The Great British grid connection queue is the biggest issue high energy users face, single-handedly putting a stranglehold on new infrastructure and economic growth. Delays of up to a decade are already tearing through capital expenditure planning and procurement for heavy industry, data centres, logistics, transport infrastructure and science & research facilities.
However, getting good visibility on this challenge and the solutions available is not easy, because there are too many vested interests. Amongst this chaos and the myopic vision that comes with such a bottleneck, there is now real opportunity.
It is time for developers to be more proactive and bridge the gap between supply and demand with innovative energy solutions. Power generation projects can find a way to connect directly with customers who need it.
Private wire networks or microgrids that are autonomous or ‘kiss the grid’ offer the best solution. They are possible. More developers are starting to look at behind-the-meter solutions - the time is now. The aim is to break free from the connection queue and its constraints, decoupling economic growth from fossil energy use and grid dependency.
By weaving together on-site, or nearby, wind turbines or solar parks, alongside battery storage (BESS) and intelligent energy use, projects can break free from the grid’s constraints.
The goal is a future where energy resilience, sustainability and business performance coexist at scale. Near grid-independence is now possible, solving the time-to-power challenge.
For the right scheme, microgrids offer a real opportunity, to not only expediate a power connection, but also take ownership of carbon envelope emissions. The goal is to operate with near zero emissions without burdening the national grid, lowering the cost of energy for businesses, and opening up the UK to new developments.
Grid congestion is shifting how developers tackle the time-to-power issue. Taking control of locally controlled energy generation and storage is the next step, but large demand assets must take the initiative - today.
Share this on LinkedIn
Share this on LinkedIn