A key stage in any commercial generation or storage project is securing permission for connection of the plant to the public electricity distribution network.

Whether you are planning a PV system on your building, a solar park or a greenfield storage project, you will need to follow the connections process. The earlier in the project development this is secured, the less risk surrounds the project: Many areas of the UK distribution network are congested which results in constrained exports (or imports) or substantial connection costs.

If you are looking for a tenant-developer, securing the grid connection early also can also give you more bargaining power to agree rents and reduces the risk that other sites nearby will block your prospective tenant’s  plans.

For building operators, import/export limits can be a key design factor, and we advise that determining grid constraints is an important part of feasibility studies. Since the connection process can take time, it is best started prior or parallel to your tender process; this also ensures a fair playing field. Many installers offer to provide this service “free”; allowing a favourite to take control too early may cause commercial issues should you appoint another.

We also provide this service to installers and EPCs as part of our construction design packages, to ensure that their proposals are accurate, practical and appropriate for their clients’ needs.

Connection Services

• Grid connection applications
  (ER G59/3)
  
• DNO liaison
• Control scheme design
• Electrical Schematics (SLDs)
• Location plans
• Capped export scheme design & modelling
• Regional capacity research
• Reactive power impact assessments (generator PF settings)
• ICP liaison