PACE in the UK respond positively to National Grid's EOI request for bringing forward connection dates

The Pathfinder Clean Energy UK grid team has been participating in the stakeholder engagement around the increasing levels of transmission level grid constraints that are impacting on the ability for clean energy to connect and export.

Across the industry there have been increasing instances of distribution connected projects requiring completion of National Grid reinforcement works prior to connection.

Typically, these upgrade works are scheduled for completion between 2028 and 2035 – which will not help to address the urgent climate and energy security issues the UK is currently facing pushing out viable connections by up to a decade.

PACE is working with a range of Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) including NGED and UKPN in consultation with transmission operator National Grid.

As part of its ‘five-point plan’, National Grid has requested Expressions of Interest (EOI) for bringing forward connection dates and non-firm connection offers.

PACE has responded to express an interest in connecting 24 of its utility scale solar and energy storage projects ahead of National Grid reinforcement works. This would be approximately 1GW of clean energy generation connecting at a range of distribution voltages.

PACE will continue to work with the DNOs & NGESO to find a solution to this national issue which needs to be resolved urgently to enable more clean energy onto our electricity grid and better reliance on home grown energy sources.

Rob Denman, managing Director of Pathfinder Clean Energy said, ‘As an industry if we are to tackle climate change and reach our net zero targets this is the most critical issue to overcome. Solar and onshore wind can be developed and built relatively quickly and to provide the cleanest and lowest cost energy available. DNO Connected projects can be deployed rapidly and can connect several years in advance of projects with transmission connections. At present DNO connected projects account for all of UK’s connected solar PV capacity (over 14GW) and is crucial for the government’s Powering Up Britain: Net Zero Growth Plan where a target of 70GW of solar is set for 2035.

We need to find suitable solutions that both enable us to connect and enable us to finance these generation projects and as PACE we are collaborating with all the stakeholders but we need engagement and solutions from all levels up to and including central government’.