Vattenfall IDNO launches Simple Grid Consultancy as connection delays become the leading risk to UK construction projects

Vattenfall IDNO has launched a new grid consultancy aimed at tackling one of the most pressing issues in UK development: delays and uncertainty in securing viable grid connections.

The Simple Grid Consultancy service is designed for developers of sub-2MVA projects who need fast, credible answers to critical questions about power availability, grid viability, and likely connection costs. It offers access to Vattenfall’s in-house team of grid specialists, project managers, and engineers, who guide clients through feasibility studies, Point of Connection (PoC) applications, cable routes, mini-tenders for contestable works, and legal support for land rights—all designed to reduce risk and remove friction from the process.

The launch comes at a time when access to electricity is emerging as the main issue delaying UK construction projects. According to Turner & Townsend’s latest report, grid delays are now on par with planning as a leading risk, with councils in areas such as West London, Swindon, Oxfordshire and Cambridge already reporting stalled developments due to local capacity shortages. The UK’s total electricity demand is expected to rise by 50% in just ten years and double by 2050, driven in part by the rapid growth of energy-intensive data centres. With developers now facing waits of several years for new connections, early-stage grid insight and support has never been more critical.

Grid access has become the new bottleneck

says Stewart Dawson, Managing Director at Vattenfall IDNO.

“We’re seeing growing frustration from developers trying to do the right thing - moving quickly to decarbonise, electrifying operations, and scaling renewables - but getting delayed by grid connection issues."

Our new Simple Grid Consultancy service offers developers a complete package of support, expert technical advice, and clear cost-saving strategies without locking them into expensive, long-term engagements.

A key part of the offer is Vattenfall’s Grid Capacity Insights Platform, which provides developers with detailed visibility into grid availability, constraints, and likely reinforcement needs across different voltage levels and locations. By using the platform to identify an optimal Point of Connection (PoC) before applying to the DNO, Vattenfall’s service significantly improves the likelihood of successful applications and helps avoid unnecessary costs and delays.

Turner & Townsend’s report highlights that “in key regions, delays in securing grid connections are now a real and growing threat to project timelines [...] the cost and availability of power can outweigh traditional development hurdles, early-stage planning must prioritise electricity access as a strategic priority.”

Vattenfall’s new Simple Grid Consultancy service is specifically designed to help public sector clients, business owners and commercial project developers navigate these challenges – and even comes with a money back guarantee: If they cannot save clients' money on their overall connection fees, they will refund the Vattenfall consultancy fees.

Vattenfall also offers a bespoke Grid Connections Consultancy service providing end-to-end support for projects over 2MVA which includes detailed power capacity & PoC assessments, managing grid applications on behalf of clients, network design, compliance audits, ICP tenders, Asset Adoption Values and ongoing support through to project energisation. Together, these services offer a flexible and scalable approach to one of the biggest challenges facing UK developers today.

“Developers need to make decisions based on facts, not guesswork,” adds Dawson. “Whether you’re just getting started or have already hit roadblocks, involving experts can help you reach energisation faster—and with fewer surprises along the way.”