The ENA’s Low Carbon Technology Steering Group is focussed on a greener, more sustainable future for the UK's electricity networks. Its mission is to seamlessly integrate Low Carbon Technologies into the grid, paving the way for a Net Zero future, all the while keeping you - the customer - at the centre of our approach.
We're committed to sharing the key challenges that form the basis of our strategy and working closely with stakeholders to progress a shared vision. This includes Government agencies like the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the Department for Transport, Ofgem, Trade Associations, and other key industry groups and individuals.
Together, through proactive collaboration, we will drive innovate solutions, standardisation of practices and foster Low Carbon Technology adoption. Our work program focuses on the key barriers to this adoption and ensures that we communicate our progress to the wider stakeholder community.
High-Level Challenges, Aims, Results, and Opportunities
Our Low Carbon Technologies initiatives address a range of challenges and opportunities. Here are the areas we're currently focused on:
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Transparency and communication
Addressing Industry Knowledge Gaps: We aim to inform and educate stakeholders to align expectations.
Challenge
Understanding the intricacies of energy networks can be a daunting task for those unfamiliar with the industry. Meeting customer expectations in this complex environment is an evolving challenge which demands meticulous planning, transparency, and open communication with customers, a task made more daunting when applied across the entire industry.
Mitigating Strategy
Addressing challenges to customer expectations for widespread LCT installations can be managed through these strategies:
- Consistency: Strive for uniformity in network practices to clarify industry rules for newcomers, explaining any variations.
- Clear Communication: Improve information-sharing with customers on installation, timelines, and costs to build trust and understanding at all stages of the process.
- Transparency: Provide detailed insights on processes, costs, and timelines, empowering customers to navigate complexities.
- Expectation Management: Offer accurate information to establish realistic customer expectations, minimising frustration.
- Collaborative Partnerships: Foster alliances with local authorities, businesses, and communities to overcome logistical and technical barriers.
By addressing these challenges and fostering transparency, we aim to make the process more accessible and understandable for all.
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Standardising DNO processes for improvement
Aligning DNO interests and processes: We're collaborating to find best practices and improve efficiency in network processing.
Challenge
In our pursuit of standardised LCT solutions and process, whilst also recognising that the DNOs are regulated to be competitive, which introduces challenges:
- Differing Priorities: DNOs have divergence of priorities based on their individual and locational challenges, which may result in divergence of LCT investment and standardisation alignment.
- Customer Service Variations: Differences in customer service approaches impact satisfaction and expectations.
Mitigating Strategy
Balancing competition and collaboration is important for unified industry solutions. Our mitigating initiatives focus on achieving this equilibrium effectively:
- Encouraging Collaboration: We promote cooperation among DNOs to develop common standards and solutions, combining shared goals with healthy competition.
- Advocating Regulated Standards: In collaboration with Ofgem, we push for regulated standards binding all DNOs, supporting LCT implementation solutions, while also ensuring clarity and consistency.
- Partnering with Third Parties: Collaboration with third-party companies yields standardised, non-DNO-specific solutions for efficiency, fostering competition and innovation.
By establishing these standards, we ensure that our networks are well-equipped to provide you with safe, efficient, and reliable low carbon technology solutions, while fostering a competitive and innovative energy sector.
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Enhancing data availability for LCT installations
Advocating for transparency and visibility: We're incentivising data submission to improve our understanding of Low Carbon Technologies' presence.
Challenge
This scarcity of LCT asset information creates a significant hurdle in efficiently managing the distribution network. LCTs are often a disruptive load capable of causing network management issues. Without comprehensive data, it becomes challenging to predict and manage these loads effectively.
Mitigating Strategy
To overcome this challenge and ensure better management of LCTs, we have developed these mitigating initiatives:
- Standardised LCT Application System: We are working on creating an accessible, easy-to-use, standardised application system for LCT installations. This will better guide installers, be faster for customers and provide accurate data to DNOs. As of May 2024, we are pleased to announce our launch of Connect Direct.
- Visual Mapping: We are developing visual maps that illustrate network constraints in relation to the number of LCT installations.
- Awareness Campaigns: These campaigns emphasise the importance of reporting all installations to the network and encourage the use of visual maps to inform their decision-making.
By implementing these strategies, we aim to enhance our understanding and management of LCTs, ensuring a more efficient and reliable distribution network that benefits all stakeholders.
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Facilitating Large-scale decarbonisation
Decarbonising the commercial sector: We're working to connect customers and stakeholders with critical national infrastructure.
Challenge:
As the UK grows and decarbonises additional connections, such as residential complexes and EV charging hubs, places an additional requirements and potential strain on the network. Meeting growing LCT connections while ensuring reliability and resilience, as well as controlling upgrade costs and adhering to safety and environmental guidance requires careful planning, resource allocation, and regulatory compliance.
