Open Networks

New smart technologies are challenging the traditional way we generate, consume and manage electricity, and the energy networks are making sure that these changes benefit everyone.

We’re helping transition to a smart, flexible system that connects large-scale energy generation right down to the solar panels and electric vehicles installed in homes, businesses and communities right across the country. This is often referred to as the smart grid.

The Open Networks programme has brought together the nine electricity grid operators in the UK and Ireland to work together to standardise customer experiences and align processes to make connecting to the networks as easy as possible and bring record amounts of renewable distributed energy resources, like wind and solar panels, to the local electricity grid.

We’re also working with the UK Government (through the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy), the energy regulator Ofgem, respected academics and industry trade associations.

We test key developments with experts, as well as seeking broader views through consultations, stakeholder forums, webinars and guest presentations.

The UK has a dynamic energy environment ranging from solar farms in sunny Cornwall to the offshore wind farms in Kent and the Moray Firth, and all the local generation projects in-between. As homes and businesses adopt these smarter technologies and connect them to the local distribution networks, how these resources are integrated and support the networks will define the future smart grid and ensure the overall grid is equipped to deliver the energy we rely on well into the future.

As demand patterns shift as a result of new technologies such as electric vehicles and heat pumps, and more local renewable power is connected, network operators will play a more active role in managing and operating their networks, allowing them to address periods of high and low demand and power outages more efficiently, including paying customers to help support the networks with their flexible solutions.

Areas of focus

The pace of change Open Networks is delivering is unprecedented in the industry, and to make sure the transformation of the networks becomes a reality, we have created six workstreams under Open Networks to progress the delivery of the smart grid.

Each year, the project produces a forward work plan and a Project Initiation Document to set out the priories and direction. The final document is informed through consultation with industry, giving everyone a chance to feed in on priorities and timescales for the project.

For 2021 the project’s work areas are below and you can find resources specific to each focus area on the relevant page:

• WS1A: Flexibility Services
• WS1B: Whole Electricity System Planning
• WS2: Customer Connections
• WS3: DSO Transition
• WS4: Whole Energy Systems
• WS5: Communications and Stakeholder Engagement