Monday 13 May
14.00-15.30
This is a members only working group who meet regularly online each year.
The Electricity System Operator for Great Britain has announced its most significant proposals yet for a reformed grid connections process and Ofgem has published an Open Letter in response. Under the proposed reform, projects with an existing grid connection offer will need to meet additional criteria to order to ‘stay in the queue’.
Grid connections reform continues to be a key focus for Regen’s work as the government’s Connections Action Plan is rolled out. Regen backs ambitious reform – but this is a significant change so it will be important that everyone in our sector can engage in shaping the details.
You can also engage directly in the reform process
- Engage directly into the CUSC Workgroups. More information can be found here: CMP434 (Implementing Connections Reform) and CMP435 (Application of Gate 2 Criteria to existing contracted background). The window for nominations from industry to become Workgroup members closes at 5pm on 2nd May.
- connections@ofgem.gov.uk by Monday 6 May 2024
The proposals
- ESO proposed in December 2023 a ‘First Ready, First Connected’ reform (Target Model Option 4, or TMO4) which would apply to new connection applications and significant Modification Applications from Jan 2025 onwards.
- Under the TMO4 proposals, projects will enter the connections process at ‘Gate 1’ but to obtain a firm queue position and a connection date they will need to get to ‘Gate 2’ by meeting certain criteria.
- ESO has recognised that without further action on the existing queue (which is now over 700 GW) reforms to the connections process for new projects are unlikely to significantly reduce connection timescales.
- Under the recently announced TMO4+ reform, projects in the existing queue will also need to demonstrate whether they have met the ‘Gate 2’ criteria. Projects that have met ‘Gate 2’ criteria will either retain their existing connection date or can request an accelerated date. Projects that do not meet ‘Gate 2’ will have an indicative connection date and location but will no longer be ‘in the queue’.
- ESO’s minded to position for Gate 2 criteria is that there will be “requirements regarding: i) having secured land rights for the proposed location; and ii) dates for submission of applications for planning consent.”
- Projects connecting at Distribution level will continue to apply via the DNO and will also have to demonstrate when they meet Gate 2.
- ESO is implementing these reforms via Code Modification Proposals CMP434 (Implementing Connections Reform) and CMP435 (Application of Gate 2 Criteria to existing contracted background)
If you are not a member but are interested in finding out more about membership, please find more information here and contact Hannah (hstanley@regen.co.uk) to discuss.
