SP Energy Networks and artificial intelligence company Keen AI have developed a new AI network connectivity tool for project developers.
The tool, called IConn, provides a digitized view of the transmission network that allows developers to see existing, contracted and planned capacity, according to SP Energy Networks – effectively showing where and how a new project can connect to the grid.
The companies said the tool processes “raw network data on locally hosted models” to estimate connection routes, costs, power flows and technical limitations “in less than five seconds.” SP Energy Networks said this process would typically require “hours” of manual technical analysis.
SP Energy Networks said demand for grid interconnection “increased fivefold” between November 2024 and June 2025 as incentives for distributed renewable energy increased. Understanding the realities of local network connections could allow developers to make faster progress through permitting and pre-construction processes.
“We’ve taken a process that used to take hours of engineering time and compressed it into seconds. That’s the kind of step change Britain needs to respond to the need for more clean energy,” said Amjad Karim, CEO and founder of Keen AI. “There’s only a limited time to get this right. The projects in the queue today are the wind farms and battery storage we need online by 2030. Now it’s about scaling that solution across the sector.”
Earlier this year, energy regulator Ofgem and the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) looked for industry views on the significant overcapacity of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the UK grid interconnection queue. After interconnection reforms, more than 14 GW of excess BESS capacity is waiting to be connected to the electricity grid.
“We are very pleased to see IConn taking shape as a practical tool that reflects the depth of knowledge within our engineering teams,” said Alana Cairns, transmission customer contact manager at SP Energy Networks.
In March, Electricity distribution on the national electricity grid (NGED) joined forces with tech startup Yottar to develop a tool similar to IConn; a digital platform that combines NGED’s networking expertise with Yottar’s data processing technology to provide a clearer digital picture of available connections. That instrument does not specify the integration of AI.
One of Solar energy portal‘S market analysts recently published a detailed overview of the current state of grid connection dates for UK solar projects.
