The Connectology® Podcast by Roadnight Taylor

Connectologist® Pete Aston is joined by colleagues Alex Ikonic and Catherine Cleary to discuss Ofgem's Call for Input on demand connections reform — focusing on the legal ambiguity preventing demand customers from owning high-voltage transmission assets. Key discussion points: Recorded: 04 March 2025 Our links: Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/ Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ Find if we fit at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

Connectologists® Catherine Cleary and Kyle Murchie are joined by Rachael Eynon in her first episode as a Connectologist®, covering the key grid connection developments of February 2026. The headline topic is Ofgem's call for input on Demand Reform, closing 13 March. The combined transmission and distribution demand queue reached around 42GW in summer 2024 before rising to roughly 125GW, prompting a pause on new transmission applications. Ofgem's response introduces three pillars: Roadnight Taylor is drafting a proposal for a potential change to licence exemptions under the Electricity Act on asset ownership and will publish insights ahead of the 13 March call for input deadline. The episode also covers: Recorded 03 March 2026 Our links: Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/ Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ Find if we fit at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

Connectologists® Nikki Pillinger, Alex Ikonic, and Philip Bale examine the latest Connections Reform delays and the practical challenges developers face navigating milestones, technical limits uncertainty, and escalating project delivery costs. Since recording, NESO published further revised timelines: Protected 2026/27 transmission offers now expected between 13 February and mid-April 2026, protected distribution between early March and end May 2026, with Phase 1 offers extending through mid-November 2026—months beyond the "few weeks" initially anticipated. Key discussions: Recorded 04 February 2026 Our links: Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/ Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ Find if we fit at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

Connectologists® Kyle Murchie, Nikki Pillinger, and Philip Bale explore two modifications addressing network boundary charges—a barrier that has stifled countless projects. With both at consultation stage, developers and demand customers can shape how costs are allocated. DCP461 has five options remaining after removing voltage-based rules. Approaches range from socialising costs through DUoS (Options 1.1/1.2), to Connection Asset Funding with or without capacity thresholds (Options 2.1/2.2), to clearer guidance on current practice (Option 3.1). CMP460 initially considered three options before the proposer defined the proposal. The Original Proposal treats any shareable transmission asset at the network boundary as infrastructure, passing associated costs onto Transmission Network Use of System (TNUoS) charges. There is still time for alternatives to be raised with the consultation responses key, informing Working Group Members and triggering action. The conversation explores how different options balance developer certainty, customer impact, and fairness—with particular focus on how identical projects face vastly different costs depending on substation classification, and how to prevent smaller customers being exposed to prohibitive SGT charges. CMP460 consultation closes 18 February 2026; DCP461 opens second week of February for three weeks. The Connectologists® encourage responses—either directly or through trade bodies. Read more: DCP461: https://statics.teams.cdn.office.net/evergreen-assets/safelinks/2/atp-safelinks.html CMP460: https://www.neso.energy/industry-information/codes/cusc/modifications/cmp460-improving-transmission-connection-asset-charging Our links: Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/ Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ Find if we fit at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

Connectologists® Pete Aston, Kyle Murchie, and Alex Ikonic explore the mounting pressures developers face as Gate 2 offers arrive. Transmission offers have three months to accept but queries must be submitted within four weeks. Distribution offers are expected to have about four weeks, though this may vary between DNOs. Securities are due approximately 30 days after acceptance. The key challenges developers are facing: Critical next step: Don't put accepted offers "on the shelf"—immediately engage to confirm design progression, payment requirements, and where projects sit in TO gating windows. We understand the complexity of grid connection challenges, and the Connectologists® hope these insights help developers navigate Gate 2 with greater clarity. Recorded: 12 November 2024 Our links: Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/ Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ Find if we fit at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

Welcome back to Part 2, where Connectologists® Catherine Cleary and Kyle Murchie continue their conversation with Graham Pannell from BayWa r.e, examining GB's constraint management crisis. Graham explains how GB currently relies almost entirely on the Balancing Mechanism for constraints—leaving nothing to long-term planning or day-ahead signals. Using a golf analogy, he argues effective market design needs different tools for different timeframes: Currently, GB is "in a bunker using only a putter." The constraint cost reality: £3 billion in annual costs on the Scotland-England boundary could be addressed by infrastructure costing £0.27 billion annualised. Every pound invested in major grid delivery saves ten. Graham highlights the political challenge: major infrastructure won't arrive until after the next election. The industry needs demonstrable shorter-term constraint reduction to maintain momentum toward clean power goals. Listen to Part 1 here: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/connectology/podcasts/podcast-connection-uncertainty-graham-pannell-1/ Date Recorded 28th November 2025 Our links: Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/ Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ Find if we fit at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

