The UK’s Net Zero transition is likely to double annual electricity demand as a result of electrification by 2050 as we move our economy away from a reliance on fossil fuels.
Northern Powergrid is working to ensure the North’s network scales efficiently to meet growing demand while remaining reliable, affordable and sustainable.
Their focus is on:
supporting businesses in setting up and expanding in the North
providing increased electricity capacity to meet growing demand
We talked to Paul Glendinning, Energy Systems Director at Northern Powergrid, about why businesses can have confidence that the power they need is available and accessible.
Why are new electricity connections essential for driving regional growth?
Electricity connections—and the confidence that they’re available— are key drivers of regional growth.
“Put simply, most economic and social development can’t happen without reliable power infrastructure.”
They enable businesses to:
- expand operations and attract new investment
- create jobs across all sectors
- meet sustainability requirements and Net Zero commitments
Grid access is also fundamental for new housing developments, transport electrification, and essential public services. Put simply, most economic and social development can’t happen without reliable power infrastructure.
To prepare, we are collaborating closely with the National Energy System Operator, local government, and other utilities to develop regional energy plans. These plans will align with regional ambitions, creating the right conditions for development across the regions we serve.
What is changing about how Northern Powergrid provides electricity connections?
At Northern Powergrid we’re responsible for building new connections to the electricity grid and upgrading existing ones. We take our role helping businesses secure the capacity they need to grow and decarbonise very seriously.
As a grid operator, we facilitate both:
- Generation connections, for example solar panels and wind turbines, and
- Demand connections, connections that draw power from the grid
These connections range from individual houses up to large-scale manufacturing facilities.
In many cases, providing these connections is as simple as granting permission to draw more power through existing cables. However, some projects require action such as:
- flexing customer output to smooth out peaks
- more substantial upgrades, for example, reinforcing overhead lines or constructing new substations
At Northern Powergrid, we’re fortunate that many parts of our network already have the capacity to support new demand connections. As a result, the process is often more straightforward for customers.
What advice does Northern Powergrid offer to small business owners?
Across our region, we’ve assisted thousands of small businesses to connect small scale generation and other low carbon technologies.
Small business owners often ask about the availability of generation connections. For example, a small fabrication company might want to offset their energy bills by putting solar PV on the roof. They may ask questions such as:
- Do I need to upgrade my connection?
- How long does the process take?
Our answer depends on how much electricity these businesses want to transmit onto the grid.
We can usually provide connections relatively quickly for smaller scale generation where customers intend to use most of the electricity they generate, such as rooftop solar on a home or small factory.
For low-carbon generation, many small businesses can use their existing connections instead of needing a new one. This is especially true for smaller-scale projects, like a shop installing solar panels to reduce their energy bills and carbon footprint.
How do you support businesses who need larger generation connections to promote economic growth?
In recent years, larger generation connections have been trickier. This has been primarily due to constraints on the transmission grid, which is not managed by us.
Despite this though, we’ve made significant strides in accelerating grid connections, reducing waiting times by an average of seven years for some customers.
Even the largest demand connections can expect to be connected within two to three years, with smaller connections typically available much faster.
One of the key changes we’re responding to as an industry is the move away from a ‘first come, first served’ model to one that prioritises readiness and alignment with national net-zero strategy. Essentially, focusing on what’s ‘ready and needed’.
“Even the largest demand connections can expect to be connected within two to three years, with smaller connections typically available much faster.”
For customers with larger energy needs, we provide:
- strategic support
- tailored feasibility studies
- cost assessments
- phasing plans to meet both current and future demands
For example, we’re supporting:
- glass manufacturers transitioning to electric furnaces
- universities electrifying heating systems
- housing providers providing heat pumps and electric vehicle (EV) chargers
Projects like this are key to enabling decarbonisation while allowing organisations to maintain and expand their operations.
What role do new electricity connections play in integrating renewable energy into small business operations?
When we discuss integrating renewable energy, like smaller scale solar PV, we’re mostly talking about distributed generation. This type of generation doesn’t require a ‘new’ connection. However, distributed generation is still highly relevant to small businesses.
Our modelling (PDF) suggests that this kind of generation is likely to make up a higher proportion of the energy mix in the coming years, because it doesn’t require expensive upgrades to the transmission grid. Small businesses could benefit from this shift, through reductions in energy bills and, potentially, by participating in emerging energy markets.
With regards to larger, dedicated generation, new connections are more relevant. In the last few years, we’ve connected dozens of low-carbon projects like solar and wind. With many more in the queue, we’re collaborating with national reforms to ensure we can continue to support this growth and help make our region a clean energy powerhouse.
“Now is a great time to invest in the North and capitalise on Northern Powergrid’s commitment to sustainable development.”
As we work to meet the government’s target for clean power by 2030, this shift is particularly important for clean energy connections. For example, in our region only about 10% of battery storage projects currently in the queue will be required to meet this goal, while about 75% of solar projects will be needed.
Onshore wind is a different story – the government allocations are undersubscribed in our existing queue, so we are very much open for new wind projects.
Now is a great time to invest in the North and capitalise on Northern Powergrid’s commitment to sustainable development.
Relevant links:
- Decide if solar panels are right for your business
- Generate energy with a wind turbine
- Get an air source heat pump
- Review your energy tariff and consider a ‘green’ energy supplier
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