Backed by investment group Eurazeo, the seven year old start-up operates services including microgrid trading of clean power generated on office campuses & industrial estates up and down the country.  Linking generating commercial tenants to consuming companies in neighbouring or adjacent premises is a key offering.

UrbanChain’s founders Somayeh Taheri and Mo Hajhashem, pictured, described the licence grant as a major milestone. It permits UC Energy Ltd to supply to non-domestic premises, elevating the quality of its product array offering to customers, while ensuring more control for its generator clients.

The two originators met at Manchester University and launched Urban Chain in 2017. It is based on the city’s Science Park.

Chief operating officer Mo said: “Obtaining our electricity supply licence from Ofgem ranks extremely high, as you have to pass a very rigorous due diligence process. It’s a major turning point for us.”

“This step will enable us to step up our ability to offer customers a real traceable choice of energy and advance UrbanChain’s plans for granular ESG ( – environmental, societal & governance  – ) tracking.”

UrbanChain’s deeptech platform for peer-to-peer energy exchange uses integrated smart contracts and machine learning to match generators of renewable energy and consumers on a half hourly basis – resulting in secure energy prices and secure physical flows for energy generators.

Local government organisations, companies from across the private sector, generators of renewable energy, energy suppliers and domestic households all trade within the regulated platform.

Two months ago, the company allied with business supplier Equans & Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council to create a virtual power plant (VPP) across council-owned buildings & homes on the West Midlands authority’s Brockmoor estate.

Reacting to Ofgem’s licence grant, the recipient’s portfolio director Garry Pickering explained:

“With UrbanChain now an official energy supplier, it ensures we have full control of our peer-to-peer matching process which enables greater security for generators of renewable energy.

“We will also have clearer transparency on data flows and it will allow us to roll out a new suite of products, ensuring generators have true choice in where their generation goes.”

UrbanChain employs 30 people. This month it revealed it is gearing up for a Series B funding round push towards the end of this year.

It follows last year’s successful raising of £5.25 million, led by Eurazeo.  Further backing comes at present from the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero and Innovate UK.

Somayeh Taheri, UrbanChain CEO, said: “We started UrbanChain with a mission to alleviate fuel poverty and to fix a broken inefficient energy market model.

“Our social responsibility values haven’t wavered and we see ourselves as more than a platform or an energy exchange, our role is to create communities.

“Renewable energy is not just for the well off and we are tackling this. Our goal is to connect as many generators as possible to their regional communities and local businesses.

“Peer-to-peer energy exchange is a choice in itself and if we can help all parts of society become renewable prosumers then we are succeeding in our core missions.”

The post Microgrid clean power traders UrbanChain secure supplier licence appeared first on theenergyst.com.

National Grid is also moving its five remaining webinars until after the general election takes place.

The Norwich to Tilbury HV link is needed to connect new sources of low carbon energy to homes and businesses across Britain. It proposes 184 km of transmission reinforcement, made up chiefly of new overhead line and pylons, plus some underground cablng and a new 400 kV substation. NG makes the proposals as part of its Great Grid Upgrade, the largest overhaul in generations of Britain’s transmission network .

It will play a key role in addressing the climate emergency and helping achieve the UK’s targets for net zero.

Liam Walker, project director for Norwich to Tilbury, said: ““In light of the general election, we felt it was important to extend the deadline for consultation responses and give everyone time to provide their comments.

Walker thanked respondents already replying to the consultation so far, adding that comments and feedback are invaluable. “If you haven’t yet done so, please do get involved, visit our website and find out more,” he added.

National Grid is encouraging anyone who wants to find out more to visit its website and register for one of its revised webinar dates:

Information about the consultation, including how to provide feedback and sign up for webinars can be found on the project website at nationalgrid.com/norwich-to-tilbury.

The post NG extends Norwich-Tilbury consultation until 26 July appeared first on theenergyst.com.

Numerous, interlocking dimensions of improvement are flagged as necessary in the ENA’s Energy Innovation Atlas, a report developed by consultants LCP Delta.

LCP Delta interviewed 300 industry representatives for their views on innovation needed to achieve Net Zero. The study sought input on five key pillars of innovation;

• developing assets and infrastructure,
• facilitating digitalisation,
• managing assets and optimising systems,
• meeting customers’ needs, and
• attracting talent and investment

Over eight workshops and associated online consultations, LCP Delta and the ENA explored these key pillars to identify 24 innovation ‘way points’, characterised by knotty challenges, all requiring a vision on managers’ change of mindset and skills.

