Can the wind project connect in two stages?
Test the first stage against the export limit, timing and cost.
The question
You assess a 40 MW wind project in Great Britain. It asks for firm export from the start of month 10. A network upgrade is planned for the start of month 16.
| MW | |
|---|---|
| Study limit | 60 |
| Signed export already in the study | 24 |
| Study allowance | 8 |
| Minimum for the funded first stage | 24 |
Use the network owner’s figures to screen the first stage. The final connection offer needs approval.
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Expected contribution per month | £550,000 |
| Incremental stage cost | £2,400,000 |
Count full months from the start of month 10 through the end of month 15. Omit costs common to both options and discounting.
“What would you recommend for the early stage, and what needs approval?”
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A strong answer, step by step
Open each step in turn. This is one strong answer, not the only one.
Step 1: Read the capacity record
What would you do here? Open the move you’d make.
Use the 28 MW screen to assess a 24 MW first stage.
The strong move. The screening limit must cover existing commitments and the study allowance.
Use all 60 MW as available for the wind project.
Tempting, but it misses something. The 60 MW limit includes signed export and the study allowance. Both reduce the capacity left.
See how a strong candidate says it
“After 24 MW of signed export and the 8 MW allowance, the screen leaves 28 MW. It can cover a 24 MW stage, with 4 MW to spare. The full 40 MW is 12 MW above the screen.”
Why it works: The screening limit must cover existing commitments and the study allowance.
Step 2: Price the early stage
What would you do here? Open the move you’d make.
Carry a £900,000 expected benefit into a conditional recommendation.
The strong move. Use the difference between the two options and check the two approvals before spending.
Use £3.3 million as the net benefit and approve the spend.
Tempting, but it misses something. That leaves out the incremental £2.4 million. The network and investment approvals are still open.
See how a strong candidate says it
“Six months at £550,000 gives £3.3 million of expected contribution. After £2.4 million of early-stage cost, the expected benefit is £900,000. I’d ask for the network offer and investment approval.”
Why it works: Use the difference between the two options and check the two approvals before spending.
Step 3: Reopen the recommendation
Another 6 MW of signed export now uses the same constraint. The network owner forecasts 18 MW of extra studied capacity from the upgrade at the start of month 16, subject to completion.
What would you do here? Open the move you’d make.
Hold the first-stage spend and ask for the revised month-16 offer.
The strong move. The early stage needs 24 MW. The forecast increase only enters the later screen.
Keep the first stage because its expected contribution exceeds the stage cost.
Tempting, but it misses something. The £900,000 comparison assumed the funded stage could start. The revised 22 MW screen is below its minimum.
See how a strong candidate says it
“The signed export brings early capacity down to 22 MW. That is 2 MW below the funded first stage. I’d hold the early spend. The upgrade could bring the screen to 40 MW at month 16, subject to the final offer.”
Why it works: The early stage needs 24 MW. The forecast increase only enters the later screen.
Step 4: Give the next decision
What would you do here? Open the move you’d make.
Give the owners the revised screen and keep the month-16 date conditional.
The strong move. The recommendation says which decision can change and who can supply the evidence.
Announce that the full 40 MW is booked for month 16.
Tempting, but it misses something. The 40 MW figure depends on completion of the upgrade and acceptance of the connection offer.
See how a strong candidate says it
“I’d tell the project lead the early stage is on hold. I’d ask the network owner for the revised offer and upgrade evidence, then update the investment lead. I’d reconsider early staging if the offer meets 24 MW and the revised window still covers the stage cost.”
Why it works: The recommendation says which decision can change and who can supply the evidence.
The answer, in short
- Decision
- Hold the first-stage spend and request the revised month-16 connection offer.
- Because
- The early screen fell to 22 MW. The funded first stage requires 24 MW.
- What would change it
- An approved early offer of at least 24 MW and a positive revised cost comparison would reopen the first-stage decision.
Common traps
- Treating a study screen as a firm offer.
- Counting contribution before the stage can start.
Check your answer
- I checked what was already committed.
- I counted the full months and incremental cost.
- I recalculated after the signed export change.
- I gave an owner and condition for the next date.
Last reviewed Nov 11, 2026