In this connectology® podcast, two of Roadnight Taylor's Connectologists® (Catherine Cleary and Nikki Pillinger) discuss National Grid's time-limited step towards addressing the long grid connection timescales - some as late as 2037 - that are frustrating the UK's clean growth aspirations. The ESO has called for expressions of interest from contracted connection customers - importantly, at both distribution and transmission - whose connection dates have been impacted by transmission reinforcement works requirements. Edit: The extended deadline for responses is 15 May 2023.

If you have an accepted offer at transmission - or have a distribution-level offer that has been negatively impacted by a formal transmission impact assessment (statement of works, project progression, mod app, Appendix G, or whatever language you prefer) then this should be of interest to you. Have a listen and then, if appropriate, find the link to the ESO's expressions of interest form in the links below.

Recorded 13 April 2023

This content was recorded on an earlier date. The connections landscape changes rapidly, so please treat any facts, figures, and guidance as a point-in-time view and verify current information before relying on it.

Our links:

ESO Form

Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/connectology/

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Active Network Management (ANM) and intertrips can both suck financial performance out of projects. There are nuances between these flexible arrangements, and with a better understanding of each, investors in contracted projects – or even connected projects – can seek out opportunities to significantly increase exported energy (and/or import) and so increase revenues.

In this podcast two of our Connectologists®, Philip Bale and Pete Aston, explain intertrips and ANM, and help developers and investors to understand how and when each of these flexible arrangements can be removed, interchanged or combined to minimise both curtailment and incidents of sites being constrained-off.

Recorded: 8 March 2023

This content was recorded on an earlier date. The connections landscape changes rapidly, so please treat any facts, figures, and guidance as a point-in-time view and verify current information before relying on it.

Our links:

Explainer: What is ANM?

Explainer: What is curtailment and how does it work?

Explainer: What is a soft intertrip?

Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/connectology/

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Third party works can have a significant impact on the capital costs and the connection timescale of a transmission connected scheme. Across the industry there is an increasing understanding that third party works can bring real risks to a project, but there remains some lack of awareness of requirements, roles and responsibilities among not only the connecting customers but also the network operators themselves.

In this podcast two of our Connectologists®, Pete Aston and Catherine Cleary, explain what third party works are, the risks they bring and how you get from a clause in your connection offer to bottoming out the third party works impact. They also explain how Roadnight Taylor can help you apply to a DNO and assess the impact of third party works on your projects.

This content was recorded on an earlier date. The connections landscape changes rapidly, so please treat any facts, figures, and guidance as a point-in-time view and verify current information before relying on it.

Our links:

Explainer: What are Third Party Works? 

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With the threat of cancellation charges in the tens of £millions touching a significant proportion of utility-scale energy projects, now, a Development Director or Investment Director's improved understanding of the key drivers can make or save entire schemes, let alone save you £millions.

In this episode, Catherine Cleary and Pete Aston (who we lose half way through!) give insight into NGESO's securities and liabilities methodologies and how to achieve success and manage risk - which we will cover in more detail in our webinar on 9 March. The link to sign up is below.

Recorded 09 February 2023

This content was recorded on an earlier date. The connections landscape changes rapidly, so please treat any facts, figures, and guidance as a point-in-time view and verify current information before relying on it.

Out links:

Sign up to the webinar on 9 March: Webinar Registration - Zoom

National Grid’s (very good and very detailed) presentation on the topic

Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/connectology/ 

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Roadnight Taylor Connectologist® Pete Aston joins Hugh Taylor to discuss the Significant Code Review (SCR) and the tactics and strategies that could be used by parties in grid connections to game the new system.

There will be many winners and losers under the new connection rules – with £millions being won or lost by developers and investors on individual schemes alone. 

Pete sees understanding nuances around point of connection voltage as one of the biggest areas of opportunity – or risk – for connection customers. He explains interim arrangements around flexible connections, including Active Network Management (ANM) and curtailment.