Key findings from the report include:

• Developing by 2028 a supply chain that is fit-for-purpose, able to underpin an expansion I Britain’s transmission & distribution network, enabling radical transformation in their functions
• Better communication within and external to the power industry, supporting a ‘whole systems’ approach.
• Opening up access to markets access, welcoming in smaller innovators to fair and easy participation, as well as easing funding access to smaller players.
• Clarifying a workable definition of energy storage, and freeing its providers to operate assets more proactively it across the network, against a proposed deadline of 2032.
• Communicating better with customers and the wider public, ensure roles and their consequences in who and how Britain’s energy system must be decarbonised. New skills functions and data sets are required.

Commenting on the report’s findings, Tom Veli, energy networks head at LCP Delta, the ENA’s advisors, said:

“Energy networks are at a critical point with demand beginning to increase rapidly as the low-carbon economy picks up further.

“This means that operators are facing the challenge of rapidly developing their networks as they look to accommodate the surging demand.

“This monumental shift imposes extra responsibilities on the networks, particularly in respect of interactions with customers, with the industry, alongside regulators and policymakers. The industry must drive a concerted effort into delivering the innovations that are needed.

To access the full report, click here.

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Headed by Devrim Celal, the fulfilment platform has announced a multi-year deal with municipal utility Saint John Energy, (SJE) in New Brunswick on Canada’s east coast, licencing Kraken’s end-to-end customer service platform.

As Kraken’s first partner in the North American energy market to license its customer platform, SJE can now use Kraken to support its progress towards a decentralised, decarbonised grid for its 36,000 customers.

SJE will adopt Kraken’s end-to-end utility operating system, enabling it to create & brand new green energy-focused services, deliver advanced customer care through relentlessly efficient processes, and flexibly manage its distribution network.

Kraken, which is part of Octopus Energy Group, will import and integrate all of SJE’s residential & business customers onto its all-in-one customer service, billing, optimisation, and asset management platform.

As Canada’s oldest incorporated city, Saint John on the 45^th parallel has been a test bed for electrification. Its 70,000 or so inhabitants face average January temperatures of minus 12 Celsius, and 167 days a year when temperatures do not rise above freezing point.

So the municipal power provider has had to come up with energy innovations, deemed among the most forward-looking in north America. More than 75 percent of the city’s customers have homes & premises heated by electricity. More than 70 percent of customers rent water heaters, and more than 20 percent of residents rent heat pumps.

In 2019, SJE became the world’s first utility to deploy a Tesla Megapack to store power, cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and reduce grid strain.

As the utility continues to employ solutions to reach Net Zero, the partners say Kraken’s end-to-end management platform will be critical in supporting the utility’s future energy transaction needs while easing emerging grid constraints resulting from new technologies in renewable generation and consumer low-carbon behaviours.

Greg Jackson, founder of Octopus Energy Group, said: “Around the globe, Kraken partners with some of the most trusted energy brands to decentralise, decarbonise, and above all, modernise the grid.

“Saint John Energy’s track record as an innovative early adopter makes this partnership a natural fit for us as we look to drive the energy transition worldwide. As our first utility and distribution partner in North America, we are excited to support Saint John Energy in bringing more affordable, reliable solutions to its customers in Canada.”

Ryan Mitchell, president and CEO of Saint John Energy said: “We’re proud and excited to partner with Kraken, which not only has a transformative platform but an international reputation for best-in-class solutions tailored to the energy industry.”

“Implementing its solutions will give our customers more information and control over their energy needs” Mitchell added.  “It will allow Saint John Energy to pursue more innovative solutions in clean energy and the transition to Net Zero.”

The Canadian deal follows Kraken’s recent pilot partnership to reduce grid constraints in Connecticut, its successful U.S. launch of SmartFlex, and a licensing agreement with a Texas-based energy asset manager, Tenaska.

Kraken currently looks after 54 million utility customers across the globe. Managing around 155,000 domestic devices— or over 38 GW of contracted power, it stands as one of the largest residential virtual power plants in the world.

The post Can-ada-do: Octopus’ service platform takes toehold in New Brunswick appeared first on theenergyst.com.

Serving 20 million customers across London, southern England and east Anglia, the DNO says it has used the ‘Technical Issues’ collaborative programme between netcos to speed  up 25 new generation projects on its patch.

A total of 836MW of new capacity can now connect as soon as the projects are built, says the DNO, cutting waiting times in some cases by years.

As the netcos’ response to fury from developers facing connection delays in some cases of a decade or more, ‘Technical Issues’ works by offering solar-, wind-farm and battery hook-ups at supply nodes to lower voltage regional DNO grids, and before necessary reinforcements can be made to the NG’s higher voltage national transmission system.

Algorithmic routing then eases the likelihood of pinch points being overloaded at times of highest demand or highest generation, cutting the chances of wasteful, expensive ‘curtailment’ of the new assets’ output.

