All five of our Connectologists® come together in this Grid News and Views episode of the Connectology® Podcast to discuss hot industry topics, including: The delay in NGESO’s two-step offer process and the knock-on implications for connections customersPublication of the ESO’s ‘Beyond 2030’ reportClock starting and milestones for connection offers and mod appsThe new letter of authority requirements for transmission applicationsAppendix G and queue management at distribution level – and talk of a new policy to allow DNOs to move projects from Part 4 to Part 2How Appendix Gs and Technical Limits are being applied in ScotlandRising cost and timescales in the transmission reinforcement supply chain – and the increase in ICP quotes  Updates on SGT charging   Recorded 26 March 2024   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/ Talk to us at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

This podcast, with guests Adam Miller and Nick Clark of ESP Utilities Group Ltd, helps the varying connections customer types to understand the independent distribution network operator (IDNO) market, how it is segregated and what IDNO connections have to offer for their development projects.   Recorded October 2023 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/ Talk to us at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

In this podcast, Roadnight Taylor's Connectologists® Kyle Murchie, Pete Aston and Catherine Cleary discuss the Hydrogen development market and various opportunities and challenges around connecting the different types of hydrogen projects to the grid, including: how connections challenges differ from batteries and generationthe ambitious Hydrogen Allocation Rounds (HAR) connection timeframesregulatory issues around final demandimpacts of the industrial cluster focushow to design the transmission network to facilitate hydrogen connectionsphysical access challengestriggering of new substationspotential for 'tactical solutions' non-firm connections and;the potential for extensive liabilities under Final Sums. To find out more and to get your questions answered by our team of expert Connectologists® in a live Q&A session, join our webinar on Wednesday 20 March at 10am. Register in the link below.   Recorded 1 February 2024 Links:  Register for webinar: Unlocking the potential of hydrogen: exploring grid connections for hydrogen schemes   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/ Talk to us at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

With some 700 schemes about to receive an agreement to vary from National Grid ESO, Connectologists® Kyle Murchie, Pete Aston and Catherine Cleary set out the three reasons why, the differences between these cohorts and the risks and opportunities associated with each. They explore accelerated connection opportunities, connection offer milestones, curtailment risk and securities implications. They highlight differences between these agreements to vary and “business as usual” mod apps, and flag the interaction between mod apps and milestones, termination risk and the critical dates to be aware of.    Recorded 1 February 2024   Links:  Podcast: Transmission milestones – who they affect and how, and where to find out more Transmission queue management – milestones calculator Podcast: Are your projects’ curtailments about to get a lot worse? Webinar: Understanding outage risk - transmission Webinar: Understanding outage risk - distribution 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/ Talk to us at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

In this Grid News and Views episode of the Connectology® Podcast, Roadnight Taylor's Pete Aston hosts colleagues Nikki Pillinger, Philip Bale and Kyle Murchie as they discuss National Grid ESO and the DNOs' progress with the Technical Limits initiative, and: How valid is the data behind your DNO curtailment assessment?The milestones calculator for transmission-connecting projects  The migration of the Electricity System Operator (ESO) to the National Energy System Operator (NESO)The consultation on the change in threshold for Large GeneratorsThe risks to developers/investors of the use by network operators of sustained ratings vs cyclic ratings in modelling and operating ANM schemesThe NGESO consultation on market mechanisms to unblock transmission-level thermal constraints to demand and generationThe ESO's 'Technical Solution 2' for enabling battery connectionsThe lack of a route for accelerating demand connections caught up in transmission-level constraints The proposed Regional Energy Strategic PlannersRecorded 1 February 2024

On this podcast, three of Roadnight Taylor’s elite connections engineers – Connectologists® Catherine Cleary, Pete Aston and Kyle Murchie – explore the history, the mechanism's, strengths, weaknesses and the risks associated with connection offer milestones at transmission - an entirely new thing - which are being impemented following CUSC modification CMP376. There are also links in the description to National Grid ESO's invaluable resources and webinars on this complex and important topic. The ESO's guidance document can be found here: https://www.nationalgrideso.com/document/294211/download and it has upcoming webinars on the milestones  on 19 December and 10 January. Details of these and the materials from the previous ESO webinars on the topic can be found here: https://www.nationalgrideso.com/industry-information/connections/queue-management. National Grid's milestone calculator is no longer available - but Raodnight Taylor's own version will be available shortly. Recorded 14 December 2023

