News

SONI have announced their new strategy for 2025 – 2031. The strategy is structured around four strategic ambitions (Advise, Plan, Deliver and Operate). SONI have identified their desire to place themselves as a key strategic adviser across the energy space, to engage with the public, to deliver the best outcomes for all and to continue operating a secure and reliable system. All of these are commendable goals which are arguably the core remit of the TSO in Northern Ireland. But what does this mean for the energy transition in Northern Ireland? Is this strategy a step change in approach or more of the same? The strategy may at first seem lacking in detail, but, digging deeper and looking at the wider picture of what is happening in Northern Ireland, these are interesting times. What’s that coming over the hill, is it an 80% renewable target?! As with any strategy, there

The energy industry is now on the verge of a significant change, with 2025 bringing the implementation of Connections Reform in Great Britain (GB). On 20th December, NESO submitted two CUSC Final Modification Proposals to Ofgem for approval for CMP 434: Implementing Connections Reform, and CMP 435: Application of Gate 2 Criteria to existing contracted background. Why change? The GB Connections Reform proposals have been developed to address the rising number of generators waiting to connect to the grid – often referred to as the “connections queue”. Under the current ‘first come, first served’ process, the rate of connection applications has far exceeded the pace at which the NESO, Transmission Owners (TOs), and Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) can get projects connected to their networks, leading to a backlog of generation in the queue far greater than will be needed to meet the country’s energy demands by 2050. CMP 434 – Looking

2024 TNEI Wind Farm Judicial Review Case Overview – Wind Turbine Noise As we approach February, we thought we would highlight an interesting Judicial Review case that TNEI was involved with last year in the Republic of Ireland. The case related to a consented wind farm whose approval was challenged by a local objector group (the Applicants). A number of challenges were presented, including the suggestion that the decision to consent the wind farm by An Bord Pleanála (the Board) had not properly considered all of the information presented to them i.e. the information that had been previously submitted by the Applicants and other objectors; the argument that the current Wind Energy Development Guidelines are out of date; and, the argument that there was a lack of consideration and assessment of Amplitude Modulation (AM). Many of these challenges were reminiscent of a previous case from 2019, (commonly referred to as

The pathway towards the decarbonisation of modern societies will inevitably drive unprecedented step increases in our electricity consumption. The power system in Ireland will be no different.  This is likely to involve more than a doubling of electricity consumption in a short period of time– driven by the widespread electrification of heat and transport, as well as the expected growth in large energy users (LEU) that will facilitate the growth in our usage of data-based technologies. Uncertainty surrounds how this change will exactly materialise – but irrespective of advances in demand reduction innovations and efficiency gains, the kind of demand growth that has taken nearly a century to materialise will need to be accommodated again in the next two to three decades.  The Ireland transmission network as of 2025 has been developed to manage a modest historical growth in demand – reaching today’s average demand of approximately 3.5GW and a

The Manchester office swapped their suits for boots as they partnered with The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) and were put to work maintaining meadows and paving paths for their volunteering day earlier this year in celebration of TNEI’s 25th Anniversary.   The team agreed there was no better way to celebrate the 25th anniversary of TNEI than to get their hands dirty helping local wildlife, rewarded afterwards by some well-earned food at the pub!  Our Manchester office employees are typically accustomed to a fairly sodden climate. However, on this particular Friday at Sale Water Park, an area of woodland, meadows and a lake in South Manchester, the sky was a brilliant blue and the sun was shining. The day was blessed from the get-go!  There were two tasks that the team got busy with: path construction and meadow management. Both tasks oxymoronically involved cutting back plants (which lumberjack Mustafa loved!) rather than

As Summer drew to a close this year, our Newcastle team spent one sunny Saturday paddling down the Tyne for a charity Dragon Boat Racing event on the Quayside.   Newcastle’s Dragon Boat Race is an annual event hosted by NE1 to raise money for charity whilst having a fun-filled day and bringing the community together. This year money was raised for The Great North Children’s Hospital Foundation, part of Newcastle Hospitals Charity, which supports the many children and their families who attend hospital for treatment and care, making their hospital experience the best it possibly can be.  The foundation supports life-changing research, cutting-edge equipment and technology as well as projects to make the hospital more welcoming for children.  After a breakfast butty and a warmup, the team were ready to take on the challenge! Captained by Jake Collins-May, the team named themselves ‘Smaug on the Tyne’ and took part in 3