity in our license areas and beyond. We're committed to making it cheaper, easier, and faster for net zero technology to connect to the network, collaborating closely with fellow networks and the national transmission system to achieve this goal.”
