INA (Independent Networks Association)’s Post

Energy networks lay to rest 10GW of “zombie” connection projects This achievement has been possible thanks to work being undertaken by network operators, the regulator and the system operator through ENA’s Strategic Connections Group. The initiatives have seen stalled or speculative schemes – that were characterised by the regulator last year as ‘zombie projects’ – removed from the queue. Over the coming months, the Group is working on further initiatives as part of the next phase of the process, including ensuring a more effective and cohesive connection process between the transmission and distribution networks. ENA and their network operator members are working with the regulator to assess what would be needed to deliver this coordination, including in terms of codes or new licence changes to facilitate it. ENA’s Strategic Connections Group, made up of network operators and industry partners, is dedicated to accelerating the speed of grid connections. It has prioritised practical reforms and is advocating for strategic changes to the UK’s planning processes that are necessary to make grid connections even faster. The actions being taken include: Ensuring all projects within the queue are “on track” and meeting the milestones set out within their contracts. Where a project is behind schedule, and hasn’t reached the milestone it should have, network companies are liaising with the developer and discussing the reason behind the delay, as well as assisting with progression of the project to meet any current and future milestones. Where a project has completely stalled and is no longer progressing, networks are removing these from the queue and terminating connection contracts. Source – energynetworks.org #ICP #IDNO #Utilities

Energy networks lay to rest 10GW of “zombie” connection projects This achievement has been possible thanks to work being undertaken by network operators, the regulator and the system operator through ENA’s Strategic Connections Group. The initiatives have seen stalled or speculative schemes – that were characterised by the regulator last year as ‘zombie projects’ – removed from the queue. Over the coming months, the Group is working on further initiatives as part of the next phase of the process, including ensuring a more effective and cohesive connection process between the transmission and distribution networks. ENA and their network operator members are working with the regulator to assess what would be needed to deliver this coordination, including in terms of codes or new licence changes to facilitate it. ENA’s Strategic Connections Group, made up of network operators and industry partners, is dedicated to accelerating the speed of grid connections. It has prioritised practical reforms and is advocating for strategic changes to the UK’s planning processes that are necessary to make grid connections even faster. The actions being taken include: Ensuring all projects within the queue are “on track” and meeting the milestones set out within their contracts. Where a project is behind schedule, and hasn’t reached the milestone it should have, network companies are liaising with the developer and discussing the reason behind the delay, as well as assisting with progression of the project to meet any current and future milestones. Where a project has completely stalled and is no longer progressing, networks are removing these from the queue and terminating connection contracts. Source – energynetworks.org #ICP #IDNO #Utilities

Energy networks lay to rest 10GW of “zombie” connection projects This achievement has been possible thanks to work being undertaken by network operators, the regulator and the system operator through ENA’s Strategic Connections Group. The initiatives have seen stalled or speculative schemes – that were characterised by the regulator last year as ‘zombie projects’ – removed from the queue. Over the coming months, the Group is working on further initiatives as part of the next phase of the process, including ensuring a more effective and cohesive connection process between the transmission and distribution networks. ENA and their network operator members are working with the regulator to assess what would be needed to deliver this coordination, including in terms of codes or new licence changes to facilitate it. ENA’s Strategic Connections Group, made up of network operators and industry partners, is dedicated to accelerating the speed of grid connections. It has prioritised practical reforms and is advocating for strategic changes to the UK’s planning processes that are necessary to make grid connections even faster. The actions being taken include: Ensuring all projects within the queue are “on track” and meeting the milestones set out within their contracts. Where a project is behind schedule, and hasn’t reached the milestone it should have, network companies are liaising with the developer and discussing the reason behind the delay, as well as assisting with progression of the project to meet any current and future milestones. Where a project has completely stalled and is no longer progressing, networks are removing these from the queue and terminating connection contracts. Source – energynetworks.org #ICP #IDNO #Utilities

ENTSO-E, the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity, has released the draft list of projects for assessment in the Ten-Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP) 2024. This plan aims to address infrastructure gaps and enhance Europe's electricity system. The draft TYNDP 2024 includes 176 transmission projects and 33 storage projects, identified through a two-year process involving scenario development and cost-benefit analysis. You can explore the draft projects via an interactive map at this link: https://lnkd.in/e-8SEQg8. The final scenarios will be published in April 2024, followed by the System Needs Study and cost-benefit analysis results later in the year. ENTSO-E and its 40 member Transmission System Operators are pivotal in this effort to build a more resilient and sustainable energy future for Europe. #EuropeanEnergy #Sustainability #ElectricityTransmission #RenewableEnergy

Integrated grid planning in the US would advance the economy, cut energy costs, and reduce pollution. Great to see Europe thinking about building a resilient system that brings together energy resources across borders.