Mitigating Strategy:
To address these multifaceted challenges and promote sustainability, DNOs employ a proactive strategy:
- Clear Policies and Guidelines: DNOs develop transparent, efficient, and compliant connection processes with clear policies and guidelines for streamlined LCT connection implementation.
- Partnerships and Collaboration: Actively seeking collaborations with government agencies and industry organisations to foster a collaborative approach toward shared sustainability goals.
- Infrastructure Investment: Prioritising investments in new technologies and infrastructure to support large LCT connections.
- Effective Communication: Offering diverse communication channels like presentations, written resources, webinars, and direct outreach to address stakeholder concerns and provide clarity.
DNOs aim to facilitate smooth and efficient large LCT connection implementation while ensuring fair, affordable, and reliable energy access for all customers. See our Improving Grid Connections page for more information.
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Managing Additional Electrical Loads in Properties
Empowering Sustainable Energy: We're expanding network infrastructure and providing solutions for maximising demand management and minimising disruption.
Challenges:
Domestic electricity demand is growing as more consumers adopt LCTs such as Electric vehicles. In addition, some network infrastructure, such as looped services and small service cables, has not been designed to cope with these higher loads. Reinforcing the infrastructure can be a complex and occasionally disruptive process, demanding significant investments of time, effort, and resources.
Mitigating Strategy:
To tackle the challenge of ensuring sufficient capacity for domestic LCT installations, we've devised a strategic approach:
- Smart Grid Integration: By integrating smart grid technologies, like advanced metering and demand response, we can optimise existing infrastructure.
- Collaboration with Suppliers/Installers: DNOs will closely collaborate with suppliers and installers to ensure LCT installations are designed and installed to meet the required capacity standards.
- Investment in Innovative Technologies: Networks will invest in new technologies and innovations, to enhance the capacity of domestic LCT installations. These innovations not only increase capacity but also deliver a more reliable and efficient service to customers.
By implementing these strategies, we aim to address the challenge of limited capacity for domestic LCT installations, promoting sustainable energy adoption while minimising disruption.
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Optimising Flex Arrangements for Industrial-Scale EVs
Increasing interoperability: We're managing the integration of large-scale demand and generation sites into our network.
Challenges
The Standard Flex arrangement for industrial-scale EV charge sites encounters several challenges:
- Interoperability Complexities: Ensuring compatibility with diverse EVs and charging systems across different hardware and software platforms poses a significant compatibility challenge.
- Integration Complexity: Integrating the charging infrastructure with the electricity grid and ANM systems is technically intricate, requiring coordination with stakeholders, including networks, EV manufacturers, and energy service providers.
- Navigating Regulations: Navigating evolving regulations, including building codes and safety standards, presents a substantial challenge for industrial-scale EV charging providers.
Mitigating Strategy
To address these challenges:
- Streamlined Communication Protocols: Clear communication protocols between EV charging sites and ANMs are established to ensure efficient operation and minimize disruptions.
- Robust Monitoring and Reporting Systems: Comprehensive monitoring and reporting systems track site performance, identifying areas for improvement and enhancing overall efficiency.
- Embracing Advanced Technologies: Investments in cutting-edge technologies, like smart grid systems, improve efficiency and reliability, providing a smoother experience for users.
- Proactive Stakeholder Engagement: Actively engaging with stakeholders to build support for Standard Flex arrangements and address concerns or objections through collaboration is crucial.
For more information, see our Open Networks page here.
At ENA, we're dedicated to leading the way toward a greener, more sustainable future. By addressing these challenges and fostering collaboration, we're making strides toward a Net Zero future for the UK. Join us on this exciting journey towards a more sustainable energy landscape!
Supporting Network Goals: Our Projects and Initiatives
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Connect Direct
Context
Connecting LCTs in residential properties currently involved a cumbersome, paper-based process that was outdated, slow, and varies between DNOs. To support the expected volume of connection applications, a fully digitalised and scalable system is imperative.
Aim
Establish a unified national platform for installers retrofitting demand and generation assets in residential properties. This platform will streamline the application process, making it accessible, instantly responsive and user-friendly. This will be achieved through API integration, a dedicated web portal, and app links, endorsed by ENA as industry standards.
Outcome
- Instant LCT Data Verification: A significant percentage of LCT data submissions will be instantly verified, with the remaining applications to be escalated immediately to the DNO.
- Automated DNO Decision: Automated checks, based on predefined DNO thresholds, will offer installers immediate application decisions.
- Streamlined Escalation Process: In cases where automated checks can't provide an instant decision, a streamlined escalation process will be available.
- Platform Integration with DNO Systems: The platform will integrate with DNO systems to minimise retraining and expedite data transfer.