A relaxation of restrictive practices, in other words, while maintaining safety, and all achieved over what grid operators know as their Distributed Energy Resource Management (DERMS) platform.

UKN says it is also taking a ‘leading role’ in the Strategic Connections Group led by industry body the Energy Networks Association.

UKPN customers it cites as having benefitted from speedier connection offers include a 98MW solar farm in East Anglia and a 100MW combined storage and solar site in the South East.

They are among 14 projects in East Anglia totalling 465MW and a further 11 ventures in Kent, Surrey and Sussex, totalling 371MW. That volume of new generation amounts to roughly one fifth of the peak demand of the London distribution network.

Giles Frampton of developer Evolution Power said one of its solar farms can now connect four years earlier than planned.

“Working closely with UK Power Networks, we have been able to bring forward a solar PV project’s connection date by four years, which will significantly contribute to the UK’s progress towards Net Zero and Energy Security, whilst also driving down the cost of electricity for both domestic and industrial consumers”, said Frampton.

UKPN’s director of DSO Sotiris Georgiopoulos  said: “We’re taking real, tangible action to help our customers overcome the long-term challenges on the national transmission system, an approach that is ultimately going to get more green energy into more people’s homes and businesses.

“This is just another step on our journey, and it is only by co-operation and collaboration that we’re able to make such important strides towards achieving Net Zero.”

The post Now UKPN trumpets its speed-up of new renewables connections appeared first on theenergyst.com.

Renewable energy projects totalling 7.8GW in new capacity – more than double that of the still uncompleted Hinkley Point C nuclear plant – , have had their offer dates brought forward by as much as a decade, thanks to the Technical Limits programme.

The programme allows solar, wind and other generators to hook into lower voltage distribution grids of up to 133kV, even before reinforcements are completed to national transmission networks, which operate at between 220kV and 440kV.

According to the National Grid, network operators have this year sent offers to 203 projects totalling 7.8GW, achieving what NG claims is an average connection shortening of 6.5 years.

In total 393 projects are eligible for Technical Limits with the further 190 projects able to receive accelerated offers once they have progressed through the connection offer process.

Last month Horsey Levels, a solar farm near Bridgwater, pictured, became the first project to be energised under the scheme. A PV park generating for a notional 10,000 homes, Horsey Levels was connected to National Grid’s distribution network ahead of its original planned connection date.

Strenuously urged on foot-dragging netcos by developers, Ofgem and ministers, the ‘Technical Limits’ regime represents unprecedented collaboration between NG Electricity Transmission, the Energy Networks Association, the Electricity System Operator and regional DNOs.

Scottish Transmission & Distribution network owners have also been involved in developing the Technical Limits programme and are in the process of rolling out the programme in their licence areas.

Welcoming the NG’s announcement, Justin Tomlinson MP, Graham Stuart’s recent replacement as D-ESNZ minister of state, said:

“Thanks to a team effort, over 200 clean energy projects will be connected to our grid earlier. It means thousands of homes and businesses will be powered by more renewable energy generated in Britain.

We are delivering the biggest reforms to the network since the 1950s – allowing us to hook more renewables up to the grid so households and businesses can benefit from cleaner, cheaper electricity,” Tomlinson added.

By agreeing new limits on maximum power flow, DNOs have been able to offer their chosen projects an accelerated connection date, sometimes before reinforcements are made to the 144kV transmission network are completed.

Advanced connections carry an obligation on a site’s developers that the DNO can limit flows from the project under certain operating conditions.

The 203 connection offers that have been issued in the first phase have an average export curtailment of 22% per year. Parties expect that in the long term these interim arrangements will be replaced as network capacity increases.

Alice Delahunty, President of National Grid Electricity Transmission added: “Connecting projects to our transmission network, and unlocking capacity at lower voltage distribution networks, is a massive priority for us.

“The Technical Limits programme is a fantastic example of cross-industry collaboration. This team effort has delivered an innovative solution to connect schemes more quickly. We’re pleased to see the first project connect earlier than expected and look forward to many more”.

The post ‘Technical Limits’ slashes 80 months off renewable projects’ hook-up delays, NG claims appeared first on theenergyst.com.

The facility enables transmission of up to 2GW of low carbon & renewable electricity from international interconnectors and turbines in the Thames Estuary & southern North Sea into a theoretical maximum of 1.5 million homes.

Since June 2019, NG’s power transmission division has worked with contractors Balfour Beatty and GE Vernova’s Grid Solutions to replace an existing substation on the north Kent site.

Innovative new cooling technology has eliminated the new plant’s reliance on sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆), the industry mainstay used by substation builders to stop overheating circuits fritzing out.

Engineers have deployed GE Vernova Grid Solutions’ innovative g3 gas-insulated busbar equipment, pictured, which is SF6-free.

