National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) has partnered with grid intelligence startup Yottar to develop a digital platform aimed at accelerating grid connections by improving how network capacity is assessed.
The new platform is designed to automate key parts of the grid capacity assessment process, giving network connection engineers and developers earlier visibility of where capacity may exist on the network and what constraints could stand in the way of a project.
Under the partnership, NGED will bring its operational and engineering knowledge of the distribution network, while Yottar will provide data modelling and software development expertise. Together, the pair are aiming to build a platform capable of producing detailed network models that can provide faster insight into potential connection opportunities.
It’s a similar approach to what NGED’s parent company is doing on the wider national grid. Earlier this year, National Grid announced that it would use digital twin technology to help speed up connections, partnering with Atos. That follows a growing trend in the market which is seeing the use of more digital tools to get connections approved faster.
That matters because developers are often forced to make early site decisions without a clear enough picture of what capacity is actually available, or when it might be accessed. If the new platform can provide more consistent visibility earlier in the process, it could help cut down on speculative applications while making it easier to identify viable projects sooner.
NGED and Yottar said the platform could also streamline internal workflows for connection engineers by automating parts of the assessment process and improving access to network planning information.
While the immediate focus is on speeding up individual assessments, the partnership is also intended to explore a wider shift in how connections are handled. Earlier and more transparent access to network capability could, in theory, support faster project development, better use of existing infrastructure, and a broader range of approaches to connecting new demand and generation.
That will be of particular interest to sectors facing increasing scrutiny over access to power, especially as developers move more quickly to secure sites for major electricity-intensive projects. That includes the data centre sector, which has been increasingly scrutinised for its thirst for power.
Oliver Spink, Head of System Planning at National Grid DSO, commented, “As the pace of electrification increases, working 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 connections process more efficiently.”
Pete Clutton-Brock, Founder and CEO, Yottar, added, “We are excited to be working with National Grid, who are showing real leadership in collaborating with innovative technology companies to modernise the electricity system. By combining NGED’s engineering expertise with Yottar’s digital grid modelling platform, we have the opportunity to support connection engineers with faster and more consistent assessments while giving developers earlier visibility of viable connection opportunities.”