- Installer Engagement: Comprehensive communication and training initiatives will encourage installers to adopt and use the platform effectively.
As of May 2024, this new digital platform went live. You can find the link to Connect Direct here.
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Net Zero Termination (NZT) Project
Context
The growing demand LCTs has prompted an investigation into the suitability of service cables and cut-outs due to increased load. This evaluation is essential to inform both DNOs and LCT installers, preventing equipment overload and damage. Its purpose is to ascertain whether existing setups in homes are adequate or if de-rating factors should be applied.
Aim
Provide guidance to DNOs and LCT installers regarding the suitability of cut-outs and service cable types to avoid overloading and damage. This involves a comprehensive analysis of de-rating for LCT connections on service termination equipment and cables, with potential implications for DNO standard practices and upgrade decisions.
Outcome
The project, conducted in controlled conditions, will measure:
- Thermal Impact: Assess the thermal impact of additional LCT loads.
- Solar Irradiance Impact: Evaluate the combined effect of solar irradiance and added LCT loads.
- Installation Configurations: Analyse the impact on domestic and street light cut-outs, along with service cables across various installation configurations.
- Industry Advancement: Provide extensive research findings to guide the industry's future steps.
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LCT Installer Guidance
Context
The current absence of clear guidelines for diversifying LCTs leads to an overestimation of maximum demand in domestic properties. This overestimation not only causes significant delays but also introduces inconsistencies across the network.
Aim
Our collaborative effort with the IET seeks to update comprehensive guidance on LCT diversification. This document will standardise the diversification process and the calculation of maximum demand within domestic properties, eliminating unnecessary overestimations. This means faster approval of LCT applications by DNOs and a reduction in confusion for installers and users.
Outcome
Our goal is to pave the way for diversification standardization in domestic connection upgrades for LCT installations. This includes:
- Short-term, deterministic solutions of managing a large maximum demand
- Efficient data acquisition of HP and EVCP profiles.
- Proper application of diversification techniques.
- Streamlined cut-out inspections, including how different fuse sizes align with cut-out ratings.
- Consistency in connecting domestic rooftop solar systems exceeding set threshold ratings. We also address similar challenges related to large-scale rooftop PV installations.
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Escalated Applications Survey
Context
Upon the installation of an LCT, installers and/or customers are experiencing varying degrees of service from different DNOs during their application approval process. Due to the range of application response time from DNOs, this had led to come confusion and frustration from installers and pressure from the media.
Aim
The Escalated Applications working group will aim to reduce the time taken for DNOs to response to the domestic application escalated by installers or customers. The group will find common practices within the process and determine from the application response processes any pain points that can be standardised, primarily focusing on domestic connections only.
Outcome
- Survey DNO connections teams to understand current processes
- With DNO working group identify areas of collaboration (harmonisation) and areas of competition
- Set out guidelines and roadmap for DNO teams to harmonise on areas of collaboration
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Engagement plan for large scale decarbonisation
Context
There is a rising need for connection guidance to be created for large-scale connections as well as domestic. Enhancing communication between networks and industrial bodies with a national footprint is essential for LCT-based decarbonisation.
Aim
To develop a central guidance to give users a starting point before they interact with DNOs/TOs. All organisations with a national footprint are to be contacted for information and collaboration on tailoring the guidance in a practical setting. Scope for a guidance document which is to include:
- Case Studies
- Process of engaging with DNOs
- Strategy options
- Identifying local DNO
- Identifying instalment capacity
ENA Website to include guiding toolkit which shows interested parties how to decarbonise:
- Can show any potential costs
- Which DNO to further speak to
Outcome
Primarily, the initial steps of this project will be achieved through a comprehensive engagement plan.
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High-level Engagement Plan
Objectives:
- Improve communication between national network entities and industrial bodies.
- Minimise delays in the interaction between commercial connections and DNO/TO.
- Offer guidance for large-scale and domestic connections.
- Facilitate the expansion of commercial LCT decarbonisation efforts.
Target Audiences:
- NIO (Large EV Swapping Stations)
- Department of Transport Aviation
- Airport Operators Association
- Planning Authority Association (Housing Standards)
- UK Major Ports Group
- Future Homes Standard
Channels:
- Organise educational sessions for effective communication and connection guidance.
- Create a website, blog, and social media presence to share connection information and best practices.
- Schedule regular meetings to collect feedback and align the plan with target audience needs.
- Participate in industry events to showcase the plan and facilitate networking.
Evaluation:
- Stakeholder Feedback: Continuously gather feedback for plan improvement.
- Attendance Metrics: Track participation in workshops to measure interest.
- Engagement Metrics: Monitor website traffic, social media engagement, and email performance.
- Surveys: Conduct surveys to assess plan impact, especially in reducing delays and enhancing communication.
