Background
National Grid is an energy company operating in the UK and US. We deliver electricity safely, reliably, and efficiently to the customers and communities we serve – all while working towards a clean energy future.
Our business areas play a vital role in connecting millions of people to the energy they use, while continually seeking ways to make the energy system cleaner. National Grid allows innovation to help revolutionise and decarbonise the future of energy.
National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) is responsible for owning and maintaining the high voltage electricity network in England and Wales.
We take electricity generated from windfarms and other power sources and transport it through our network of pylons, overhead lines, cables, and substations. It then goes on to separate lower voltage local distribution networks, which connect directly to homes and businesses. Every time a phone is plugged in, or a switch is turned on, we’ve played a part, connecting you to the electricity you need.
Challenge
Connecting customers to our network is critical for National Grid Electricity Transmission. We must ensure fair and equitable access, meet regulatory obligations, and support sustainable growth. However, the connection process can often be complex and time-consuming, involving multiple steps such as application submission, verification, infrastructure readiness, and final activation. These steps can create delays that impact both customers and our ability to deliver reliable service.
Through this challenge, we are seeking innovative solutions, process improvements, and enabling technologies that will accelerate the end-to-end connection journey. Potential areas of interest include:
- Digital platforms for streamlined applications
- Data-driven tools for faster assessments
- Engineering solutions to connecting customers faster
- Enhanced coordination across stakeholders
- Solutions that increase transparency for customers throughout the process
Our goal is to reduce connection timelines, improve efficiency, and enhance customer experience, while maintaining compliance, safety, and long-term sustainability.
We invite solution providers to respond with solutions that address the following questions:
- What are new and innovative ways to connect the growing number of customers to our network?
- How can we maintain system operability and stability as the energy system decarbonises?
- How can we facilitate system access in a decarbonising energy system?
We are seeking bold, practical, and scalable innovations that will help us transform how we deliver transmission infrastructure.
National Grid ask that all applications include supporting documents.
What's in it for you?
A successful collaboration could mean becoming part of the wider National Grid group, or for organisations, forming a potential partnership with one of the world’s most iconic brands to co-develop and co-launch the idea to market.
These are global challenges and National Grid are willing to collaborate a wide varity of companies with industry participants/universities etc. and solutions can be at any stage of development.