NOTIFICATION OF INDUSTRY CHANGES – REQUIREMENTS FOR GENERATORS

There are forthcoming changes to the Energy Networks Association’s (the “ENA”) G83 and G59 engineering recommendation documents that are being implemented to comply with a change in European law.

From 27 April 2019, all generating equipment connected to any electricity distribution network, regardless of whether that network is owned by a Distribution Network Operator, such as Northern Powergrid, or by an Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO), must comply with the requirements of the ENA’s new engineering recommendation documents G98 and G99. Full details of these changes can be found at the following 

http://www.energynetworks.org/electricity/engineering/distributed-generation/dg-connection-guides.html

Although these changes do not affect generating equipment that is already connected to the electricity distribution network, you may be affected by the change in the regulations if you either modify your existing equipment or you have projects that are yet to be connected to the distribution network.

For a project that is awaiting connection or modification the following rules apply:

Energisation Date prior to 27 April 2019:
If your connection will be energised prior to 27 April 2019, you may connect your generating plant either by:

a) Meeting the existing requirements of G83 or G59, as appropriate; or
b) Meeting the new requirements of G98 or G99, as appropriate.

Energisation Date on or after 27 April 2019:
If your connection will be energised on or after 27 April 2019, your generating plant must comply with the requirements of G98 or G99, as appropriate.

Alternatively, you may connect your generating plant under G83 or G59, as appropriate, but only if:

a) You had entered into a contract to buy your main generating plant prior to 17 May 2018; and
b) You provide us with satisfactory documentary evidence that this was the case prior to 17 November 2018.

For example, the main generating plant would be defined as one or more of the principal items of equipment that are required to convert the primary source of energy into electricity such as the alternator or the generator transformer and which, once ordered, will determine the ability of the plant to meet the relevant technical requirements.

For any such projects looking to connect under G83 or G59 on or after 27 April 2019, you will need to provide us with the following evidence, as a minimum:

I.     Documentation showing that you had contracted to purchase the main generating plant prior to 17
       May 2018, including evidence of the date of execution of that contract;
II.  The technical specification applicable to the main generating plant; and
III. The reference number we provided on your quotation (beginning with ENQ), which will allow us to
       cross-reference your evidence to the quotation you accepted.

You should submit your evidence to the following email address: RFG.Compliance@northernpowergrid.com

We will acknowledge receipt, review the evidence and let you know if we require any further information.

Please note that, if you do not provide us with the necessary evidence prior to 17 November 2018, your generating plant will have to comply with the requirements of G98 or G99, as appropriate, if the connection is to be energised on or after 27 April 2019.

As the above changes are a legal requirement, if you fail to comply with the requirements of G98 or G99, as appropriate, on or after 27 April 2019, we will not be able to energise your connection until such a time as that non-compliance is rectified.

Modification of Generating Equipment:
You should also note that, if the criteria above do not apply to you but you significantly modify your generating equipment, you may also be required to comply with the new connection codes. Consequently, in accordance with the existing rules, you must discuss and agree any proposed modifications with us in advance.