As much as 5.6 tonnes of the atmosphere-scorching gas was saved, in line with NG’s ambition to halve its SF₆ emissions this decade, and clean all SF₆ from its electrical assets by 2050.

Net Zero construction methods were followed throughout the project, saving over 5,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions against conventional means.  An onsite biodigester to handle waste water, steel manufactured in Britain, solar-powered electrics and EV charging points were among methods deployed.

Twelve miles off the north Kent coast is the 175-turbine London Array, jointly owned by RWE, Greencoat UK Wind, Emirati investors Masdar & a Québecquois bank.   At 630MW, the London Array was the world’s most powerful marine park when opened in 2013.

Four existing super grid transformers were moved from Littlebrook’s old substation to its replacement. A new transformer was delivered in July 2022.

Installation of underground cabling, overhead line connections and GE’s switchgear – the circuit board used to control, protect, and isolate electrical equipment – all featured.

Laura Mulcahy, senior project manager for NG Electricity Transmission, said: “Getting Littlebrook completed is a huge achievement for the team. We’ve had to overcome some difficult engineering and programme challenges. Reach this milestone is a real testament to the commitment and strong relationships of everyone involved.”

 Mark Wilson of GE Vernova’s Grid Solutions paid tribute. “National Grid has been a leader in removing SF6 from its network”.

“They energised our very first g3 product at their Sellindge substation in 2016”, Wilson recalled.

“This project represents the latest vote of confidence in GE Vernova’s SF6-free products which deliver the same performance and product footprint as traditional SF6 equipment, while delivering a 99% reduction in the gas contribution to global warming.”

Tony Wilson, managing director at Balfour Beatty Power Transmission and Distribution, said: “We are proud to have delivered this vital work on behalf of National Grid, using our extensive knowledge and integrated solutions in power transmission, to supply secure power to over 1.5 million homes for generations to come.”

The post Estuary ingress: Cool new Dartford subber pumps 2GW into 1.5 million homes appeared first on theenergyst.com.

The project spans 57km between National Grid’s new Shurton substation on the Hinkley Point C site in Somerset and its existing Seabank substation in Avonmouth. 48.5km of that is made up of overhead lines – mostly T-pylons – while an 8.5km stretch of underground cable runs through the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Stringing was completed with the fixing of conductors to a T-pylon near the village of Yatton, north Somerset. With each T-pylon supporting 12 conductors, National Grid and its contractor Balfour Beatty have installed a total of 460km of power lines between the T-structures – enough to stretch from Bridgwater to Paris.

T-pylons’ unique design sees six conductor spans attached to each diamond earring-shaped insulator on either side of the structure, with wires installed in sections of up to a dozen T-pylons at a time – a job that can take two weeks for each section.

Conductors were transported to each stringing site on large drums weighing up to seven tonnes and standing eight foot tall. Engineering teams then set about hoisting the wires across the T-pylons.

With the help of a steel braided guide rope and circular running blocks suspended from the insulators, the heavy conductors are winched back through the running blocks, with engineers controlling the speed to precisely guide them into position and fix them to the insulators.

In total, around 1,288 tonnes of overhead conductor has been strung between the T-pylons – equivalent to three International Space Stations.

Steven Haskayne, project director for National Grid, said: “With the T-pylons fully strung, our Hinkley Connection Project is really starting to take shape. It’s a proud moment for all the teams involved, from our National Grid colleagues to our contractors, all of whom have helped us reach this milestone safely and on schedule.

“We’re grateful to all of the local communities we’ve been working alongside for their patience as our project team continues its work, which is moving us closer to a resilient and secure low carbon energy supply for millions in the region.”

Tony Wilson, managing director of Balfour Beatty UK Power Transmission and Distribution, said:

“The efficient delivery of overhead power lines for the Hinkley Connect Project is a testament to our technical capabilities and reinforces our close partnership with National Grid to secure and deliver sustainable energy solutions.

“As we look ahead, we remain committed to supporting National Grid projects, contributing to the creation of a resilient and secure low carbon energy supply for communities across the UK.”

T-pylons make up the majority of the Hinkley Connection Project’s 57km route through Somerset, with shorter sections of traditional lattice pylons at each end of the route at Shurton and Avonmouth – the latter to ensure safe height over the Port of Bristol area.

The energisation last year of an initial section of the route means high voltage electricity is already flowing through 36 T-pylons, a new National Grid substation at Sandford, and the underground cables through the Mendip Hills. All the remaining T-pylons will be energised by the end of 2024.

As part of the project, National Grid is also removing 67km of existing overhead lines and pylons – 249 in total – from the Somerset landscape. Over 30 pylons running parallel to the new undergrounded section in the Mendip Hills are being taken down, which will leave the landscape pylon-free for the first time in nearly a century.

