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 2022 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
Getting involved
We want to bring the project to the industry, making sure to get as much input as possible to build an all-inclusive energy system.
Dissemination Forum
To help guide the work of the programme, a Dissemination Forum is run quarterly as an online event for anyone to join. It gives stakeholders the opportunity to engage broadly with Open Networks, stay up to date with the latest developments and to provide input into it.
We welcome all interested parties to join this forum, and you can sign up via our online form.
The Forum works alongside another stakeholder group titled a 'Challenge Group' which has representation from experts across industry and runs bi-monthly. Please see the full list of members of the Challenge Group.
If you would like to raise anything at one of our meetings or provide feedback on the agenda items we're discussing, do get in touch with one of the Open Networks team.
Public events
We host a series of public events, webinars, panel events and roundtables throughout the year to complement our consultations or specific items of work, all of which help steer the development of Open Networks products and deliverables. These are listed on our Events page and our 2022 activity overview.
Project governance
The whole system challenges that we are looking to solve requires the right expertise. As the natural home for network collaboration, Open Networks draws on the expertise of each network company to lead this development work and has a significant number of representatives from each company developing and progressing all the necessary steps to build a grid that leaves nobody behind.
The project is overseen by the Steering Group, as well as drawing on expertise from our other committees. BEIS and Ofgem sit on the Steering Group.
Project management documents and resources
The sections below are a collection of project-wide resources and latest consultation documents.
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Project-wide deliverables
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2022
ON22-PRJ-CG Challenge Group Meeting Agenda (24 Feb 2022)
This is the agenda for the first Challenge Group meeting taking place on 24 February 2022.
Resource type: Agenda File type: PDF File size: 169.8 KB
ON21-PRJ End of Year Review (17-Feb-2022)
Overview of Open Networks programme achievements in 2021.
Resource type: Report File type: PDF File size: 4.1 MB
ON22-PRJ-Challenge Group slides (24 Feb 2022)
Presentation slides for the inaugural Challenge Group meeting on 24th February 2022.
Resource type: Presentation File type: PDF File size: 527.5 KB
ON22-PRJ Stakeholder Engagement Activity (28 Feb 2022)
List of Open Networks stakeholder engagement activity in 2022.
Resource type: List File type: PDF File size: 163.6 KB
ON22-PRJ Challenge Group Minutes (24 Feb 2022)
Minutes from the first Challenge Group meeting held on 24 February 2022.
Resource type: Minutes File type: PDF File size: 101.0 KB
ON22-PRJ Dissemination Forum Meeting Agenda (24 Mar 2022)
Agenda for the 24 March 2022 Open Networks Dissemination Forum meeting.
Resource type: Agenda File type: PDF File size: 145.0 KB
ON22-PRJ Dissemination Forum Membership List
This is a list of Open Networks Dissemination Forum members as of June 2022.
Resource type: List File type: PDF File size: 77.0 KB
ON22-PRJ-Dissemination Forum Presentation (24 Mar 2022)
Slides presented at the 24 March 2022 Open Networks Dissemination Forum meeting.
Resource type: Presentation File type: PDF File size: 2.9 MB
ON22-PRJ-CG Challenge Group Meeting Agenda (05 May 2022)
Meeting agenda for the 5 May 2022 Open Networks Challenge Group meeting.
Resource type: Agenda File type: PDF File size: 184.2 KB
ON22-PRJ-CG Open Networks Challenge Group Meeting Slides (05 May 2022)
Slides for the 5 May 2022 Open Networks Challenge Group meeting.
Resource type: Presentation File type: PDF File size: 613.6 KB
ON21-PRJ-AG Meeting Agenda (02 Sep 2021)
September 2021 Advisory Group agenda
Resource type: Agenda File type: PDF File size: 255.9 KB
ON22-PRJ-DF Meeting Agenda (23 Jun 2022)
Agenda for the 23 June Open Networks Dissemination Forum meeting.
