Industry stakeholders have begun a coordinated push to tackle the growing operational and environmental pressures created by street‑level excavation and customer connection works.
‘Grounds for Change’ aims to develop new approaches that cut disruption, reduce waste and improve the efficiency of low‑voltage excavation and reinstatement works.
The project is led by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) and Southampton City Council, facilitated by the Energy Innovation Centre (EIC). UK Power Networks (UKPN), Northern Powergrid (NPg), Cadent, Northern Gas Networks (NGN), Wales & West Utilities and Gas Networks Ireland provided data support.
The kick‑off workshop in March gathered senior representatives from across the gas and electricity sectors, with participants sharing their first‑hand experience of the challenges facing frontline delivery teams.
They were joined by innovators SoilDri, Synthotech, The Attachement Company (Scotland) and Electric-Powered Innovation Ltd, who have extensive experience in excavation, trenchless methods and materials management. They presented early concepts of their solutions and insights into the project’s technical direction going forward.
Discussions focused on excavation practices, trenchless technologies, reinstatement performance and the rising cost and complexity of spoil management. Customer‑side works and the variability of domestic property layouts were also highlighted as major constraints.
Stakeholders noted that the growth of electric vehicles, heat pumps and distributed generation is driving a sharp rise in low‑voltage activity. Networks agreed that future programmes will require a broader, more flexible set of delivery methods to minimise disruption while maintaining safety and compliance.
Eliot Smith, Project Manager at the Energy Innovation Centre, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting Grounds for Change and to be facilitating this exciting project. Bringing the sector together at this early stage is essential to building a shared understanding of the challenges and shaping the innovations that will address them.”
Insights from the workshop will shape the next phase of engagement with innovators and technology providers.
Further workshops and technical discussions are planned as the project moves toward identifying, trialling and adopting new methods across the sector.