The post Hinkley C connectors cross Ts, eye transmission appeared first on theenergyst.com.

As UK energy prices begin to fall – on 1 April the new price cap of £1,690 takes effect, down from £2,382 for the same period last year, – Ofgem makes public changes in its approach to ensure consumers are protected as the pace of change accelerates on Britain’s journey to Net Zero by 2050.

The regulator frames its mission under five priorities:

• Shaping a retail market that works for consumers
• Enabling infrastructure for Net Zero at pace
• Establishing an efficient, fair and flexible energy system
• Advancing decarbonisation through low carbon energy & social schemes
• Strengthening the regulator as an organisation

Last week the National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) predicted the nation’s electricity demand could grow by over 50% by 2035, as more sectors such as transport and heating use more electricity.

Ofgem’s strategy re-vamp follows appointment in September of its new chair, Mark McAllister, pictured, formerly the head of nuclear regulator the ONR. New directors have also joined contributing expertise in customer service, engineering, economic regulation, digital services and business.

McAllister said price shocks in recent years surpassed anything he had seen in his 45-year energy career.

“As things start to stabilise, now is the time to shift our focus forward to building a cleaner, more secure and affordable energy system that will help to deliver a net zero future for generations to come, while ensuring we are not susceptible to similar shocks again” he said.

Officials recognise Britain’s need for renewables-friendly infrastructure signal network upgrades delivered at a rate unseen for decades. But the task brings opportunities and benefits for customers, McAllister added.

Centrepiece of the agency’s national drive is the agency’s new Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) framework, designed to weed out redundant network projects, thus axing years off connection waits afflicting renewables & storage sources, including 50GW of extra offshore wind.   Two projects, including the 2GW Anglo-Scots EGL1 subsea connector, received provisional approval under ASTI this month.

In November Ofgem unveiled too a network of regional energy planning roles, intended to improve local power planning and speeding up roll-out of new infrastructure.

Ofgem has also put in place new consumer standards requiring energy suppliers to be more proactive in identifying and helping customers at risk of struggling with bills and published a major call for input on debt and affordability to consider how to find a lasting solution to the issue.

It is seeking views on reform of the retail price cap, reflecting the role of dynamic and time-off-use tariffing seen as essential to accommodate a more dynamic power market.

McAllister added: “Our intention is to use our vantage point to bring together all parts of the sector, providing constructive challenge and working in partnership to realise the benefits of the new energy system for the whole of society.”

Ofgem CEO Jonathan Brearley added:  “We are now at a pivotal moment as we look ahead to a huge transformation of how we use our energy, how it’s getting to our homes and how it’s created in the first place.  This means potentially a huge range of possibilities for consumers – smarter tariffs, more energy efficient homes and ultimately more affordable bills.

“Getting there will not be easy, but it is necessary and we must ensure we bring the public along with us as we make this transition”.

Alongside its strategy to 2029, the regulator also releases its detailed Forward Work Programme (FWP) covering twelve months ahead.  From next year the FWP will update the longer-term strategy and the progress it has made towards its objectives, adding metrics to assess progress.

Read the Multiyear Strategy here.

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The tunnel will carry power cables for HS2’s Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), engaged on building the high-speed rail line to Euston. UK Power Networks is providing HS2 with 45MVA of electricity supply to facilitate the railway’s construction.

Three new high voltage cable circuits around 3km in length will be energised to the Distribution Network Operator’s nearby substation which feed into the network that will power the manned TBMs.

Each of the Euston TBMs weigh over 2,000 tonnes and measures 140m in length. They will be delivered to HS2’s Old Oak Common station site later this year and assembled ready for launch in the underground box.

To connect the circuits to its Old Oak Common substation, UK Power Networks engaged tunnelling specialist Barhale to drive a 125 metre tunnel beneath the Grand Union Canal, reaching the company’s substation on Atlas Road.

Shafts six metres wide and 15 metres deep were dug and reinforced. Then an Akkermann TBM was deployed to drive the 120m long tunnel beneath the canal. The 1500mm concrete tunnel was constructed from pipe jacked, pre-cast concrete sections.

The completion of the micro tunnel is a significant milestone for UK Power Networks and HS2 allowing for the final section of the 33,000-volt cable route to be completed.

Works are expected to be completed in coming weeks.

Pamela Ali, a capital programme manager for UKPN said: “It has been a huge achievement to successfully and safely construct the micro-tunnel. It will enable to install our circuits across the Grand Union Canal”

Niki French, head of utilities at the rail company, said: “The delivery of this power tunnel is a critical part of our programme to build the new HS2 into the heart of London. Through close collaboration and great teamwork, we have worked together to ensure the HS2 programme is maintained. It has been a pleasure working with the dedicated UK Power Networks team, who are always professional, helpful, and genuinely do care.”

