How do we better connect?

It’s Not Just the Grid — It’s the System Around It

There’s a growing narrative in both the media and the industry that the UK’s electricity grid simply won’t be able to handle the rising demand from electrification — from electric vehicles to heat pumps and everything in between. And yes, in some areas, the grid does need upgrading. There are real infrastructure constraints, especially in fast-growing or previously under-served areas.

But here’s the thing: the grid is far more resilient and adaptable than we’re often led to believe. And even where upgrades are needed, the scale and cost can often be significantly reduced with better planning, smarter technology, and more consistent processes.

The deeper we get into the weeds of this work, the more convinced we become that this is less a technical problem and more a systemic one — driven by issues with process, communication, and clarity.

The Grid Has Tools We’re Not Fully Using

Technically, we already have strong allies on our side. These are the things that could — and should — be helping us mitigate or even avoid the need for major upgrades:

• A rapidly growing grid flexibility economy that allows energy demand to be shifted in time, balancing supply and reducing peak pressure.

• Smart economic models and tariffs that nudge consumers away from peak periods, helping smooth out demand without them even noticing.

• Big data and AI, which offer faster, more granular insights into usage patterns, enabling far better forecasting, load management, and localised planning.

• Expertise and enthusiasm in its droves within our DNOs, iDNOs, ICPs and the wider energy ecosystem.

If we used these tools and skills properly — at scale and across the board — many of the "grid constraint" headlines would feel a lot less alarming. But instead…

The Reality: We’re Making It Harder Than It Needs to Be

Today alone, we made three ‘new connection’ applications with three different Distribution Network Operators (DNOs). What should be a straightforward process turned into a small maze:

• Three entirely different systems

• Three completely different sets of questions

• Three sets of site plans drawn up to match three different sets of requirements

• Three separate calls with design teams — none of whom seemed particularly familiar with the basics of EV infrastructure

This isn’t a one-off. It’s reflective of the broader experience across the sector. And it’s not because these are complicated, edge-case installations. They’re standard scenarios.

We’ve got the tools and technology — but we’re tripping over our own systems.

Where the Real Bottleneck Lies

When people say “the grid can’t cope,” we need to be clearer about what that actually means. Because more often than not, it’s not always matter of physics — it’s a matter of policy, process, and communication.

Of course, we’ll need physical upgrades in some areas. That’s a given. But the scale of those upgrades can be drastically reduced if we:

• Implement flexibility services in a way that is easy for both consumer and provider to interact with

• Standardise and streamline DNO processes. Do they all need their own unique processes when they undertake the same activities under broadly the same challenges and constraints?

• Upskill teams who are supporting connection and design to understand emerging technologies

• Actually use the data we already have

We’re holding ourselves back not because we lack the infrastructure, but because we lack the agility and joined-up thinking to make the most of what we already have.

It’s Time to Modernise the System

If we’re serious about hitting our electrification and net-zero goals, we need to stop treating the grid as a single point of failure — and start looking harder at the human and organisational systems around it and dare we say it… their incentives (or lack of) to change.

Because yes, the grid needs work. But the bigger issue is how we’re choosing to work with it.

And that’s something we can — and must — change.