Grid Connection Consultants’ Post

Do the planned connection reforms go far enough to disentangle the connections queue? Thanks Jack Presley Abbott for chairing & then sharing the Connection Delivery Board's thoughts. Good to see these questions are being asked now before reform is implemented ⬇ Interested to see more on this point in particular from the ESO in September: "Additional criteria could also be introduced to prioritise projects based on technical requirements or technology type. This would have the effect of reordering the new queue so that projects that align with the technical or technology requirements are connected first, in line with the broad principle of “First ready and needed, first connected”.  First ready and needed, first connected -> The ESO has already trailed this concept in the recent connection reform consultation (for the real nerds, Element 9 of CMP434) - proposing to create a methodology that will enable the ESO to 'designate' and accelerate specific projects based on system needs. A lot of focus has been on whether Gate 2 criteria around land rights and planning permission is sufficient but these two options below coupled with the much awaited strategic spatial energy plan (SSEP) could potentially be much more impactful in creating winners & losers for grid capacity.

Good to see the ESO publishing this report on recommendations for next steps in the design and development of the GB electricity grid over the longer term. This builds on the Holistic Network Design work being undertaken by the ESO, and is a step between the publication of the ESO's first Centralised Strategic Network Plan due in 2026. The message is clear - we need to get a move on with network upgrades - £58bn - if we want to secure decarbonisation ambitions and system resilience.

🇪🇺 💡📆 New commissioners /new Agenda: the view of European TSOs Since there is no low carbon power without adapted grids, it is interesting to read what TSOs are promoting. Below and in this link, are ENTSO-E Priorities for the new 🇪🇺 legislative cycle : A legislative framework that prepares the future and contributes to building  𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞 1️⃣ Secure adequate supply chain and skilled workforce 2️⃣ Deliver EU funding and make best use of it 3️⃣ Ensure appropriate regulatory framework for grid investments onshore and offshore 4️⃣ Keep energy efficiency and electricity at the centre of infrastructure planning 5️⃣ Reinforce the framework to identify adequacy and flexibility needs, and ensure appropriate measures are taken to fill the gaps 6️⃣ Implement the Market Design Reform and finalise the evolution towards a market design fit for a carbon-neutral Europe A legislative framework which continues to support 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 for the whole of Europe: 7️⃣ Consider the Grid in all new energy, industry and environment legislation 8️⃣ Enable the implementation of agreed upon measures 9️⃣ Support for the continued resilience and security of the system

The UK government announced in September the designation of data centres as critical national infrastructure (CNI), putting them on equal footing with vital services such as water, energy and emergency systems. However, if the opportunity presented by this high growth sector are to be realised, there are a number of challenges that will need to be overcome. According to Diarmaid Connolly, Director of Cost Management at Linesight, strategic planning and investment are essential to tackle these issues. The UK can look to Nordic countries for inspiration, wwhere they emphasise renewable energy and efficient power management, to build a sustainable and scalable data centres of the future. Learn more about the importance of power availability and strategic planning by following the link below! https://lnkd.in/edAkC4HV

🌍Recap: Driving Energy Efficiency in Government Buildings This week, we hosted an engaging online conference as part of the Improving the Energy Performance of State Buildings project, funded by DG REFORM's Technical Support Instrument. The event brought together experts and policymakers to share insights and practical solutions for enhancing the energy efficiency of government buildings. The discussions focused on: 🏢 Challenges in managing state building stocks 💡 Best practices and strategies for improving energy performance 🧩 Solutions from across the EU Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to this important conversation and to our colleagues who helped organise the conference: Jesse Glicker, Frank Gerard and Louise Aeby! If you missed it or want to dive deeper into the topics discussed, you can explore all the insights and key considerations in our comprehensive report here: https://lnkd.in/gnm-9KAz #EnergyEfficiency #Sustainability #PublicSector #Buildings #PolicyInsights #TSI 

Two years ago today, when the #InflationReductionAct was signed into law, I celebrated it as a "historic milestone" that was "decades in the making."   Now, with the implementation process deep underway, we can see how true that is. BCSE's #SustainableEnergy in America #2024Factbook, which we released in February, tracked market growth both in more mature #cleanenergy technologies and in previously slow-growing, emerging #decarbonization solutions. In 2023 alone, the IRA triggered market responses that include:   - A record-shattering $303.3 billion in US #energy transition financing for clean energy technologies, including #renewableenergy, #electricvehicles, and power grid investment. - 42 GW of new renewable power-generating capacity added to the US grid, driven mainly by robust solar additions. - $123 billion in announced investments for North American #manufacturing facilities.   This is the power of public-private partnerships at work. I'm thrilled to see the incredible clean energy transition progress that has been made in just the past few years - but there's more work to be done. The team at BCSE is working to guide the efficient implementation of these IRA policies and ensure a smooth path to clean energy deployment. I look forward to continue working with partners across the energy efficiency and clean energy sectors, as well as the Biden-Harris administration and Congress, to drive further progress on this historic legislation.   For more information on the clean energy market growth driven by the IRA, check out BCSE's new blog compiling the best-in-class IRA tracker resources: https://lnkd.in/eBM5NArb

Energy and Technological Progress: Bridging the Gap. P11.

Hello LinkedIn network! 🌟🔌 Reflecting on past financial forecasts for energy transitions, former German Environment Minister Jürgen Trittin's 2004 claim that the cost would be as minimal as a scoop of ice cream per household starkly contrasts with today's realities. This example underscores the importance of realistic financial planning in energy projects. #EnergyTransition #PublicPolicy #FinancialForecasting #EnlitEurope 🔗 Click the link below for an actual summary 🌱 https://lnkd.in/ejpyERiY

It was great to attend the Utility Week Future Networks Conference in Birmingham yesterday. The UK energy system and networks are adapting to their decarbonised futures, and the industry must embrace new ways of working, innovation, and digitisation if it is to achieve Net Zero goals by 2035. Some key takeaways from those at the heart of this change: 1️⃣ Growing the supply chain to ensure there is capacity needed to reach 2035. Other sectors share elements of these supply chains and have transformational goals of their own. Closely linked to this is the skills shortage facing the energy industry, and other asset intensive sectors. Encouraging a new generation of engineers and technicians to join the industry is essential, yet progress is slow. 2️⃣ Ensuring we move forward as a Whole Energy System, where both national and regional objectives are planned for, and where all key infrastructure stakeholders are aligned, and collaborate on a common goal. 3️⃣ Innovation - As it was said on stage, 'what got us here won't get us to Net Zero.' For an inherently risk-averse industry, who will drive and champion the innovation needed to accelerate the process, the regulator, industry, or both? New partners, outlooks, and skills will be critical to this.

"There’s no shortage of attempts to close communications gaps like these. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) both have published robust energy-vocabulary glossaries, for example. And there are a plethora of online resources breaking down challenging energy concepts. But modular definitions like these don’t lead to true understanding of how consumers can and should adopt climate-friendly solutions." — Matt Calderone and Amanda Molaro of LaunchSquad (Photo: pidjoe) https://lnkd.in/gtV4vAH2