TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION TECHNOLOGY
There have been several
initiatives recent designed to release energy capacity
permission or economic feasibility. In addition, for new projects to be granted connection, they must show that they can be accommodated in the worst circumstances, i.e. all other projects are connected (both existing and yet to be built), clearly, this may not always be possible. So-called ‘zombie projects’ with little chance of being built, are effectively gumming up the whole system.
FUTURE SOLUTIONS In recent months there have been several initiatives designed to release capacity. This includes a five-point plan from the grid operator, NGESO, including an amnesty on releasing agreed transmission connections without penalty, a new queue
Zonal pricing in the UK
A recent zonal pricing pledge from the UK government should provide cheaper electricity to those living near renewable projects by encouraging some significant rearrangement of distribution models according to Normand. Where there is high energy supply, in, for example Scotland (with off-shore wind energy and gas), supply-side companies will likely set up and find ways to transmit and distribute energy. Similarly companies focusing on demand might set up in London, with models that better distribute limited energy to more people. “The current energy transition is leading to some interesting solutions,” says Andy Normand from Encora Energy. “I recently heard about a fire plant collecting carbon dioxide and selling it to food companies. Similarly, there was the case of a data-centre using the heat generated to warm a swimming pool next door. There are so many innovative small entrants into the market and we can expect to see many more interesting solutions.”
management policy and acceptance of types of battery connection that were previously penalised. As part of the new queue
management process, applicants must meet requirements and milestones. This will help reduce the significant number of projects that may never actually be built but are restricting the grid potential. Projects that don’t meet milestones will be ejected. In November last year, Ofgem and
the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DSNEZ) released its Connections Action Plan, which sets out ambitious actions to significantly reduce connection timescales and ensure a timely transition to net zero. It’s a call for network companies, the system operator and the sector as a
whole to deliver a major step change in the pace of connections; strengthening incentives, obligations and requirements to do so. These plans are likely to change
the nature of the game for developers. They will require significant outlay to develop projects. Planning permission needs to be sought with significant impact studies on local environment, construction planning, visual and noise impact assessments. In addition, land leasehold terms must be agreed, and feasibility studies should highlight the tangible benefits of the project. Projects can become infeasible for any one of these reasons and knowing what is viable prior to committing the money and conducting studies is hard to determine. With higher risks to development, any new projects will need to be thoughtfully created and the long list of barely viable projects will dry up. The solutions are out there and there
are good signs that they are coming, but there will be some pain for developers who must give up on projects that are unlikely to be built as they take on the higher barriers to entry when developing new projects. If we are to move forward, we must
make it clear that some developers have wasted their money and allow truly viable, well-developed projects to come to fruition. ●
For more information visit
https://www.encora.energy/
www.engineerlive.com 9
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