The Connectology® Podcast by Roadnight Taylor

#20 Grid News and Views - Episode #1

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 works
experiences with older schemes without milestones being chased by DNOs, as mentioned in the ENA's three-point plan
slow DNO project progressions and how more should be being done across the industry to expediate the processes
how the UK can reach DESNZ's Solar Taskforce target of 70GW solar by 2035
the 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

#19 Now you’ve got a connection offer, what next?

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
 

#18 Understanding outage risks webinar - who should tune in, when and why

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

#17 Significant Code Review (SCR) Curtailment Limits - what every good Development and Investment Director should know

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

#16 Connections reform update #1

For the first time, all four of Roadnight Taylor's Connectologists® - Pete Aston, Catherine Cleary, Philip Bale and Nikki Pillinger are together on the same podcast.
In this episode they are discussing the recent connections reform output from National Grid ESO and the Energy Networks Association, as well as Ofgem's open letter on future reform to the electricity connections process, in which it invites feedback from stakeholders by 16 June 2023.
 
Recorded: 30 May 2023
 
Links:
 
The ESO's Five Point Plan
The ENA's Three Point Plan
 
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

#15 Understanding DNO curtailment assessment reports webinar - who should tune in, when and why

Energy scheme developers make big calls in deciding whether to take projects forward into planning – and investors make even bigger calls at Final Investment Decision (FID).
Increasingly, there will be at least some risk of curtailment associated with their connections, and often all that they will have to go on is a curtailment report issued by the Distribution Network Operator (DNO).
In this podcast, Connectologists® Pete Aston and Philip Bale explain why they wanted to share, on their upcoming connectology® webinar, insight into ANM and the DNOs' reports, what they will be covering and who will benefit.
 
The webinar is on Wednesday 14 June at 10.00-11.00. 
 
Recorded: 28 April 2023
 
Links:
 
REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR HERE
 
What is Active Network Management?
What is curtailment and how does it work?
 
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

#14 Hinkley Point C Connection Project: an MP’s view – The Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox on the challenges for North Somerset and The Electricity Transmission Compensation Bill

The second in a series of Pete Aston’s look at the HPC project, aimed at helping developers with connection offers understand the effect that transmission reinforcement work has on their projects. 
Pete is joined by The Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox, MP for North Somerset, recorded in his office in Parliament. Dr Fox talks about the national need for energy, and the challenges the HPC major infrastructure project gave his local constituents, particularly in planning law and landowner compensation. 
From his involvement in this project and following consultation with his peers in the House of Commons, Dr Fox has brought forward the Electricity Transmission (Compensation) Bill to allow binding arbitration without the costs of going to the High Court.
 
Links:
 
Pete is joined by The Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox, MP for North Somerset, recorded in Dr Fox’s office in Parliament. Dr Fox talks about the national need for energy, and the challenges the HPC major infrastructure project gave his local constituents, particularly in planning law and landowner compensation. 
From his involvement in this project and following consultation with his peers in the House of Commons, Dr Fox has brought forward the Electricity Transmission (Compensation) Bill to allow binding arbitration without the costs of going to the High Court.
Recorded: 22 February 2023
 
Links:
An Introduction to HPC Project Podcast
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

#13 The grid connection feasibility studies webinar - who should tune in, when and why

The first factor underpinning Roadnight Taylor's extraordinary success-rate in High and Extra High Voltage connection applications - historically, some five times that of the market as a whole - is that it puts applications in on the right parts of the network. Second, a valuable feasibility study will also identify the network opportunity: what would need to be true for a connection to be technically and commercially feasible, and to be approved by the DNO.In this podcast, Hugh Taylor explains why the Connectologists® Pete Aston and Philip Bale have volunteered to share so much feasibility know-how, how they will do so on the day - and who will get the most out of the webinar.
 
The podcast is a way for Hugh to save your time on the day, by covering the scene-setting that would otherwise use valuable time at the top of the webinar - and in part is a call-to-action to ensure that members of the Connectology® audience flag the event to the most relevant of their colleagues.
 
The webinar is on Thursday 1 June at 12.00-13.00. 
 
Recorded: 04 May 2023
 
Links:
 
The webinar has now happened. Register to receive a recording.
 
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
 
 
 

#12 Hinkley Point C Connection Project: an introduction - Insights into transmission reinforcements and for developers stuck behind such works

Many developers’ grid connections – whether at distribution or transmission – are being delayed by significant transmission reinforcement works. In this, the first of a series of podcasts, Pete Aston introduces the Hinkley Point C Connection (HPC) project, with a view to helping developers understand the scale of transmission works, and what it means for connections projects that are sitting behind similar, if not more extensive, reinforcements.
Pete – who was responsible for the design elements of the scheme in his previous role with WPD (now NGED) – explains more about the 59 kilometre, 400kV circuit, and the process involved in the programme of works. He’ll cover what to expect in the rest of his series including timescales, wider cost and resource issues, and government views.
 
Recorded on 8 March 2023
 
Links:
Third Party Works podcast
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
 
 

#11 National Grid’s Call For Expressions of Interest - What you should know, before it’s too late…

In this connectology® podcast, two of Roadnight Taylor's Connectologists® (Catherine Cleary and Nikki Pillinger) discuss National Grid's time-limited step towards addressing the long grid connection timescales - some as late as 2037 - that are frustrating the UK's clean growth aspirations. The ESO has called for expressions of interest from contracted connection customers - importantly, at both distribution and transmission - whose connection dates have been impacted by transmission reinforcement works requirements. Edit: The extended deadline for responses is 15 May 2023.
If you have an accepted offer at transmission - or have a distribution-level offer that has been negatively impacted by a formal transmission impact assessment (statement of works, project progression, mod app, Appendix G, or whatever language you prefer) then this should be of interest to you. Have a listen and then, if appropriate, find the link to the ESO's expressions of interest form in the links below.
 
Recorded: 13 April 2023
 
Links:
ESO Form
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