Charles Deacon

Technical Director, Grid at Eclipse Power

Speaker

Charles is Technical Director - Grid within the expert grid consultancy service at Eclipse Power. Our other services include a licensed IDNO with a particular focus on EHV connections; and a private networks and microgrids offering. Eclipse Power’s mission is to simplify electricity connections.

Charles has spent 8 years in the grid connections space, initially for developers securing and developing multiple GWs of grid connections for solar PV, battery energy storage and gas to power schemes – both at distribution and transmission, including behind the meter. Charles joined Eclipse Power in November 2022, as Head of Grid Connections with a responsibility for managing the contractual and technical interface between the IDNO and upstream DNOs/TOs/NESO for Eclipse’s EHV and transmission-connected projects. This has involved negotiating new policies and procedures with networks to allow competitive network adoption at higher votlages.

The grid consultancy service was launched in October 2023 to provide expert advice to customers earlier in the development cycle, including for schemes that are not suitable to be adopted by the IDNO.

During this period, the grid connections landscape has changed significantly. Charles regularly sits on relevant code working groups, to develop modifications and improvements to the existing codes, such as CUSC and DCUSA. Charles has worked with other parties to co-propose modifications and continues to attend regular working groups on the implementation of Connections Reform, as a transmission-connected IDNO.