Resource type: Agenda File type: PDF File size: 145.8 KB
ON22-PRG Dissemination Forum Slides (23 Jun 2022)
Presentation materials for the 23 June 2022 Open Networks Dissemination Forum meeting.
Resource type: Presentation File type: PDF File size: 1.5 MB
ON22-PRG Challenge Group Slides (07 Jul 2022)
Presentation materials for the 7 July 2022 Open Networks Challenge Group meeting.
Resource type: Presentation File type: PDF File size: 768.5 KB
ON22-PRG Challenge Group Meeting Agenda (07 July 2022)
Agenda for the 7 July 2022 Open Networks Challenge Group Meeting.
Resource type: Agenda File type: PDF File size: 178.8 KB
ON22-PRJ Challenge and Actions Log (07 Jul 2022)
July Open Networks challenge log
Resource type: Report File type: PDF File size: 29.0 KB
ON22-PRG-Draft Challenge Group Minutes (07 Jul 2022)
Minutes from the 07 July Challenge Group meeting
Resource type: Minutes File type: PDF File size: 112.3 KB
ON22-PRJ High-level scope consultation detailed responses (13 Jan 2022) Published
Full detailed responses from stakeholders to the Open Networks High-level Scope Consultation.
Resource type: Consultation File type: Zip file File size: 2.2 MB
ON22-PRJ 2022 Summary of high-level scope document consultation responses (13 Jan 2022) Published
Overview and next steps of responses received in the consultation on the high-level scope for 2022
Resource type: Consultation File type: PDF File size: 345.4 KB
ON22-PRJ 2022 Programme Initiation Document (PID) (13 Jan 2022) Published
Final Programme Initiation Document for Open Networks for 2022
Resource type: Consultation File type: PDF File size: 1.9 MB
ON22-PRG Open Networks Challenge Group Membership List (2022)
List of members on the Open Networks Challenge Group as of 27 June 2022.
Resource type: List File type: PDF File size: 45.9 KB
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2021
ON21-PRJ-AG Presentation Materials (02 Sep 21)
Slides presented at the September Advisory Group 2021
Resource type: Presentation File type: PDF File size: 2.6 MB
ON22-PRJ-High Level Scope Document 2022 (19 Oct 21)
The Open Networks 2022 High-Level Scope Document
Resource type: Consultation File type: PDF File size: 740.4 KB
ON21-PRJ-AG November Advisory Group meeting agenda (04 Nov 2021)
Agenda for the Open Networks Advisory Group meeting for November 2021
Resource type: Agenda File type: PDF File size: 209.6 KB
ON21-PRJ-AG Presentation Materials (04 Nov 21)
Slide deck presented at the fifth and final Advisory Group of 2021 on 4th November 2021.
Resource type: Presentation File type: PDF File size: 1.2 MB
ON21-PRJ Open Networks 2022 Scope and Challenge Group webinar slides (02 Nov 21)
Slide deck from the Open Networks 2022 Scope and Challenge Group webinar held in November 2021.
Resource type: Presentation File type: PDF File size: 664.9 KB
ON21-PRJ-AG November Advisory Group Feedback (04 Nov 2021)
Feedback from the Open Networks November Advisory Group session.
Resource type: Minutes File type: PDF File size: 220.5 KB
ON21-PRJ-PID Consultation Responses
All responses received in response to Open Networks 2021 PID consultation.
Resource type: Consultation File type: Zip file File size: 965.7 KB
ON21-PRJ-PID Consultation Feedback Responses Summary Slides
Open Networks response to 2021 PID consultation feedback and resulting ONP actions
Resource type: Reference File type: PDF File size: 299.1 KB
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2020
ON20-PRJ Open Networks 2020 PID Consultation Detailed Comments and Responses
Detailed response to the comments received via the public consultation on the 2020 Project Initiation Document (PID)
Resource type: Report File type: PDF File size: 411.0 KB
ON20-PRJ Open Networks 2020 Workplan Consultation Summary
Summary of the responses received via the public consultation on the 2020 Project Initiation Document (PID) and next steps for the project
Resource type: Report File type: PDF File size: 475.7 KB
ON20-PRJ 2020 Project Initiation Document (Post-Consultation)
Project Initiation Document (PID) setting out the final scope and delivery plan for Open Networks in 2020
Resource type: Report File type: PDF File size: 2.3 MB
ON20-PRJ Open Networks 2020 End of Year Review (15 Jan 2021)
Open Networks 2020 End of Year Report, summarising progress and achievements made throughout the year.