The post UK Power Networks & specialists dig tunnel to power HS2 construction into Euston appeared first on theenergyst.com.

Scottish Power Energy Networks‘ Eastern Green Link 1 (EGL1) high voltage subsea design will port up to 2GW of homegrown wind generated electricity between East Lothian and County Durham. Commissioning is set for 2027.

EGL1 is the first of 26 critical energy projects, together priced at a ballpark £20 billion, to be fast tracked under Ofgem’s new Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) framework.

Developed by Ofgem, the NG-ESO and DNOs, ASTI is designed to speed up the delivery of strategic energy projects to feed in more electricity generated by offshore wind into the nation’s grid.

Ofgem claims ASTI can shorten project funding by up to two years, by targeting projects critical to delivering the government’s target of 50GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030. Ofgem and its partner network operators intend ASTI as replacing the previous framework, which approved projects piecemeal, one at a time.

Delivery of projects such as EGL1 will provide millions of consumers with access to homegrown wind energy.  By boosting grid capacity, the venture will cut down on curtailment wasteful, axing much of the millions paid to generators currently asked to turn off production, when the Grid and transmission nets are full.

EGL1 is being developed by National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) and SP Transmission, part of SP Energy Networks. Most of its 196 kilometre cable will be under the North Sea. Only 20 kilometres will be buried onshore, connection converter stations in Torness, East Lothian and Hawthorn Pit, County Durham.

That proposed budget of £2 billion is now subject to further consultation.  Without affecting project delivery, Ofgem has already trimmed £43 million from the developers’ submissions, thus reducing the burden falling on consumers.

The project assumes planning consent, in a process overseen by the Planning Inspectorate.

Ofgem’s director of major projects Rebecca Barnett said: “To meet future energy demand and Net Zero targets, we need to accelerate the pace at which we build the high voltage energy network, which transport homegrown electricity to where it’s needed.

“Our new fast track ASTI process is designed to unlock investment, speed up major power projects and boost Britain’s energy security.”

ASTI preserves full due diligence on EGL’s technical & financial processes. Barnett added: “We’ve carried out rigorous checks to ensure consumers are shielded from unnecessary costs and made cost adjustments, where we don’t see maximum efficiency and consumer benefit.”

View the Eastern Green Link 1 (EGL1) – Project Assessment Consultation.   Feedback on the proposed budget can be sent to: RIIOElectricityTransmission@ofgem.gov.uk  before the 17 April closing date. Ofgem will publish a decision on next steps at ofgem.gov.uk/consultations.

The post Ofgem greenlights first faster Grid upgrade with up to £2 billion appeared first on theenergyst.com.

The National Grid-ESO’s plans, costed in its ‘Beyond 2030’ manifesto at £58 Billion over the coming decade, are the biggest transformation of country-spanning transmission & distribution grids since they first emerged in the 1950s.

Carrying new wind-generated power from marine farms concentrated off the east coast to urban centres of heaviest demand requires delivering an ‘electrical spine’, running from landing points in Aberdeenshire down to demand hot spots in England’s North West, the report outlines.

Three quarters of the new grid investment will be made at sea, the document discloses. Three new subsea links to North Sea wind farms, including Hornsea 3, the world’s largest at 2.9GW, will be built, the operator intends.

But new pylons and transformers onshore threatening rural views look likeliest to spur resistance from objectors.

Heavyweight grid upgrades & extensions are seen as essential if the UK is to bring online the 50GW of offshore wind capacity the government is targeting by 2030, en route to delivering on its goal of a fully decarbonised grid by 2035.

The projected £58 billion tag is a quantum leap beyond the £9 billion the National Grid currently budgets now in its Great Grid Upgrade. That programme is tasked to remove existing transmission bottlenecks over the next two years.

The ESO needs to take ‘swift, co-ordinated & lasting action” if Britain is to meet its longer term decarbonisation goals, the body’s executive director Fintan Slye told the Sunday Times at the weekend.

Accommodating new capacity from offshore wind, interconnectors, and nuclear power will all generate more electricity than the networks are currently able to transport, the National Grid said.

Regional imbalances dot the nation’s infrastructure. Scotland, famously ‘the Saudi Arabia of wind power’, generates at present around 15GW, but uses no more than 5GW even on winter’s coldest days.

Endorsing the plans, a National Grid statement hailed them as recognising the need for networks to be delivered at pace, “unlocking a more affordable and resilient decarbonised electricity system in the UK”.

“We now look forward to working with the System Operator, with government and with Ofgem on the further development needed to progress these reinforcements”, a Grid spokesperson added, “and to move towards creating a Strategic Spatial Energy Plan, coupled with a consentable Centralised Strategic Network Plan.

