SSEN unlocks 7GW of electricity capacity

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) expects to unlock over 7GW of electricity capacity in its two distribution network licence areas in the coming years.

The firm said the release of new grid capacity has already begun through the introduction of new technical limits.

In the first phase, this has already seen 2.5GW of capacity released in central southern England.

As a result, revised offers are being made to connections customers, which SSEN said is “accelerating dozens of solar and battery projects across this region”.

The ‘Technical Limits’ programme is allowing projects to connect to lower voltage distribution networks prior to reinforcement of the high voltage transmission network.

The work involves analysis of the power flows across Grid Supply Points (GSPs) where the transmission network connects to the distribution network.

A review of the first tranche of six GSPs is already enabling accelerated timescales for 25 projects, including one offer to Wokingham Solar Farm to bring forward its connection by up to 13 years.

Since the turn of the new year, SSEN has issued new connections offers to all customers whose projects relate to these initial six GSPs; all of which will now be able to connect to the electricity network ahead of schedule by between two and 13 years.

Projects to be offered earlier grid access comprise of around 50% battery storage, 40% solar generation, and 10% battery/solar hybrid projects.

Offers are only being made where curtailment will be limited, with a third of the projects under 3% curtailment.

Susana Neves e Brooks, SSEN’s head of connections, policy and performance, said: “We’re committed to working closely with all our customers with the aim of providing timely connections to the grid, and finding solutions that deliver faster timescales wherever possible.

“We’re pleased that through the co-ordinated approach with our customers and National Grid Electricity Transmission, projects are now getting earlier connection dates which are helping them realise their ambitions much sooner.

“Our work in this area is accelerating decarbonisation through more renewable generation connections and supports the increasing take-up of low carbon technologies.

SSEN is the latest network operator to free up capacity under the Technical Limits programme.

In February, Electricity North West announced that it had been able to provide an additional 1.4GW from the implementation of technical limits at its network interface with the National Grid.

UK Power Networks has announced it has released 4GW of capacity across its network and has accelerated the connection dates of more than 40 new energy projects.

Meanwhile, Northern Powered said it expects to be able to accelerate the connection of up to 4.4GW of battery storage and generation schemes.

Paul Lowbridge, head of customer management at National Grid, said: “Technical Limits are one of a range of measures to help connect projects faster, including grid upgrades – the biggest in a generation – and working collaboratively with industry, government, and the regulator on reforms to the connections process.

“It’s all paving the way for the more fundamental connections reform that we’re collectively working with government and the regulator to deliver to keep Britain on track for a secure, affordable, and net zero energy system.”