 🌐 Historic Grid Expansion in the Heartland: MISO & SPP  This week, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) and Southwest Power Pool (SPP) took steps toward strengthening their respective systems with major transmission proposals. Covering the bulk of the heartland, these projects aim to expand grid capacity, improve reliability, and meet rising demand for low-cost and widely available electricity across the Midwest and Plains. What’s Driving This Expansion?  With changing energy demands and increased reliance on electricity across sectors, regions like the Midwest and Great Plains are facing heightened pressure on their power infrastructure. The grid expansions would add nearly 7,000 miles of high-voltage lines, helping to prevent power outages during extreme weather by enabling greater electricity transfers between states. Breaking Down the Plans  ⚡ SPP’s 2,700-Mile Expansion: SPP’s Board of Directors approved a major transmission plan, marking the largest collection of projects in its history, that are expected to deliver more than 8 times as many benefits compared to costs. ⚡ MISO's Long-Range Portfolio: MISO committees are considering its second tranche of Long-Range Transmission Planning projects, which are projected to deliver 1.8-3.5 times more benefits than costs. MISO’s focus is to establish a high-voltage backbone for the region, fortifying reliability and reducing barriers to new sources of low-cost power. If approved by the board in December, this network will help states balance supply and demand efficiently, especially during peak usage or harsh weather conditions. SPP's plan approval and MISO's proposed portfolio reflect a strategic, long-range approach to keep electricity affordable and available across communities.   🔗 Read more about SPP’s expansion: https://lnkd.in/eJX-qKQh 🔗 Explore MISO’s proposal: https://lnkd.in/eaqkuJzS #SPP #MISO #GridExpansion #Infrastructure #ReliableEnergy #Transmission 

🌟 Exciting News in Energy Sector! 🌟 I would like to share the latest insights from Advanced Energy United's recent scorecard on grid interconnection processes across major U.S. transmission organizations. 🥇 ERCOT and CAISO emerge as leaders, recognized for their efficient and effective interconnection procedures. Kudos to these grid operators for their proactive approaches in streamlining the process, ensuring timely connections at reasonable costs. ❌ On the flip side, PJM Interconnection and ISO New England lag behind, scoring poorly on regional transmission planning and interconnection alternatives. It's a wake-up call for these operators to revamp their processes and prioritize reliability and speed. 📈 These findings serve as a crucial benchmark for ongoing interconnection reform efforts nationwide. With the energy landscape evolving rapidly, strong implementation of FERC's recent reforms is paramount to overcoming barriers and driving progress. Looking to navigate the interconnection process seamlessly? Reach out to us today for expert assistance in interconnection applications across all regions: https://lnkd.in/gMfK2t9j Let's continue working together towards a more resilient and sustainable energy future! 💡 #EnergySector #InterconnectionReform #RenewableEnergy #GridEfficiency #ERCOT #CAISO #PJM #ISONewEngland #EnergyTransition

ACER has delivered its opinion on the draft joint Scenarios Report for the 2024 Ten-Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP), which is essential for planning Europe's future energy infrastructure and achieving decarbonisation goals. While recognizing improvements, ACER identified areas needing further work, expecting these to be addressed in the final report or tackled in the 2026 scenario process. The European Commission has now three months to review the draft and decide on approval or amendments. #EnergyTransition #TYNDP2024 #Decarbonisation

CAISO approves $6.1B in new transmission projects in its 2023-24 transmission plan. https://lnkd.in/edVYzcr5 with 26 new projects to support the addition of 85 gigawatts (GW) of capacity by2035. Earlier this month, Lotus Infrastructure Global Operations and Southern California Edison were selected to jointly build and own the 30 mile, $503 million North of SONGS-to-Serrano 500-kV transmission line project expected to be operational by 2034. Also this month, CAISO said it selected NextEra’s Horizon West Transmission to build and own the roughly $2.3 billion Imperial Valley–North of SONGS project, which includes a 145-mile, 500-kV transmission line and the $340 million North Gila-to-Imperial Valley project, which consists of a 500-kV circuit between the North Gila and Imperial Valley substations by 2035. https://lnkd.in/eq3naWaz It’s an exciting time for big transmission in California! Thanks Mike #caiso #transmission

🌍 Advent Calendar on 4 December - In a world of transmission challenges - CATOs can be King ⚡ As the UK accelerates toward its Net Zero goals, the demand for innovative, efficient, and robust energy infrastructure has never been greater. Transmission Owners (TOs) are at the heart of this transition, yet the growing complexity and scale of required upgrades can strain their capacity. Enter the Competitively Appointed Transmission Owners (CATOs) under Ofgem’s Early Model of Competition. This model, detailed in Ofgem’s latest consultation, represents a transformative approach to delivering critical onshore electricity transmission projects. By introducing competition early in the project lifecycle—before design is finalized—this model enables: 1️⃣ Cost efficiencies through competitive tendering. 2️⃣ Innovative solutions to address complex network challenges. 3️⃣ A broader pool of market participants to share the growing workload. Key features of the Early Model include: • Transparent cost adjustments via the Post Preliminary Works Cost Assessment (PPWCA) mechanism. • Milestone-linked payments during preliminary works to lower barriers for new entrants. • Performance-based incentives for availability, environmental impact, and timely delivery. By allowing CATOs to take on specific projects, the Early Model eases the burden on TOs, enabling them to focus on optimizing the existing network. This model aligns competition with the UK’s decarbonization goals, ensuring resilience, efficiency, and innovation in our energy infrastructure. It’s time we embrace CATOs as a cornerstone of our future energy strategy. 👉 Read our article on this at https://lnkd.in/gyDGwU8n #EnergyTransition #NetZero #EnergyInnovation #CATOs #Ofgem #EarlyCompetition #Infrastructure