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National Grid ESO - Early Competition Plan - webinars and events - man on mountain
Early Competition Plan Project

Breadcrumb

  • Future of Energy
  • Projects

As we look to achieve net zero carbon operation of the electricity system by 2025, we’re working with the industry to transform the way Great Britain’s electricity system is designed and built.

We know the energy transition must be affordable and that competition is vital for encouraging innovation and keeping prices as low as possible.

What is an 'Early Competition Plan'?

Working with partners from inside and outside the energy industry, we are looking at how Early Competition can be introduced into developing and running our electricity networks.

This means organisations can compete for the design, build and ownership of onshore transmission assets. Early Competition will help encourage new ways of working and deliver millions of pounds in savings for consumers.

The energy landscape is undergoing a revolution, with changing generation and demand patterns driving the need for substantial network investment in order to reach the UK Government’s Net Zero target by 2050.

Find out more about our zero-carbon ambition.

We’re working with industry stakeholders to identify how competition can be introduced to network investment to make sure this investment is delivered in a way that achieves best value for consumers and opens the door for innovative network solutions.  

We are delivering an Early Competition Plan that outlines how competition could be introduced for the design, build and ownership of onshore transmission assets.

Early Competition refers to competition that occurs prior to the detailed design, surveying and consenting phases of asset development.

The plan will describe an end-to-end process of how early competition may work, set out how models for early competition could be implemented and outline the roles and responsibilities of all parties in the end-to-end process.

More details about the project can be found in this detailed guide.

Useful links

What is 'Early Competition'? What is our approach?Project updatesUpcoming and past eventsHow to get involvedMeet the teamKey documents
National Grid ESO - Early Competition Plan podcast - Man Girl Mini Turbine

Podcast: An Introduction to the Early Competition Plan

Listen to our podcast and learn more about what Early Competition means for the industry.

Learn more
National Grid ESO - stability pathfinder - sunlight through the trees

What are the roles within Early Competition?

Achieving Early Competition requires the cooperation of multiple parties in the industry, each with unique roles and responsibilities.

Find out what our initial views are.

Learn more

What are we trying to achieve?

  • Unlocking value for consumers

    Competition in network development has the potential to unlock millions of pounds of consumer value by encouraging those who are responsible for transmission assets to use more innovative and cost effective solutions to meet the needs of the electricity system.

  • Fostering innovation

    Competitive pressure and involvement of new parties is likely to drive innovation and generate a wider range of ideas for solutions to system needs.

    Depending on the tender model there could be innovation in areas such as technology, design, supply chain management, raising of finance and operations.

    Effective competitions should be open to as many potential solutions as possible, including proposals from a full range of network (solutions requiring a transmission licence) and non-network solutions (a service or an asset which doesn’t require a transmission licence).

  • Early competition supports the transition to a carbon-free network

    As the ESO leads Great Britain’s transition to net zero, cost savings achieved through introducing early competition will be important in helping drive lower transmission charges and make investment in low carbon generation more affordable or cheaper

    This benefit is particularly important considering the role of the ESO in supporting Great Britain achieving net zero.

    We hope that early competition could also encourage sustainability as we are exploring whether this could be part of the criteria for tenders.

What is our approach?

National Grid Early Competition Plan project timeline - Dec 20

Our approach to the Early Competition Plan project

The delivery of the Early Competition Plan is being undertaken in four phases:

Phase 1: development of the conceptual model

Phase 2: initial consultation on emerging Early Competition Model

Phase 3: final consultation on emerging Early Competition Model

Phase 4: submission of the Early Competition Plan to Ofgem

Download timeline

Latest news

eso : Future of energy
National Grid ESO - Early Competition consultation - green mountain with flowlines.PNG

Early Competition Phase 3 consultation has launched!

Our Early Competition project is working with the industry to transform the way Great Britain’s electricity system is designed and built. Find out the latest on phase 3.

eso : Electricity explained
National Grid ESO - Early Competition Plan - Mermaid street

Increasing competition in the markets we operate

At the ESO we have an ambition to enable more competition across the markets that we operate so that, together, we can unlock millions of pounds in consumer value and continue to progress towards Britain's net zero goal

National Grid ESO - Early Competition Plan - Bringing Experts Together - turbines in the sunset

How to get involved

Engagement and feedback from the industry plays a vital role in shaping the Early Competition Plan.

From webinars to consultations, find out how you can get involved in the project.

Find out more
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