In this Grid news and views’ episode, Pete Aston hosts colleagues Catherine Cleary and Philip Bale - as well as the freshly-minted fifth Connectologist®, Kyle Murchie - as they discuss National Grid ESO's progress with two-step offers, when this will come to an end, and:   The proposed/impending introduction of LOAs (letters of authority) at transmissionProgress on large transmission reinforcement worksReintroduction of pre-app calls at transmission (in some cases)Application of Appendix G into CUSCThe harmonisation of definitions of large power stations across the countryProgress with SGT charging reformRecorded 13 December 2023   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/ Talk to us at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

With increasing levels of risk and complexity associated with investments in large-scale energy projects – not least with regards their grid connections – it is no surprise that investors are increasingly seeking the highest levels of specialised grid expertise for their connection due diligence. In this podcast, two of Roadnight Taylor’s elite connection specialists – Connectologists® Catherine Cleary and Pete Aston – discuss the key themes that they see determining the success of a connection and of a grid due diligence exercise, and some of the areas of risk that they see having been missed by third parties when a post-acquisition project arrives in their emergency room.     Recorded August 2023   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/ Talk to us at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

Changes both to Distribution Network Operators' modelling of curtailment and to their real-time operation of ANM schemes are impacting on developers' and investors' abilities to make informed investment decisions - and may lead to significant lost yield over and above what would have been anticipated on any given project. In this shifting landscape it pays to be informed in order to identify those projects with the greatest risks, and to engage positively with system planning teams to seek to address those risks early.   On this podcast, three of Roadnight Taylor’s elite connections engineers – Connectologists® Catherine Cleary, Pete Aston and Philip Bale – explore the issues, help identify higher risk projects, suggest mitigations and point to industry initiatives that may bring about positive change in this important area.   Recorded on 09 November 2023   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/ Talk to us at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

Two of our Connectologists®, specialist connections engineers Pete Aston and Philip Bale, discuss the new rules regarding the treatment of Battery Energy Storage Schemes (BESS) by Distribution Network Operator (DNOs) with regards to network connections. The change is as a result of the ENA's three-point plan to accelerate connections and came into force on 30 September 2023. This is an important, time-sensitive topic that will be of interest to battery storage developers, and developers and investors of large-scale commercial, industrial, real estate and housing with large demand or decarbonisation requirements. The three tactical solutions and how they might impact schemes and developments are discussed.   Recorded on 26 October 2023   Links:  ENA's Battery Storage Connections - Tactical Solutions Guidance Notes What are firm and non-firm connections?   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/ Talk to us at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

In this Grid news and views’ episode, Connectologist® Nikki Pillinger hosts colleagues Catherine Cleary and Philip Bale as they report back from National Grid ESO's customer connections seminar on 16 October, and in addition:   1) Update on the Technical Limits initiative phasing, assessments and timings 2) Flag that DNO's re-assessment of asset ratings is bringing about significantly higher levels of ANM curtailment risk  3) Discuss DUoS charging increases as a result of socialising of reinforcement under SCR 4) Highlight new guidance notes for the treatment of storage by DNOs   Recorded 18 October 2023   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/ Talk to us at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

With connection timescales in the late 2030s becoming the new normal for distribution connections, the ENA's Technical Limits initiative seeks to better utilise transmission headroom at each GSP in order to accelerate connections of smaller, more agile projects that are ready to connect. In this episode Roadnight Taylor's four Connectologists® help developers and investors to understand the implications for the portfolios of large-scale projects they are building or acquiring.   Recorded 6 September 2023   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/ Talk to us at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

Our team of Connectologists® return for a third podcast in their ‘Grid news and views’ series to discuss some of the most important updates in their field. In this episode our influential connection specialists, among other news, discuss the latest intervention from the ENA and Ofgem regarding the treatment of storage. Additionally, the podcast addresses a range of topical threads: Changes to the planning regime for onshore wind, and whether they are significant enough to cause a rush of connection applications in England - or even cancellationsThe Electricity Networks Commissioner's (Nick Winser) report on accelerating electricity transmission network deploymentThe ENA's 'Technical Limits' initiative and how this may enable some embedded connections ahead of transmission reinforcementsMoves to make landowner consent a requirement in transmission applicationsSome CUSC mods for storage developers and investors to be aware ofRecorded 6 September 2023   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/ Talk to us at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

