The Connectology® Podcast by Roadnight Taylor

#68 Addressing Connection Uncertainty – Part 1 – with Graham Pannell, BayWa r.e

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: * Uncertainty blocking delivery: Protected projects for 2026-2028 can't align programmes, procure equipment, or coordinate outages because basic engineering conversations aren't happening * NESO's perception gap: A recent advisory day revealed their list of "key problems" bore little resemblance to what developers actually face * Procurement crisis: TO costs have nearly doubled for some asset types, with £800k quotes for equipment worth £80-160k * The concertina effect: Months of delays compressing into impossible 2027 delivery windows 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/ [https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/] Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ [https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/] Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/] Find if we fit at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk [info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk]

#67 Grid News and Views - Episode 14

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/ [https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/] Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ [https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/]  Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/]  Find if we fit at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk [info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk]

#66 Grid News and Views - Episode 13

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/ [https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/] Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ [https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/] Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/] Find if we fit at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk [info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk]

#65 Data Centre Realities with Alan Pritchard, FarrPoint

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: * Why London became the UK’s data centre hub, and how Ireland’s low-tax policy turned Dublin into Europe’s hotspot * The “three-legged stool” of land, power, and connectivity – with power the biggest challenge * How AI is driving unprecedented demand, with government-backed “AI growth zones” building sovereign digital capability * The future: renewable-powered facilities, new technologies, and the premium cost of sovereignty 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.

#64 What power parks can solve, and how, with Mikey Clark, CEO, Relode

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: * Mikey’s journey from infrastructure projects to energy innovation * What power parks are and why they matter * How these hubs support: * Electric HGVs and fleet operators * Port decarbonisation  * High-demand users like AI and logistics firms * Bridging the gap between National Grid, industry, and regulators * Challenges in connecting to the grid—and how Reload solves them 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/ [https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/] Newsletter sign up: https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/ [https://roadnighttaylor.co.uk/newsletter/] Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/roadnight-taylor-ltd/] Find if we fit at info@roadnighttaylor.co.uk