The Connectology® Podcast by Roadnight Taylor

#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
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#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.
 
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#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
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#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
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#10 Optimising flexible connections to maximise income – what every good Development and Investment Director should know

Active Network Management (ANM) and intertrips can both suck financial performance out of projects. There are nuances between these flexible arrangements, and with a better understanding of each, investors in contracted projects – or even connected projects – can seek out opportunities to significantly increase exported energy (and/or import) and so increase revenues.
In this podcast two of our Connectologists®, Philip Bale and Pete Aston, explain intertrips and ANM, and help developers and investors to understand how and when each of these flexible arrangements can be removed, interchanged or combined to minimise both curtailment and incidents of sites being constrained-off.
Recorded: 8 March 2023
Links:
Explainer: What is ANM?
Explainer: What is curtailment and how does it work?
Explainer: What is a soft intertrip?
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#09 Third party works - what every good Development and Investment Director should know

Third party works can have a significant impact on the capital costs and the connection timescale of a transmission connected scheme. Across the industry there is an increasing understanding that third party works can bring real risks to a project, but there remains some lack of awareness of requirements, roles and responsibilities among not only the connecting customers but also the network operators themselves.
In this podcast two of our Connectologists®, Pete Aston and Catherine Cleary, explain what third party works are, the risks they bring and how you get from a clause in your connection offer to bottoming out the third party works impact. They also explain how Roadnight Taylor can help you apply to a DNO and assess the impact of third party works on your projects.
 
Links:
Explainer: What are Third Party Works? 
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#08 NGESO securities and liabilities: insights for success and risk management in connections

With the threat of cancellation charges in the tens of £millions touching a significant proportion of utility-scale energy projects, now, a Development Director or Investment Director's improved understanding of the key drivers can make or save entire schemes, let alone save you £millions.
In this episode, Catherine Cleary and Pete Aston (who we lose half way through!) give insight into NGESO's securities and liabilities methodologies and how to achieve success and manage risk - which we will cover in more detail in our webinar on 9 March. The link to sign up is below.
Recorded: 9 February 2023
Links:
Sign up to the webinar on 9 March: Webinar Registration - Zoom
National Grid’s (very good and very detailed) presentation on the topic
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#07 Game or be Gamed? The Significant Code Review: strategies and tactics when connecting under the new rules

Roadnight Taylor Connectologist® Pete Aston joins Hugh Taylor to discuss the Significant Code Review (SCR) and the tactics and strategies that could be used by parties in grid connections to game the new system.
There will be many winners and losers under the new connection rules – with £millions being won or lost by developers and investors on individual schemes alone. 
Pete sees understanding nuances around point of connection voltage as one of the biggest areas of opportunity – or risk – for connection customers. He explains interim arrangements around flexible connections, including Active Network Management (ANM) and curtailment.
Plus, Pete gives his view on how the nature and importance of post-acceptance offer management – and liaison with the DNO – might change amongst the potential bow-wave of new applications after the 1 April 2023.
Recorded: 26 January 2023
 
Links:
All risks and opportunities under SCR are discussed in more detail for each market sector in our ‘Game or be Gamed?’ webinars. Links to request the full recordings of these can be found here.
 
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#06 NetZero Vs RIIO-ED2 final determinations

Roadnight Taylor Connectologists® Pete Aston and Catherine Cleary discuss the RIIO-ED2 final determinations with Merlin Hyman, Chief Executive of Regen.
We wanted to talk with Merlin about Regen’s and his concerns about the determinations. £billions are at stake for investment in the development of network infrastructure and the grid and it’s crucial that this is done right to help the nation reach net zero, wean off fossil fuels and reduce energy bills.
Among other things, a better steer from Central Government to Ofgem and a new independent body to define network requirements were discussed as better solutions.
 
Recorded 25 November 2022
Links:
Regen: https://www.regen.co.uk/
Ofgem RIIO-ED2 final determinations: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/riio-ed2-final-determinations
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#05 The gifts we’d like to give the GB electricity networks for Christmas

Pete Aston hosts a festive chat with two of our other Connectologists®, Philip Bale and Nikki Pillinger, to find out what they would like the networks and DNOs to receive for Christmas to help improve the connections process and the net zero energy transition.
They include extra funding, support and resource for the DNOs and better joined-up strategies. They've put improved battery modelling, grid queue and application management, transmission reinforcement charging and more on the list for Santa!
Recorded 25 November 2022
 
Links:
Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/connectology/ 
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