With the choice of applying for a Bilateral Embedded Generator Agreement (BEGA) or a Bilateral Embedded Licence Exemptible Large Generator Agreement (BELLA) having such high potential impacts on the viability, cost or timing of a connection - and therefore on a project - it pays to understand the implications as well as the high-level choices you will have to make. Diligent development Directors and Investment Directors will be better placed to make the right calls after listening to this episode, in which two of Roadnight Taylor’s elite connection specialists – Connectologists® Catherine Cleary and Pete Aston – discuss the fundamentals, and where they have seen others go wrong.   Recorded 6 September 2023   Links:  Changing from a BEGA to a BELLA  Notification of Insufficient System Margin (NISM) Overview   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/ Talk to us at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

Insights to help you understand projects’ abnormal running risks, and how to mitigate them. With the levels of risk involved in consenting or acquiring transmission-connected projects, understanding outage risk should be near the top of any good Development or Investment Director's list. In this podcast hosted by Pete Aston, two other Roadnight Taylor elite connection specialists (Connectologists®) Catherine Cleary and Philip Bale, discuss the key themes that they will cover in an upcoming webinar on this increasingly popular subject.  The webinar is on Wednesday 8 November. More details will follow on our website later, but you can register on Zoom here. Recorded 11 July 2023   Links:  You can request a recording of the outage risk at distribution webinar here. 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/ Talk to us at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

Our team of Connectologists® return for a second podcast in their ‘Grid news and views’ series to discuss some of the most important updates in their field. In this second episode our influential connection specialists, among other news, discuss National Grid’s long term connections reform piece, exploring the changes it results in, and when we can expect an industry update. Additionally, the podcast addresses other topics, with both specific and wider breadths: The modification to the commercial connection use of system charging and who it benefitsDiscussion of the distribution/transmission boundary as laid out in the ENA’s three-point planSome wider news, including Energy UK’s forecast about the UK’s pace of growth in low carbon generation, and how we charge for super grid transformer reinforcementsThe modification proposal to introduce queue management at transmission Project Progression thresholdsRecorded: 03 August 2023   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/ Talk to us at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

Our four Connectologists® get together again to give their views on some of the key news topics in the connections industry. Among other topics they discuss: NGESO's recent letter about battery connections being able to connect ahead of non-critical enabling worksexperiences with older schemes without milestones being chased by DNOs, as mentioned in the ENA's three-point planslow DNO project progressions and how more should be being done across the industry to expediate the processeshow the UK can reach DESNZ's Solar Taskforce target of 70GW solar by 2035the positivity of large-scale transmission reinforcements being pushed forward in NGET consultations  Recorded: 11 July 2023   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/ Talk to us at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

In this Connectology® podcast, two of Roadnight Taylor's Connectologists® - Specialist Connections Engineer, Catherine Cleary, and Specialist Connections Manager, Nikki Pillinger - discuss the perils and pitfalls to avoid once a great grid connection offer has been accepted. Recorded: April 2023 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/ Talk to us at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

The risk of outages on project revenues often trumps ANM curtailment risk, having already cost investors, on individual projects, more than £10 million. These revenue risks rise with connection voltage, connection scale, and the volume of connections being made. Even a cursory look at the ECRs suggest that many portfolios will be harbouring multiple ticking timebombs.  In this podcast, Pete Aston explains why we are hosting an upcoming webinar to share insight to help Development and Investment Directors understand abnormal running risk, and how to go about mitigating the issues identified in their schemes. The webinar is on Wednesday 12 July at 10.00-11.00.   Recorded: 23 June 2023 Links: REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR HERE 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/ Talk to us at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

Under the new connection charging and access rules that came into force on 01 April 2023 (SCR), when DNOs provide a curtailable connection they will be required to compensate connected customers for any curtailment above a prescribed level. Curtailed connections may be enduring but may only be interim whilst the DNO carries out reinforcements at their own cost. Either way they will become common-place, and all good Development Directors and Investment Directors should understand the weaknesses of the Curtailment Limit calculation formula, and how the limit differs from DNOs' curtailment reports.   In this Connectology podcast, Pete Aston - who was responsible for the rollout of ANM across National Grid Electricity Distribution's networks - guides you through this new landscape.     Recorded: 13 June 2023   Links: DCUSA - Access SCR: Changes to Terms of Connection for Curtailable Customers  Request a recording of our webinar on Understanding DNO curtailment reports   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/ Talk to us at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk