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Electricity networks

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Pounds for pylons offer has 59% chance of halting delays
The government has insisted its proposed £1.5 billion package of payments to communities hosting grid projects will have only a negligible impact on wider bills, while also admitting it offers only a slightly better than even chance of thwarting delays.
News
Government and Ofgem raise concerns over grid reforms
The annual application windows proposed by the Electricity System Operator as part of long-term reforms to the connections process may not work for some types of projects, the government and energy regulator have cautioned. The comments were included in the six-point Connections Action Plan issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and Ofgem.
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‘Triage’ process to prioritise strategic connections
The government will manage a “triage” process for prioritising the connection of strategically important energy projects as part of its joint action plan with Ofgem for speeding up grid connections. Working with the regulator, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) will establish a Connections Delivery Board to oversee the implementation of the six-point plan, which aims to cut the average wait for a connection from 5 years to 6 months.  
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Latest in Electricity networks

ESO permitted to delay release of strategic network plan
Ofgem has permitted the Electricity System Operator (ESO) to delay the release of multiple documents that will form part of its second transitional Centralised Strategic Network Plan. The ESO requested the deferral to give it time to go over the plan with the government and transmission owners and make changes based on their feedback.
News
Payments for pylons require legislation, lawyer warns
Plans to offer energy bill discounts to householders living near new grid infrastructure will require legislation to avoid falling foul of the Supreme Court, a leading environmental lawyer has warned. The government unveiled plans to compensate homeowners living near to grid infrastructure projects last week alongside its Autumn Statement announcements. However, Estelle Dehon, a barrister at Cornerstone chambers, told the House of Commons energy security and net zero committee that introducing the scheme cannot be done through policy alone.
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ENA split reveals sector fault lines
What prompted Britain’s gas companies to resign en masse from the Energy Networks Association and what does it mean for the wider sector’s message around net zero? Utility Week editor James Wallin examines the tensions on both sides, the catalyst for the walkout and what the two sides can still agree on.
Comment
Demand Flexibility Service to go live for first time this winter
National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) has announced that a live Demand Flexibility Service (DFS) event will take place for the first time this winter. The ESO said that it plans to use the service to mitigate “tighter than normal” electricity supply margins and is seeking to reduce demand by 550MW between 5pm and 6.30pm on Wednesday (29 November) evening.
News
SSEN appoints contractors for record £1bn network upgrades
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has appointed three contractors to carry out capital delivery works worth more than £1 billion. Keltbray, OCU Services and The Clancy Group will each carry out upgrade works in three allocated areas within SSEN’s central southern England distribution area.
News
Battery developers struggle to access government support
Firms involved in the development of batteries are finding it hard to access government support, the recently-published UK Battery Strategy reveals. The strategy outlines the steps government is taking to “achieve a globally competitive battery supply chain by 2030, that supports economic prosperity and the net zero transition”.
News
Warning locational pricing could ‘choke’ wind investment  
Any move towards locational market pricing could stunt investment in major new wind projects in Scotland, the government has been warned. According to the Scottish Future Trust, the proposal to reform electricity market arrangements “risks a long period of hiatus in significant new renewable electricity generation, at a time when a huge increase is required”.
News
Restarting from the bottom
At the beginning of 2019, National Grid ESO, SP Energy Networks and TNEI launched a ‘world-first’ initiative to explore whether distributed generators, including renewables and storage, could be used to restart the power grid in the event of a nationwide blackout. With the project coming to an end last month, Utility Week speaks to some of those involved about what was achieved and what’s next.
Analysis
Piclo unveils new flexibility platform
Flexibility services provider Piclo has unveiled a new platform which it says will be a “one stop shop for all electricity markets globally”. Piclo Max will be rolled out in the UK from next year and is designed to simplify and improve electricity market access for flexibility service providers.
News
Hunt unveils generation levy exemption and grid planning overhaul
Jeremy Hunt has announced that new electricity generation will be exempted from the government’s windfall levy on the sector, while unveiling a wide-ranging package of energy infrastructure planning changes in his Autumn Statement. The statement, widely reckoned to be the last before the next general election, contains a series of announcements on reforming the planning system and speeding up electricity grid connection timetables.
News
Experts split on size of long duration storage target
Experts on long duration energy storage (LDES) are split on the necessary target needed to deliver the UK's decarbonisation goal. While some experts have urged the government to set a long-term target of up to 100TWh, others have suggested that a smaller “no regrets” target should be set to “get the ball rolling” on LDES. However, government officials have refused to be pushed on the possible size of a target.
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