Northern Powergrid has issued revised grid connection offers under an industry initiative designed to speed up the connections queue, in what is being billed as an industry first.
Using delegated technical limits, the distribution network operator (DNO) expects to be able to accelerate the connection of up to 4.4GW of battery storage and generation schemes.
These technical limits means the DNO can offer a connection to a generator so long as it agrees to a non-firm access arrangement whereby under certain conditions it is prepared to accept a risk of curtailment.
They were introduced by the Energy Networks Association’s Strategic Connections Group earlier this year as part of a three-step action plan to speed up grid connections through a combination of queue management, flexible connections and coordination between transmission and distribution.
Paul Glendinning, director of energy systems at Northern Powergrid, said: “This is a major milestone and a positive step forwards in enabling more customers to connect to our network.
“We have been collaborating with all the network operators to find innovative ways to speed up the connections process for our customers, some of whom are facing energisation dates of 2030 and beyond.
“We made a commitment to begin issuing revised offers for customers in the first phase by November 2023 and we have delivered on that promise.
“We’ll continue to work hard to bring forward connections dates for the other customers with projects that are being impacted by constraints on the transmission network; to facilitate quicker and cost-effective connections to our distribution network and to be an enabler of our region’s net zero ambitions.”
Last month it was revealed that 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 five years to six months.