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G-PST/ESIG Webinar Series: European Experience with “Connect and Manage”
November 20, 2023 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm EST
Featured Speaker: Mark Norton, Vice President of Business Development, Smart Wires
Mark Norton
About the Webinar: In the drive towards a targeted decarbonized power system by 2050, it is critical that the growth and speed of connections for renewable generating energy sources keeps pace to make this a reality. However, developers of renewable resources often face long lead times before they can freely offer (firm access) their power into energy markets, awaiting not only new network developments to connect the renewable generating sources, but also wider reinforcement of network capacity to transmit this energy. In Europe, “Connect and Manage” has become an approach used by some system operators, where firm access is offered before all associated reinforcement works are completed.
This webinar will address “Connect and Manage” principles, the experience from the common approaches being applied, and the risks, tools and outcomes from these. It will conclude based on these experiences the learning and best practice approaches to be used in future by system operators and policy makers.
About the Speaker: Mark Norton is the Vice President of Business Development at Smart Wires Inc. Mark has worked in the international electrical utility industry for 35 years both in the transmission and distribution sectors.
In his current role, he is working with some of United States and Europe’s largest utilities helping them solve their biggest business challenges, through collaborative projects using Smart Wires Grid Enhancing Technologies (GETs).
In his career, Mark has worked for both EirGrid, the Irish Transmission System Operator, and before UKPN, the largest Distribution System Operator in the UK. He managed the develop of the Irish Grid Development Strategy, Grid Code, and investment decisions for network development projects with five-yearly capital budget of over €1bn.
Mark is also the Vice-Chair for the currENT association in Europe, and an active member of the WATT Coalition, and the European Commission’s, European Technology Innovation Program for Smart Networks for Energy Transition. He has previously chaired the European association of Transmission System Operators (ENTSO-E) team developing the European wide ten-year network development plan for over €110bn investments, and the development of three EU Regulations on connection requirements for demand, generation and HVDC infrastructure.
Mark holds a 1st class hons degree in electrical and electronic engineering from the now Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge and has completed the IESE Business school’s bespoke Management Development program for TSOs.
Moderator: Charlie Smith, Executive Director, ESIG
Registration Cost: FREE
Q&A Session: We will be using the slido platform for Q&A. Please submit your questions and follow-along during the event at this link.