“That will sets out what energy infrastructure needs to be built, where and when, to deliver a capacity-rich, future-ready network that will serve society and underpin economic growth,” the Grid’s statement noted.

The plans will now receive comment from industry stakeholders and Ofgem.  Network operators and generators will develop work up through recommendations further through a Detailed Network Design Phase.

The process involves testing alternative on- and offshore answers, further developing cable routing and technology choices.

Industry stakeholders welcomed the ESO’s intentions. ​​​​From analysts Cornwall Insight, Tom Faulkner commented: “The ESO lays out the essential grid investments required to keep pace with the escalating electricity demand

“The 2035 forecasts for wind and solar capacity outlined in the report are notably ambitious compared to Cornwall’s current estimates”, Faulkner went on. “Achieving these targets will demand substantial investment, not only in grid infrastructure but also in the renewable generation assets themselves.

From pro-growth campaigners Britain Remade, founder Sam Richards observed: “If Britain wants an abundant supply of secure domestic energy that cannot be used as an economic weapon by autocratic regimes, then we need to continue to invest in offshore wind and the critical infrastructure needed to move the energy around the country.

“Investing in clean energy is not just good for the environment, it’s good for the economy. From Aberdeen to Teesside and Ramsgate the offshore wind industry has already created tens of thousands of well-paid jobs with even more to come”.

Reforms to ‘Britain’s glacial planning system’ were essential though to slash delays in permitting offshore wind farms built”, Richards added

“It’s mind boggling that it can take up to 13 years to build an offshore wind farm despite construction of the actual turbines only taking two years”.

Read NG-ESO’s ‘Beyond 2030’ in full here.

The post ESO’s £58 Billion price tag to add 86GW to Grid appeared first on theenergyst.com.

One regional distribution operator, Northern Powergrid, has been accused of foot-dragging on a grid connection, after being unable to improve on a twelve-year wait to hook up one developer’s battery project.

Solar park builder Enviromena has taken the unusual step of issuing a public statement, accusing the DNO of “stifling” investment. The developer accuses Northern Powergrid of jeopardising the viability of its unbuilt farm at West Sleekburn, Northumberland.

Enviromena says its 30MW battery addition to the plant received planners’ approval in October 2022. But after talks, the DNO now can guarantee no grid connection date for the intended battery before October 2036.

According to the developer, Northern Powergrid indicated in discussions last year that its grid supply point at Blyth might enable an earlier connection, possibly available under the DNO’s Delegated Technical Limits programme.

The developer had hoped to confirm that earlier connection date before Christmas. But Northern Powergrid later told it that the Blyth hub had been removed from the DNO’s programme of accelerated connections, due to technical reasons. The developer says the grid company can commit to no alternative before the already stated deadline twelve years from now.

Enviromena CEO’s Chris Marsh said in a statement: “We are extremely disappointed with the latest delay, which has left a key project without a feasible connection date despite being ready to construct.

“The North East is enjoying a renaissance for clean energy as it emerges as a key hub for renewables, Marsh went on.

“The actions of Northern Powergrid go directly against the Government’s wider agenda to move away from fossil fuels and achieve carbon Net Zero goals by 2050 and it is stifling investment in the area. The delay represents a major setback.”

He added: “We submitted details to Northern Powergrid demonstrating our West Sleekburn project was ready for an earlier connection with both planning and land rights in place.

“The site is ready to provide much-needed storage facilities for cleaner energy. I would urge Northern Powergrid to re-focus their efforts on resolving the issues at Blyth and kickstarting accelerated connections in the area.

“We have seen other network operators across the country accelerate connection dates by as much as thirteen years in recent weeks and we hope a similar resolution can be found for the Sleekburn project.”.

Marsh cited the National Grid’s estimates that Britain will need over 25GW of battery storage, up from 1GW today, if it is to decarbonise the nation’s grid by 2035.

Reading-based Enviromena last month announced it was about to submit a total of 400MWp new unbuilt PV farm proposals for planners’ consideration, en route to an intended 500MWp goal next year.

Responding in a statement, Northern Powergrid confirmed the developer’s account.  The operator said it was working hard to bring forward connection dates for customers with schemes delayed by constraints on the transmission network owned and operated by National Grid.

The DNO commented: “Towards the end of last year, we announced that we would be issuing revised connections offers for some customers, made possible through a programme of delegated technical limits”.

“Customers looking to connect at a major substation at Blyth in Northumberland were included in the proposal for the first phase of this work.

“However, after further scrutiny by ourselves and National Grid, it will not be possible during this stage of the programme and so we’re re-evaluating what we can do to support customers looking to connect to this area of our network.

