Connections Reform

Improving customer connections

Making sure that generation and demand schemes can connect to our network in a safe and timely manner is one of our primary responsibilities as the owner of the transmission network in the north of Scotland. We have a huge job to do over the coming years to make sure that our network is capable of connecting the growing onshore and offshore renewable power helping to meet Scotland and the UK’s net zero targets and securing our future energy by using affordable, home-grown, low carbon electricity.

Changing energy landscape

At the beginning of 2023, our network had just over 9GW of renewable generation connected. We currently have 60GW of generation capacity contracted to connect to our network. The demand for services is increasing every month as new applications are received and offers for connections are accepted.

With this growth in renewables and shift in the energy sector, connection requirements are changing and customers are utilising a range of technology types for generation, for example, storage. The connections process needs change in order to efficiently advance those projects which are ready to connect to meet the renewable generation 2030 and 2050 targets.

Our role

The Electricity System Operator (ESO) is taking a range of actions to improve the process of connecting onto the transmission grid, including their five-point plan and also their consultation on longer term reform of the connections process.

The ESO are working with industry partners on both short-term and longer-term changes to the connections process including: 

• The ESO's five point plan, which includes Queue Management and will incorporate new contractural terms within connection offers to manage the queue more effectively. Along with the introduction of a new streamlined assessment process in the construction planning assumptions, which is the basis of assessing enabling works for connection offers, and reviewing the treatment of storage connections.
• Longer term connections reform to bring about more fundamental change to the connections process, evaluating options including how the connections queue is formed.
• The Energy Networks Association's Strategic Connections Groups looking at changes to how transmission and distribution coordinate embedded connections. 

As the transmission owner for the north of Scotland, we play a vital role in the future connection of generation and demand customers to the network and we are working to improve the connections process for our customers.