Resource type: Report File type: PDF File size: 4.3 MB
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2019
ON19-PRJ Open Networks Fact sheet 5 (01 Jan 2019)
A series of fact sheets detailing how the Open Networks Project - a major industry initiative - will transform the way our energy networks operate, underpinning…
Resource type: Reference File type: PDF File size: 657.8 KB
ON19-PRJ Open Networks Fact sheet 4 (01 Jan 2019)
A series of fact sheets detailing how the Open Networks Project - a major industry initiative - will transform the way our energy networks operate, underpinning…
Resource type: Reference File type: PDF File size: 590.9 KB
ON19-PRJ Open Networks Fact sheet 3 (01 Jan 2019)
A series of fact sheets detailing how the Open Networks Project - a major industry initiative - will transform the way our energy networks operate, underpinning…
Resource type: Reference File type: PDF File size: 648.9 KB
ON19-PRJ Open Networks Fact sheet 2 (01 Jan 2019)
A series of fact sheets detailing how the Open Networks Project - a major industry initiative - will transform the way our energy networks operate, underpinning…
Resource type: Reference File type: PDF File size: 260.5 KB
ON19-PRJ Open Networks Fact sheet 1 (01 Jan 2019)
A series of fact sheets detailing how the Open Networks Project - a major industry initiative - will transform the way our energy networks operate, underpinning…
Resource type: Reference File type: PDF File size: 323.8 KB
ON19-PRJ Open Networks 2019 End of Year Report
End of year report outlining key achievements and progress in 2019
Resource type: Report File type: PDF File size: 2.5 MB
ON19-PRJ 2019 Project Initiation Document (Post-Consultation)
Project Initiation Document setting out the final scope and delivery plan for Open Networks 2019.
Resource type: Report File type: PDF File size: 1.8 MB
ON19-PRJ Open Letter to Ofgem & BEIS
ENA response to Ofgem and BEIS Open Letter to provide clarity on how the project will address priorities and actions
Resource type: Report File type: PDF File size: 753.2 KB
ON19-PRJ-PID PID Consultation Summary and Actions
Open Networks response to consultation feedback and resulting ONP actions
Resource type: Reference File type: PDF File size: 943.6 KB
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2018
ON18-WS1-SoW TIA Focus Group March
Relating to CMP298
Resource type: Presentation File type: PDF File size: 1.3 MB
ON18-PRJ 2018 End of Year Report
End of year report outlining key achievements and progress in 2018.
Resource type: Report File type: PDF File size: 5.7 MB
ON18-PRJ 2018 End of Year Report Summary
Summarised version of the end of year report outlining key achievements and progress in 2018.
Resource type: Report File type: PDF File size: 1.2 MB
ON18-PRJ 2018 Project Initiation Document (Post-Consultation)
Project Initiation Document setting out the final scope and delivery plan for Open Networks in 2018.
Resource type: Report File type: PDF File size: 1.2 MB
ON18-PRJ Open Networks Connection of Generation Guide
Guide to Connection of Generation
Resource type: Guide or guidance File type: PDF File size: 7.0 MB
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2017
ON17-PRJ 2017 End of Year Report
End of year report outlining key achievements and progress in 2017.
Resource type: Report File type: PDF File size: 7.3 MB
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2022
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Open public consultations
ON22-PRJ-2022 Flexibility Consultation Wrapper Document
Wrapper document for ENA's 2022 Flexibility Consultation.
Resource type: Consultation File type: PDF File size: 564.9 KB