“We remain committed to working with our customers whose projects are impacted and to keeping them informed about the actions we are taking to accelerate grid connections in our region”.

This afternoon trade body SolarEnergyUK will present to MPs evidence of what it calls connection delays ‘descending into farce’.  Queues to connect to the grid, at both low and high voltage, now surpass 500GW, the group claims, citing a recent estimate by consultancy Roadnight Taylor.

Reforms such as the ‘Technical Limits’ programme, intended to deliver connections for big batteries and generating assets in advance of reinforcements to the transmission grid, would only be possible if output from the new supply assets was cut at source, DNOs have told Solar Energy UK said.

The most permissive limit seen by the body is 63%, in return for a connection date being brought forward by a year. In some cases, said the group, developers have been told that this limit is zero, with not a single solar-powered electron being allowed to flow.

Grid consultancy Novogrid has seen 50 such messages over the past three months, all with curtailment above 90%.

“You couldn’t make it up“, said SolarEnergy UK CEO Chris Hewett. “It is like being told you can open a shop on the High Street, as long as you keep the doors locked.

“This is bizarre behaviour“,  he added, “an apparent attempt by the DNOs to make it look like they are doing something while they still fail to invest in vital upgrades.”

Hewett will present this afternoon to the Commons’ environmental audit committee.  On the same topic also this afternoon, grid commissioner Nick Winser will answer MPs on the committee shadowing the D-ESNZ ministry.  Coverage begins at 14:00; click on the links to view a live TV feed.

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DNOs said they had drafted in hundreds of engineers and extra call agents, standing by to despatch crews for urgent responses. The Met Office had announced a yellow national weather warning due to last into Monday.

UK Power Networks said it had restored power to most properties which had lost electricity in eastern and south eastern England, but about 45,000 homes in Northern Ireland remained without power.

Scotland and England’s north west were also badly hit. Gusts of over 90 miles per hour led to the cancellation of all train services from north of the border and flights from Edinburgh and Glasgow airports were cancelled.

Trains in some parts of southern England were affected including services between London to Gatwick Airport.

At Electricity North West, customer director Steph Trubshaw said: “We’re constantly monitoring the weather and several forecasts are showing wind speeds of 70mph across the region for a prolonged period of time.

“We’re anticipating the conditions will make it unsafe for teams to climb meaning restorations for some customers will be delayed.

Remote technology would be used where possible to restore power, said Trubshaw, but electricity could remain off in some locations into Monday.

“Should that be the case, we’ll ensure regular updates are provided to those customers that are impacted. We’ll have hundreds of staff responding to ensure supplies are restored.”

The regional DNO said it invests millions each year cutting back trees from power lines but strong winds can still cause damage and blow other debris into the network which can cause power cuts.

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A boost early in 2024 by its SP Energy Networks business for suppliers of capital goods is the company’s biggest issued contract opportunity ever and will see major investment in green energy infrastructure and green jobs which will bolster the grid for decades to come.

With electricity demand forecast to double in the next ten years, the International Energy Agency says the UK needs more than 600,000km of new or upgraded electricity lines to meet its needs.  

 A division of Bilbao-headquartered transnational Iberdrola, ScottishPower says it is at the forefront of unlocking green growth and now has billions of pounds in contracts on offer for the supply chain to support its electricity network ambitions and a net zero future.  

 Keith Anderson, ScottishPower CEO, said: “We’re kickstarting the largest overhaul of the grid since its inception. Our investment plans will help grow our electricity networks, grow our workforce and will provide a massive opportunity for the supply chain whilst unlocking growth for the wider economy.”

“It is vital we get serious about getting on with the job of consenting and getting this new grid built so that we can take advantage of clean green renewables, transport it around the country and lock in our energy security and maintain the UK’s track record in leading on decarbonisation”

 ScottishPower’s grid business SP Energy Networks is now encouraging companies with the skills and experience to bid for contracts to design, develop and upgrade new and existing strategic transmission infrastructure.  

 This will include new high voltage substations, overhead line construction as well as design, engineering, construction, and electrical works.  

Vicky Kelsall, CEO of SP Energy Networks, said: “This is one of the most significant infrastructure roll outs to upgrade the grid to support the electricification of the wider economy. We’ve got the plans and we’ve got the financial capital to invest, and the UK supply chain stands ready to benefit to the tune of billions.”

Covering the decade to 2034, the £5.4bn portfolio features transmission projects across central and southern Scotland, connecting 80 to 85GW of clean renewable energy to the GB transmission system.  It will help move more green energy across the country and reduce the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels.   

In November, the UK government announced plans to halve the time it takes to build high voltage power lines and cut the time it takes to connect to the grid. Its package of measures aims to support economic growth and cement Britain as one of the best countries in the world to invest in renewables.  

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