SP Electricity North West Accelerates 30 MW BESS Connection by Three Years with Smart ANM

SP Electricity North West has reported the successful deployment of its real-time Active Network Management (ANM) technology, enabling the accelerated connection of a 30 MW battery energy storage system to its distribution network without requiring conventional grid reinforcement.

The battery was connected late last year through the utility’s smart network management system, allowing the project to be commissioned three years earlier than would have been possible under traditional reinforcement timelines. The approach also delivered estimated savings of £3.2 million by avoiding costly network upgrades.

ANM functions as a real-time automated control system that continuously monitors electricity network conditions and manages power imports when network constraints arise. By dynamically responding to changes in network capacity, the system helps maintain safe and reliable grid operations during periods of high demand or abnormal system stress.

Since its deployment, the ANM system has been activated more than 400 times, while restricting battery operations by only 0.3%, enabling the storage asset to operate at nearly full capacity. According to SP Electricity North West, the battery has been able to utilise more than 99% of available energy, with only minimal curtailment during constrained periods.

The utility said the technology also allows the battery to participate in National Grid balancing services, supporting wider grid flexibility and contributing to the UK’s energy transition objectives.

Paul Auckland, Head of Distribution System Operation at SP Electricity North West, said the ANM system has prevented network constraints, reduced connection costs, and safeguarded electricity supplies to thousands of customers while operating automatically in the background.

He added that the technology offers developers a faster and more cost-effective alternative for connecting to the distribution network, particularly for projects capable of operating flexibly during network constraints. Auckland described the system as a significant advancement that can accelerate renewable energy and flexibility projects that would otherwise be delayed pending network reinforcement.

SP Electricity North West said it is now evaluating a pipeline of additional projects that could be connected using the ANM platform, with the aim of expanding access to faster and lower-cost grid connections across the region.