National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) and grid intelligence startup Yottar have collaborated to develop a digital platform designed to change the way grid capacity is assessed and help speed up connections.
The collaboration between the two companies aims to combine the technical knowledge and operational insight of the distribution network operator with Yottar’s data modeling capabilities and software development to create a digital platform for automated network capacity assessment.
Projects seeking to connect to the grid are accelerating rapidly as electrification increases, with more and more data centers, electric vehicle infrastructure and renewable energy generation seeking grid access and, most importantly, faster, more transparent ways to understand where grid capacity exists and when it can be accessed.
“As the pace of electrification increases, collaboration with innovative technology companies like Yottar will play an important role in developing the digital capabilities that help developers understand network capacity and move through the connection process more efficiently,” said Oliver Spink, head of system planning at National Grid DSO.
The platform supports the development of detailed network models that quickly provide insight into the opportunities and limitations for potential connection points. This would help both asset developers and network connectivity engineers better assess decisions in the early stages of the development process.
NGED added that the platform has the potential to streamline the connection to engineers’ workflows and help developers identify viable projects much earlier in the site selection and development process. This would be achieved by automating key elements, such as capacity assessment, and improving the accessibility of network planning information.
Pete Clutton-Brock, founder and CEO of Yottar, said: “By combining NGED’s technical expertise with Yottar’s digital grid modeling platform, we have the opportunity to support interconnect engineers with faster and more consistent assessments, while giving developers earlier insight into viable interconnect options.”
In addition to these improvements, the partnership also wants to explore how digital platforms can support the evolution of the connection process. NGED added that better visibility of the network’s capabilities can enable faster project development, better use of existing infrastructure and a wider range of innovative approaches to connecting new demand and generation.
Securing grid connectivity still remains a challenge for solar PV projects, as evidenced by the recent allocation of fixed dates for the grid under Gate 2 Phase 1 and Phase 2. Josh Cornes, market analyst at Solar Media Market Research, recently analyzed which projects date the secure connection of the three most important tourist offices and which were pushed back due to a lack of infrastructure.
