Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | APRIL 2023 | 37 Transmission panies are facing waits of up to a decade for grid connections. Leslie said the capacity of assets await- ing connection to the transmission system is three times the amount actually needed. He explained: "There's 340,000MW of connection contracts out there today – just for transmission – by 2035. We need about 100,000MW. "When you look at the technology types that make up the connection queue, we have more than enough of every technology type to meet the requirements for 2035. "The challenge is that if you're the new developer of your new exciting project… you want it to be on before 2035. The problem is there's 340,000MW of capacity already out there… so the challenge is that as we sort out the connection reform we need to ‡ nd a way that those projects which have clarity, which have a higher transition rate into reality. We need to ‡ nd a way to get them a connection." Following her presentation earlier that day, Ofgem's Barnett was asked about the issue of delays to connections. She said: "We are moving from this old world of 'connect and manage', which actu- ally worked to enable quick connections for early renewables at pace. "We now have a huge expansion of what needs to be connected, both demand and generation, at transmission and distribution levels. And we are moving to this shiny new world that we are calling 'invest and con- nect', where we have a top down de‡ nition of what the system needs and then build at pace what is needed. Barnett said the transition from the old system to the new was causing "real prob- lems". Both network companies and the sys- tem operator were busy on multiple fronts trying to address issues, both in the short term and in the long term by "reform of the connection process". Last year the ESO launched an amnesty for stalled projects on the Transmission Entry Capacity (TEC) register, which orders the queue for connection to the transmis- sion network. The amnesty, which ‡ nishes in April, had received approaches equating to 5.5GW of capacity as of the end of February. The ESO said removing stalled projects that are taking up space on the register will allow it to connect other projects more quickly and give it a clearer view of future capacity requirements on the network. In March, the ESO launched a new two- step process for grid connections, which will remain in place for a year while a wider review is conducted into the process for o˜ ering connections. The new procedure sees projects applying for a place in the transmission entry capacity queue given an interim o˜ er within three months but with- out the full details usually required. The sec- ond stage of the process, to provide all the details that would normally come with the initial connection o˜ er, must come within 12 months. 'Student loan' scheme could boost investment case for EVs Consumers could be encouraged to take up low-carbon technologies such as elec- tric vehicles (EVs) and heat pumps through View from the chair It was fascinating to spend a day hear- ing from the men and women at the forefront of the energy transi- tion, tasked with delivering the š exible and low-carbon infra- structure that will be needed to achieve net zero. Yet while no-one is disputing the importance of con- necting these key assets, one recur- ring theme from the conference was the concerns about delays to connections. National Grid Electricity System Opera- tor estimated that 70% of projects con- tracted to connect to the transmission network never progress that far. Its head of networks, Julian Leslie, cited the shocking fact that one project in the queue for a con- nection had been waiting for 23 years now. Similar concerns were addition- ally raised about the planning regimes for network assets, with Stephanie Anderson, SP Energy Networks head of net- works regulation and policy, calling for the process to be fast-tracked so the sector can hit its targets on time. While it may seem a long way o˜ , 2050 is fast approaching and there are some who are understandably worried about hitting the deadline. Failing to resolve the lengthy processes involved in building and connecting key assets will severely hamper the UK's climate goals. Adam John, senior reporter and low-carbon goals. She added: "Our start- ing point is that there probably isn't a one size ‡ ts all in future regulation. We think there will be sector-speci‡ c approaches that best incentivise outcomes. "The FSO role will impact on what and how we regulate and whole system coordina- tion will be key." The wait for grid connection National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) told the conference that 70% of pro- jects contracted to connect to the transmis- sion network never progress that point. Head of networks Julian Leslie cited one project in the queue for a connection that had been waiting for 23 years now. It follows recent reports that some com- continued overleaf

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