Hitting a Voltage Grand Slam – four key plays to make the electricity system fit for the future

Voltage Matters consultant and Energy Geeks think tank leader Roger Hey has penned a pile-driving briefing paper called Hitting a Voltage Grand Slam.

It sets out a radical solution to the weaknesses of Britain’s out-of-date electricity system – “by moving the voltage debate beyond simple statutory compliance, to address the critical friction between well designed grid modernisation and Net Zero delivery”.

Roger argues that following the voltage-led collapse on the Iberian Peninsula in 2025, the previous focus on the three benefits of dynamic voltage in terms of bills, flexibility and capacity is not enough. The industry must also deliver a fourth element – resilience.

It’s called The Voltage Grand Slam, because baseball captains load the bases with the first three runners, but it takes the fourth batter to bring them all home.

Roger believes the Grand Slam approach provides a framework that crucially aligns with the Ofgem RIIO-ED3 Sector Specific Methodology Consultation (SSMC). This proposes that every DSO must have a published voltage management strategy.

The winning strategy

He writes: “The Voltage Grand Slam delivers significant and direct cost reductions to consumers, greater flexibility for the system, more connections available and most importantly, grid stability. What’s not to like?”

The four plays of the Voltage Grand Slam are:

1. Use voltage control to cut electricity bills by up to 6%, by reducing both consumption and the need for generation.
2. Improve system services and flexibility by enabling DNOs to manipulate voltages and manage demand.
3. Get connected, stay connected: controlling network voltage alleviates constraints, allowing customers to connect quicker and hastening Net Zero targets.
4. Resilience and security: by actively managing voltage at the primary and secondary substation level, DNOs can provide the reactive power support needed to prevent cascading failures.

Roger concludes that the four-play Voltage Grand Slam is the winning strategy, because implementing the first three plays will deliver tangible economic and performance benefits –  but the fourth play will bring home the added insurance policy of grid resilience, effectively free of charge.