In the final episode of The Demand Connection Conundrum series, Connectologist® Pete Aston and colleague Philip Bale speak with David Wildash, Chief Strategy Officer at Apatura, exploring how strategic demand placement in Scotland could unlock a £45 billion market opportunity while reducing curtailment costs for all consumers. The core opportunity: Apatura is developing 2.3GW of data centre demand in Scotland's central belt, positioning major loads where excess renewables exist—benefiting the system and end consumers. Key Issues David's Solutions Transformer classification clarity – In Scotland, TOs build to isolators; generators own transformers. Simply moving where isolators and transformers sit could enable demand connections—if transformers aren't classified as transmission assets. Co-location questions – When pairing BESS (with generation license) and demand, does the generation license enable transmission ownership? Demand license regime – Replicate generation license framework, provided grid code evolves appropriately SQSS flexibility – Industrial customers with UPS and backup generation shouldn't face same security standards as domestic supply Strategic placement – Locating demand where renewables exist reduces curtailment costs—"a slam dunk from a system operator perspective" David's six-month goal: Electricity Act clarity on transmission asset definitions—the quickest unlock requiring no primary legislation. Listen to the full series: 📌 Part 1 - Pete Aston's Series Introduction: https://youtu.be/8x3yP-kGF60?si=QnytC6Yh-d3HgVzh 📌 Part 2 - Ryan Adams (Innova): https://youtu.be/bT-FbWY5FpA?si=Rn-ZWNMokyF13eHQ 📌 Part 3 - Spencer Thompson (Eclipse): [Insert link] Our links: Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/ Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ Find if we fit at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

In this episode, Part 3 of a 4-part series, Connectologist® Pete Aston and colleague Alex Ikonic speak with Spencer Thompson, CEO of Eclipse Power Limited, exploring innovative solutions to transmission-level demand connection challenges. The core challenge: Data centres need three to four-year connection timelines but, unlike renewables, they're competing directly with Europe for investment—making UK speed critical. Key Issues Three Pathways Forward Spencer's six-month goal: industry consensus on multiple connection pathways with clear governmental leadership, applying the urgency demonstrated in Connections Reform. Listen to the full series: 📌 Part 1 - Pete Aston's Series Introduction: https://youtu.be/8x3yP-kGF60?si=QnytC6Yh-d3HgVzh 📌 Part 2 - Ryan Adams (Innova): https://youtu.be/bT-FbWY5FpA?si=Rn-ZWNMokyF13eHQ 📌 Part 4 - David Wildash (Apatura): [Insert link] Our links: Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/ Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ Find if we fit at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

In this episode, Part 2 of a 4-part series on The Demand Connection Conundrum, Connectologist® Pete Aston and colleague Kyle Murchie speak with Ryan Adams, Managing Director at Innova, exploring the regulatory barriers preventing hyperscale demand projects—particularly data centres—from connecting efficiently to the transmission network. The fundamental problem: Demand customers cannot own transmission assets, forcing National Grid to build costly step-down infrastructure that consumes scarce substation space desperately needed for clean power connections. Key Issues Discussed: Ryan's Three Solutions: Ryan emphasizes growing momentum across DESNZ, Ofgem, and NESO, but stresses the need for bold leadership before Gate 2 offers "bake in" current inefficiencies. His six-month goal: either the Ofgem letter or NGET's commitment to build out—both "absolutely doable." Make sure to listen to Parts 3 and 4 with Spencer Thompson (Eclipse) and David Wildash (Apatura) to explore these issues from different industry perspectives and hear the complete picture of this critical infrastructure challenge. Listen to the full series: 📌 Part 1 - Pete Aston's Series Introduction: https://youtu.be/8x3yP-kGF60?si=QnytC6Yh-d3HgVzh 📌 Part 3 - Spencer Thompson (Eclipse): [Insert link] 📌 Part 4 - David Wildash (Apatura): [Insert link] Our links: Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/ Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ Find if we fit at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

In this episode, Part 1 of The Demand Connection Conundrum series, Connectologist® Pete Aston synthesizes what's to come in Parts 2, 3, and 4—conversations with Ryan Adams (Innova), Spencer Thompson (Eclipse), and David Wildash (Apatura)—exploring critical barriers facing hyperscale demand projects, particularly data centres, attempting to connect to the transmission network. The core challenge: Demand projects cannot own transmission assets, creating fundamental obstacles as GB competes globally for investment in data centres and other large-scale infrastructure. Key Issues Identified Potential Solutions Make sure to tune in to the three episodes to explore these issues and solutions in more detail, and to hear the different perspectives on these challenges. Listen to the full series: 📌 Part 2 - Ryan Adams (Innova): [Insert link] 📌 Part 3 - Spencer Thompson (Eclipse): [Insert link] 📌 Part 4 - David Wildash (Apatura): [Insert link] Our links: Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/ Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ Find if we fit at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

