What’s the Problem?
We are supporting our partners SSEN Transmission as part of the 2026 Energy Innovation Basecamp.
Innovative people and businesses are invited by the Energy Networks Association (ENA) to propose ideas and solutions to solve problems suggested by Britain’s electricity and gas networks.
If you would like our support in submitting your application, please contact us.
Please note the deadline for this opportunity is 13 March 2026.
What’s the Problem?
Network access for planned outages affecting GSPs can be onerous to agree due to risk-averse outage planning, as TOs and DNOs seek to maximise their ENS and IIS incentives respectively, in response to consistent stakeholder feedback. The status of the assets which remain in-service during the planned outage may not be routinely considered in detail. On balance, Emergency Return To Service (ERTS) measures may be unnecessarily extensive and costly for low probability events.
What is Required?
Several factors can affect the likelihood of a fault occurring during a planned outage affecting a given GSP, some of which may not currently be considered in demand risk assessments for planned outages. Solutions should utilise existing data sources to provide a probabilistic demand risk assessment for planned outages. This will inform efficient risk mitigation requirements for a given outage or outage combination. Solutions should be scalable for use at a given GSP or combinations of GSPs.
What are the Constraints?
The solution must not significantly diminish asset life. Minimal disruption to existing network assets is preferred, utilising existing data sources instead to deliver value quicker. Loss of supply likelihood and impact must be clearly articulated by the solution in each instance, including the logic behind the figures, for key stakeholders to make an informed decision.
Who are the Key Players?
Key players are TOs, DNOs, DSOs, NESO, sensitive customers. TO benefit (efficient delivery of construction and asset replacement portfolio), DNO benefit (reduced period of demand at risk), Consumer benefit (reduced disruption to embedded renewable generation), Developer benefit (faster connections). Collaboration with DNOs is critical to the success of solutions.
Does the Problem Build on Existing or Previous Projects?
The problem statement recognises the ongoing conflict of network access affecting GSPs versus reliability of supply, exacerbated by the requirement to deliver increasing construction, asset replacement and maintenance portfolios.