National Grid Electricity Distribution and Yottar have launched a partnership to develop a digital platform designed to transform how grid capacity is assessed and accelerate the delivery of new connections.
The collaboration will combine NGED’s engineering expertise and operational understanding of the distribution network with Yottar’s capabilities in data modelling and software development to create an automated grid capacity assessment platform, National Grid Electricity Distribution said.
The platform will support the development of detailed network models to provide rapid insight into potential connection opportunities and constraints, Yottar added.
“As the pace of electrification increases, working with innovative technology companies like Yottar will play an important role in developing the digital capabilities that help developers understand network capacity and move through the connections process more efficiently,” said Oliver Spink, head of system planning at National Grid DSO.
“We are excited to be working with National Grid, who are showing real leadership in collaborating with innovative technology companies to modernise the electricity system,” said Pete Clutton-Brock, founder and chief executive of Yottar.
“By combining NGED’s engineering expertise with Yottar’s digital grid modelling platform, we have the opportunity to support connection engineers with faster and more consistent assessments while giving developers earlier visibility of viable connection opportunities.”
The platform is intended to help developers and network connection engineers understand where capacity exists on the grid and when it can be accessed as electrification drives growing demand from data centres, EV charging infrastructure, renewable generation, battery storage and industrial loads.