In this episode of the Connectology® podcast, Connectologist® Catherine Cleary speaks with Ed Porter from Modo Energy about where battery storage stands today and what's ahead for developers and investors. Key topics: Our links: Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/ Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ Find if we fit at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

Ofgem's Connections End-to-End Review: Standards, Accountability, and the Path Forward Connectologist® Kyle Murchie speaks with Alasdair MacMillan from Ofgem about the connections end-to-end review, examining the entire customer journey from feasibility through energisation and beyond. Ofgem's review (published December 2025) addresses increased standards of service and timely connection delivery. The document contains immediate decisions moving into implementation and proposals for consultation (open until 27 February 2026). Key elements: Your consultation response, backed by evidence and specific examples, helps Ofgem understand where regulatory intervention can prove most effective. Whether you're a developer, network company, or industry stakeholder, your insight matters. Consultation closes 27 February 2026. View the Connections end-to-end review: updated proposals and next steps here: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consultation/connections-end-end-review-updated-proposals-and-next-steps Our links: Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/ Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ Find if we fit at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

Gate 2 notifications landed last week, revealing which projects secured offers and which face years in the queue. In this Connectology® episode, Connectologists® Pete Aston, Alex Ikonic, Nikki Pillinger, and Catherine Cleary explore the capacity realities across different technologies, the surprising lack of advancement opportunities, and the tight timelines developers now face. Key outcomes: The podcast explores: Advancement disappointment: Why very few projects received advancement despite numerous requests, with distribution projects seeing none—particularly surprising given DNOs and transmission operators had already held positive engineering conversations on specific schemes Critical timelines ahead: Protected customers receive offers January-March, with all 2030 offers by end Q2. Several DNOs require acceptance within four weeks, with securities potentially needed upfront before DNOs sign their own transmission offers What's next: SSEP delay to end 2027 means next year's windows limited to unfilled capacity. Built projects with January 2026 energization dates now face multi-year delays from failed enabling works delivery. The team also discusses the confirmed Project Commitment Fee structure and emphasizes the dedication of DNO connection teams working past midnight to deliver notifications under intense pressure. Recorded 10 December 2025 Our links: Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/ Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ Find if we fit at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

Grid connection challenges persist because critical voices are being kept at arm's length. Connectologist® Catherine Cleary and Kyle Murchie sit down with Graham Pannell, BayWa r.e's Head of Grid and Electricity Regulation, to explore why formal industry forums delivered transformational policy improvements—and why we urgently need them reinstated. Graham brings 15-20 years of sharp-end policy development experience. His track record speaks volumes: the DG Forum delivered heat maps, capacity registers, application fees, queue management milestones, and the Incentive on Connections Engagement—all because developers and network operators sat in rooms together to solve real problems. The current disconnect: What's needed: bilateral engineering conversations between protected projects, customer account managers, and TOs to align construction programmes before Gate 2 offers arrive. Sensible modification frameworks could allow proportionate date adjustments by mutual consent preventing unnecessary project failures. Recorded 12 November 2025 Our links: Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/ Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ Find if we fit at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

Connectologists® Kyle, Catherine, and Philip are joined by Alex in her first Grid News & Views as a Connectologist®, covering Connections Reform developments, code modifications, and emerging challenges as Gate 2 offers approach. Ofgem has confirmed a backstop-only role in disputes, meaning developers must now work through all NESO processes and arbitration before escalation—making a clear understanding of NESO’s complaint routes more important than ever. Gate 2 pressures intensify: • Transmission decisions due by Dec 2025 (with some DNOs signalling delays), distribution by Q1 2026 • Offer acceptance windows: 3 months for transmission, 4 weeks for distribution • Milestone guidance looks strict, though planning-related flexibility exists • A 6-month planning-to-construction window still overlooks financing and sales realities Also in this episode: • Demand uncertainty: NESO’s RFI seeks sensitive commercial info without clarity on use; CMP417 delays to 2026 mean continued over-securitisation; TIA thresholds swing wildly from 1MW to 50MW across DNOs • SGT charging: DCP461 could see GSP reinforcement costs socialised via DUoS (consultation closes 28 Nov) • Operational risks: ANM schemes need clearer constraint rules, and abnormal network running continues to cause surprise curtailment with no mandatory DNO reporting Our links: Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/ Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ Find if we fit at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