Plus, Pete gives his view on how the nature and importance of post-acceptance offer management – and liaison with the DNO – might change amongst the potential bow-wave of new applications after the 1 April 2023.

Recorded: 26 January 2023

This content was recorded on an earlier date. The connections landscape changes rapidly, so please treat any facts, figures, and guidance as a point-in-time view and verify current information before relying on it.

Our links:

All risks and opportunities under SCR are discussed in more detail for each market sector in our ‘Game or be Gamed?’ webinars. Links to request the full recordings of these can be found here.

Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/connectology/ 

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Roadnight Taylor Connectologists® Pete Aston and Catherine Cleary discuss the RIIO-ED2 final determinations with Merlin Hyman, Chief Executive of Regen.

We wanted to talk with Merlin about Regen’s and his concerns about the determinations. £billions are at stake for investment in the development of network infrastructure and the grid and it’s crucial that this is done right to help the nation reach net zero, wean off fossil fuels and reduce energy bills.

Among other things, a better steer from Central Government to Ofgem and a new independent body to define network requirements were discussed as better solutions.

Recorded 25 November 2022

This content was recorded on an earlier date. The connections landscape changes rapidly, so please treat any facts, figures, and guidance as a point-in-time view and verify current information before relying on it.

Our links:

Regen: https://www.regen.co.uk/

Ofgem RIIO-ED2 final determinations: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/riio-ed2-final-determinations

Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/connectology/ 

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Pete Aston hosts a festive chat with two of our other Connectologists®, Philip Bale and Nikki Pillinger, to find out what they would like the networks and DNOs to receive for Christmas to help improve the connections process and the net zero energy transition.

They include extra funding, support and resource for the DNOs and better joined-up strategies. They've put improved battery modelling, grid queue and application management, transmission reinforcement charging and more on the list for Santa!

Recorded 25 November 2022

This content was recorded on an earlier date. The connections landscape changes rapidly, so please treat any facts, figures, and guidance as a point-in-time view and verify current information before relying on it.

Our links:

Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/connectology/ 

Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ 

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ 

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Gamechanger - might your generation connection timeframes reduce by a decade?

National Grid has radically updated its assumptions around the operation of BESS, and therefore the impact of battery storage on reinforcement requirements.

Two of our Connectologists®, Pete Aston and Catherine Cleary, discuss how this works, how and where grid queues may be freed up to allow more generation and storage to connect much earlier – and what else NGESO might be in the pipeline to help accelerate connections.

Recorded: 25 November 2022

This content was recorded on an earlier date. The connections landscape changes rapidly, so please treat any facts, figures, and guidance as a point-in-time view and verify current information before relying on it.

Our links:

Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/connectology/ 

Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ 

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ 

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In this episode, Catherine Cleary, one of our Connectologists®, talks about National’s Grid TEC Amnesty. This is a time limited opportunity for project developers to cancel connection offers that they have already accepted without incurring cancellation charges. Catherine identifies opportunities for the cancellation, downsizing or refining of schemes that can bring benefits for Development and Investment Directors of projects.

Recorded 21 October 2022

This content was recorded on an earlier date. The connections landscape changes rapidly, so please treat any facts, figures, and guidance as a point-in-time view and verify current information before relying on it.

Our links: 

Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/connectology/ 

Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ 

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ 

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The dash for transmission connections started with the developer community seeking tertiary connection opportunities. Many are now being secured and transacted. In this episode, Pete Aston, one of our Connectologists®, gives an overview of what Development and Investment Directors should know about these idiosyncratic connections.  

Recorded 21 October 2022 

This content was recorded on an earlier date. The connections landscape changes rapidly, so please treat any facts, figures, and guidance as a point-in-time view and verify current information before relying on it.

Our links:

Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/connectology/  

Pete’s blog on ‘The problem with tertiary connections’: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/connectology/the-problem-with-tertiary-connections/ 

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