Technical Limits (TL) & Expression of Interest (EOI)
Technical Limits Overview
NGED’s DSO has been proactively working with all system and network operators to agree a way forward that will enable more customers to connect to our network without needing to wait for major transmission works to be completed. This will enable quicker and more agile connections across the T-D boundary.
The Technical Limits initiative will allow generation connections to energise on a non-firm basis ahead of the completion dependent on transmission reinforcement works. This will enable many of our customers’ connection dates to be accelerated on a non-firm basis, allowing them to energise earlier than dates previously advised via the Statement of Works process.
Technical Limits & Expression of Interest Phase Rollout
Since September 2023, we have been engaging with customers that have been identified as potentially eligible for an accelerated connection date. As a result, we launched the NGED Expression of Interest initiative and invited relevant customers to submit a formal interest in being assessed for TL. The application of TL across our distribution network has been staggered in a phased GSP rollout since September 2023. We have now applied TL to GSPs in Phases 1A and 1B as part of industry process reforms and we are ready to implement TL at Phase 2 GSPs in tranches (timelines and activities can be found below).
TL Phases 1A, 1B and 2 in NGED licence areas
Phase 2
Under Phase 2, Technical Limits will be rolled out at GSPs in the corresponding tranches below:
| Tranche 1 | Tranche 2 | Tranche 3 | Tranche 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 2 | Drakelow 132kV | Swansea North 132kV | Grendon 132kV | Ratcliffe 132kV |
| Seabank 132kV | Ocker Hill 132kV | Lea Marston 132kV (EM) | Walpole 132kV | |
| Pembroke 132kV | Uskmouth 132kV | Lea Marston 132kV (WM) | West Burton 132kV | |
| Aberthaw 132kV | Oldbury 132kV | Cellarhead 132kV | ||
| Axminster 132kV | Ironbridge 132kV | |||
| Iron Acton 132kV (WM) | Shrewsbury 132kV | |||
| Iron Acton 132kV (SW) | Melksham 132kV |
TL Phase 2 Engagement timeline and activities:
| Step | Description | Phase 2 T1 | Phase 2 T2 | Phase 2 T3 | Phase 2 T4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intro Webinar | Webinar to explain technical limits and EOI process | 07/05/2024 | |||
| EOI Opened | Contact customers within scope by email and direct to EOI | 17/05/2024 | |||
| EOI Closed | Phased closing of EOI | 14/06/2024 | 12/07/2024 | 09/08/2024 | 06/09/2024 |
| Eligible Schemes Identified | Initial assessment of EOI submission eligibility | 28/06/2024 | 26/07/2024 | 23/08/2024 | 20/09/2024 |
| Eligible Schemes Notified | Confirmation via email for all schemes eligible to be taken to next stage assessing distribution impact | 01/07/2024 | 29/07/2024 | 27/08/2024 | 23/09/2024 |
| Start Distribution Assessment | Connections team assessing distribution impact of accelerating connection | 05/07/2024 | 02/08/2024 | 30/08/2024 | 27/09/2024 |
| Webinar Update | Webinar to explain technical limits and EOI process | Summer 2024 (Date TBC) | |||
| End Dx Assessment & Issue Variations | Target Variation Issue Date | 16/08/2024 | 13/09/2024 | 11/10/2024 | 08/11/2024 |
Phase 1A/1B
Under Phases 1A and 1B, Technical Limits have been rolled out at the below GSPs:
The EOI submission periods for Phase 1A and 1B GSPs have now closed. We will be proactively contacting new customers who may be able to benefit from this initiative to provide the opportunity to express their interest in an accelerated (non-firm) connection date.
| West Midlands | East Midlands | South West | South Wales | |
| Phase 1A | Bustleholm 132kV | Berkswell 132kV | Alverdiscott 132kV | Cardiff East 132kV |
| Feckenham 66kV | Bicker Fen 132kV | Bridgwater 132kV | Grange 66kV | |
| Kitwell 132kV | Staythorpe 132kV | Exeter 132kV | Pyle 132kV | |
| Nechells East 132kV | Stoke Bardolph 132kV | Indian Queens 132kV | Rassau 132kV | |
| Penn 132kV | Taunton 132kV | Upper Boat 132kV | ||
| Port Ham 132kV | Sandford 132kV | Upper Boat 33kV | ||
| Willenhall 132kV | ||||
| Phase 1B | Bishops Wood 132kV | Chesterfield 132kV | Abham 132kV | |
| Bushbury 132kV | Coventry 132kV | Landulph 132kV | ||
| Enderby 132kV |
TL Phase 1A and 1B Engagement timeline and activities:
| Step | Description | Phase 1A | Phase 1B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intro Webinar | Webinar to explain technical limits and EOI process | 15/09/2023 | 30/10/2023 |
| EOI Opened | Contact customers within scope by email and direct to EOI | 08/09/2023 | 03/11/2023 |
| EOI Closed | Close EOI | 30/09/2023 | 30/11/2023 |
| Eligible Schemes Identified | Initial assessment of EOI submission eligibility | 12/10/2023 | 01/12/2023 |
| Eligible Schemes Notified | Confirmation by email for all schemes eligible to be taken to next stage assessing distribution impact | 13/10/2023 | 15/12/2023 |
| Start Distribution Assessment | Connections team assessing distribution impact of accelerating connection | 13/10/2023 | 15/12/2023 |
| Webinar update | Webinar to explain technical limits and EOI process | 30/10/2023 | 30/10/2023 |
| End Dx Assessment & Issue Variations | Issue variations for schemes that can accelerate without waiting for 2-step outcome | 31/01/2024 | 27/02/2024 |
| Continue to issue (Two-Step) TL Variations once Firm-Works Offers are received and issued | We will continue to issue TL Variations, for customers in the 2-step process , as Firm Works offers are received, issued and accepted | ||
Future Phases
We have successfully applied Technical Limits at 51 of our 56 contracted GSPs. One of the remaining GSPs without Technical Limits is a single user site, with no requirement for the application of TL.
TL has not been applied at the remaining 4 GSPs due to fault level constraints and the complexity in being able to offer non-firm solutions for our customers.
We are working with industry stakeholders and as part of the Energy Networks Association (ENA) working group we will continue to explore solutions that may enable us to rollout Technical Limits at the below GSPs:
TL is yet to be applied at the below GSPs:
- East Claydon (West Midlands)
- East Claydon (East Midlands)
- Willington
- Rugeley
We have held a series of webinars providing updates on the TL initiative and the staged EOI process. The webinar recordings and accompanying presentation slides are available below:
7th May Webinar
This webinar provided an update on:
- NGED Technical Limits (TL) progress to date
- NGED Expression of Interest (EOI) Phase 1A response and next steps
- Details of Phase 1B TL GSPs and associated EOI timescales
- Curtailment Reports
- Future work to extend TL to all NGED GSPs
- Q&A session on TL and the EOI process
- A recording of the webinar can be found below. Alternatively, the slideshow presentation can be viewed here
30th October Webinar
This webinar provided an update on:
- The first phase of NGED Technical Limit’s which are initially being rolled out at 22 GSPs including next steps for your scheme
- The Expression of Interest (EOI) response for this first phase of Technical Limit GSPs
- Activation of the next tranche of GSPs and associated EOI timescales
- Future work to extend Technical Limits to all NGED GSPs
- Q&A session on Technical Limits and the EOI process
A recording of the webinar can be found below. Alternatively, the slideshow presentation can be viewed here.
15th September Webinar
Our first webinar on Technical Limits explaining the criteria, process and timescales for phase 1A in more detail. A recording of the webinar can be found below. Alternatively, the webinar slideshow presentation can viewed here.