Connectologists® Pete Aston and Kyle Murchie are back with the latest Grid News and Views! After a four-month break, they dive into the big changes shaping Britain's grid connections — from NESO's new Gate 2 timeline to long-awaited reforms in network charging. They break down what the new Gate 2 process really means for developers: complex timelines, delayed offers, and growing uncertainty around project acceptance and design changes. Pete and Kyle also unpack the latest on connection charging — including DCP461 and CMP460, two major reforms aiming to fix how shared infrastructure costs are split across projects. Plus, they tackle the UK's unexpected demand boom: data centres now make up most of the 100+ GW of new demand in the queue — more than Britain's entire current peak demand! What does this mean for future connections, system design, and government policy? If you're working in energy, development, or infrastructure, this episode is your quick guide to the fast-moving world of grid connections and reform. Our links: Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/ Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ Find if we fit at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

In this episode of the Connectology podcast, Connectologist® Pete Aston sits down with Alan Pritchard from FarrPoint to explore the booming world of data centres – the hidden infrastructure powering everything from cloud services to artificial intelligence. Alan explains what data centres are, why they've suddenly become headline news, and how they've grown from anonymous grey boxes to critical national infrastructure. He shares insights into the sheer scale and cost of these projects – with a 100MW facility costing around £1 billion – and why the UK's total capacity is still just 1.5GW. The episode covers: Alongside this episode, we've released our Comprehensive Data Centre Report, which reveals that half of UK developers underestimate connection times by seven years — a gap that can make or break projects. The report also highlights barriers around grid access, energy pricing, and clean power investment. 👉 https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/powering-great-britains-data-centre-ambitions/ Whether you're an energy developer, tech insider, or simply curious about the digital engines behind your smartphone and streaming services, this episode offers a fascinating and timely look at the future of digital infrastructure.

In this episode of the Connectology® podcast, we sit down with Mikey Clark, CEO of Relode Energy, to explore how the UK’s energy infrastructure must evolve to meet rising demand—from transport to ports to AI. We unpack the idea of power parks and the practical steps needed to electrify hard-to-reach sectors. Key Conversation Points: If you're in energy, logistics, or infrastructure—or just curious how we’ll keep the lights on in a net-zero world—this episode offers real-world solutions and forward-thinking insight from someone building the future of energy. Recorded 24 June 2025 Our links: Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/ Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ Find if we fit at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

The UK’s grid is at breaking point. Thousands of energy projects are stuck in the queue, and many may never get built. In this episode of the Connectology® podcast, Ed Birkett from Low Carbon joins Pete Aston and Catherine Cleary to explain what’s going wrong—and what needs to change. Together, they dive into the challenges facing the UK’s grid connection process, from overloaded queues to “zombie projects” that block real progress. Key topics discussed includes: • Why the grid queue is five times bigger than it needs to be • The risks of relying too heavily on uncertain technologies like floating offshore wind • Why project drop-out (attrition) is being ignored—and how that could derail 2030 clean power targets • The need for public consultation and better data in future planning • How co-locating solar and battery storage can ease pressure on the grid—but is being overlooked Ed also sounds the alarm on how secretive and rushed decision-making could lead to poor outcomes—and why transparency is essential as we move toward the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan. This episode is a must-listen for anyone involved in renewable energy, policy, or planning in the UK! Ed's LinkedIn post - what are the risks in NESO's reforms to the grid queue? https://www.linkedin.com/posts/edwardbirkett_lc-response-to-ofgem-connections-reform-m2-activity-7309878224090464257-Rk4j?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAABcpJLkBqpA9EUs8BicHQToAo6NV08hd4lU Recorded 08 July 2025 Our links: Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/ Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ Find if we fit at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk

Super Grid Transformer (SGT) charging remains a critical but unresolved issue in the energy sector. The focus on Connections Reform meant progress on SGT charging stalled. Now that Connections Reform is taking shape, it’s time to turn attention back to this challenge. To help move the conversation forward, we brought together a range of industry voices —Innova, Octopus Energy Generation, Centrica and Diageo — for a round-table discussion. Kyle Murchie and Pete Aston then spoke one-on-one with each participant about their experiences and ideas for solutions. This longer podcast captures those in-depth conversations. If you’re looking for a shorter overview, visit our SGT charging highlights podcast. The podcasts explore how today’s SGT charging framework affects project delivery, investor confidence, and the path to net zero. They also consider initial ideas for change — including greater transparency, clearer codification, and options like socialising costs. Recorded 13 May 2025 Our links: Website: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/ Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/connectology/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ Find if we fit at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk