At Blake Clough, we’ve grown from our three founding members in September 2021 to a team of nearly 60 today. This rapid growth has been driven in part by our ability to identify and train highly capable graduates, PhD holders, and postdoctoral researchers. In doing so, we’ve not only expanded quickly but also cultivated a culture where innovation and the development of new services, tools, and techniques are central to our work.
A Multidisciplinary Approach to Recruitment and Innovation
At Blake Clough Consulting, we recognise that solving the complex challenges of today’s electricity networks requires more than just traditional thinking. While Electrical Engineering remains at the core of our expertise and project delivery, our recruitment strategy has deliberately evolved to include talented individuals from diverse technical backgrounds, including Physics, Mechanical Engineering, and Chemical Engineering.
This multidisciplinary approach brings real advantages. Different academic and professional training paths foster distinct ways of thinking, encouraging a broader range of problem-solving strategies, analytical approaches, and technical perspectives. For example, physicists often excel at tackling problems from first principles, bringing a high level of rigour and conceptual clarity. Similarly, engineers from non-electrical disciplines frequently offer well-developed research skills, deep system-level thinking, and strong data analysis capabilities drawn from their respective fields.
Notably, we have found that many of our physicist hires possess advanced Python scripting and programming skills that are immediately valuable in the context of power systems analysis. These capabilities, combined with their strong mathematical mindset, enable them to quickly develop tools, automate processes, and analyse large datasets. These skills are essential as we continue to drive innovation in the sector.
Importantly, this is not to understate the vital role played by our Electrical Engineers, whose domain-specific knowledge and practical experience remain central to our work. Rather, it is the blending of these diverse skill sets that is proving to be a major asset for the business. The result is a highly agile, flexible, and productive team capable of delivering innovative solutions, developing new services, and responding quickly to evolving client and system needs.
This fusion of disciplines underpins our continued growth and success, and it reflects our broader belief that diversity in thinking leads to better, smarter, and more resilient outcomes for the energy transition.
Power Systems Innovation
Within our Power Systems team, we have fully transitioned to using Python-based scripting for all modelling and study types, encompassing both DIgSILENT PowerFactory and PSCAD simulation environments. This shift to automation and scripting represents a significant advancement in how we execute and deliver complex power system studies. By embedding Python into our workflow, we have created a streamlined, highly efficient modelling process that ensures consistency, repeatability, and traceability across all projects.
In the case of PSCAD, we have invested in two high-performance, multi-core simulation PCs that serve as the backbone for executing parallelised studies. These machines allow us to run numerous simulation scenarios simultaneously, dramatically increasing our throughput and reducing the time required to complete comprehensive studies. All parallel modelling tasks are managed through in-house developed Python scripts, which automate everything from scenario generation and execution to post-processing and reporting. This allows us to deliver results quickly, reliably, and with a high level of technical accuracy.
The benefits of this scripted and automated approach are substantial. Firstly, it greatly enhances efficiency, enabling our engineers to focus on analysis and decision-making rather than manual setup and repetitive tasks. Secondly, it significantly reduces the potential for human error, as model configurations, study parameters, and results processing are all handled programmatically. This consistency is particularly valuable when working on large-scale studies involving multiple scenarios, sensitivity analyses, or iterative compliance testing.
Moreover, our scripting capabilities provide us with exceptional agility when responding to changes or compliance issues. For example, if a study identifies that a particular control system does not meet grid compliance requirements, we can make the necessary model adjustments and re-run the entire suite of studies rapidly. This ability to quickly iterate and update models ensures that we can finalise studies and deliver reports to clients without delay. In many cases, this results in substantial time and cost savings. These efficiencies can be critical, particularly during project phases where clients are awaiting compliance confirmation before proceeding with energisation or connection to the grid.
In summary, the integration of Python scripting into our modelling processes not only enhances technical rigor and reliability but also enables us to offer a more responsive and cost-effective service to our clients. Our investment in automation, simulation infrastructure, and custom tool development positions us at the forefront of modern power system analysis and compliance testing.
Grid Consulting Services: Curtailment Analysis and CP2030 Support
As the penetration of distributed renewable energy sources (RES) across the grid accelerates, we have seen significant demand growth in two critical areas of our grid consulting work: curtailment analysis and CP2030 strategic advisory services. These services play an essential role in enabling developers, investors, and asset owners to make informed decisions on their current and future projects. These decisions are increasingly time-sensitive and financially consequential in a rapidly evolving energy landscape.
Curtailment Analysis
In recent years, the proliferation of distributed renewable energy sources, particularly solar PV, wind, and battery energy storage systems (BESS), has led to congestion in distribution networks across Great Britain. In response, Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) have introduced Active Network Management (ANM) schemes to maximise network utilisation while avoiding expensive and time-consuming reinforcement works. These schemes operate by dynamically monitoring network constraints and curtailing generation output during peak congestion periods.
However, the resulting curtailment can materially affect project revenues and investor returns. For this reason, robust and transparent methodologies to forecast expected curtailment levels are essential for making sound investment decisions.
Since 1 April 2023, DNOs in Great Britain have adopted a common curtailment calculation methodology under the RIIO-ED2 price control period. Approved by Ofgem, this standardised approach introduces a number of underlying assumptions that systematically overestimate likely curtailment for new generators. One of the most significant assumptions is that existing BESS assets export at 100 percent capacity throughout the year, even though most storage projects typically discharge for only around four hours per day. This mismatch between assumptions and actual operational behaviour leads to inflated curtailment projections, which can significantly distort the investment outlook for new projects.
To address this, we conduct independent, in-house curtailment studies that provide a more accurate assessment. Our approach incorporates:
- Meteorological data to model realistic wind and solar generation profiles;
- Linear programming and optimisation techniques to simulate BESS operation based on market price arbitrage;
- Comparison between Ofgem’s methodology and a custom approach based on empirical data and operational realism.
Our findings consistently show that the current Ofgem-approved DNO methodology overstates curtailment, often by a large margin. This has serious implications: DNO curtailment estimates, included in connection offers, can undermine the financial viability of otherwise bankable renewable energy projects. By demonstrating the more realistic curtailment potential, our studies help unlock investment, reduce perceived project risk, and support faster progress toward Net Zero.
CP2030 Strategic Advisory and Modelling
In parallel with curtailment analysis, we have also developed industry-leading tools and methodologies to support our clients in navigating the emerging CP2030 landscape. CP2030, a strategic planning initiative spearheaded by NESO (National Energy System Operator), aims to accelerate the delivery of transmission infrastructure and streamline the process for connecting renewable generation and storage to the grid.
A key development within CP2030 is CMP435, which introduces a Whole Queue process to replace the legacy “first-come, first-served” model. With this shift, there is an urgent need for stakeholders to understand which projects are likely to receive Gate 2 offers, and in what order.
To address this need, we have developed a suite of Python-based tools that:
- Integrate contracted connections data with network topology and operational constraints;
- Apply queue reordering logic to reflect NESO’s zonal and GB-wide capacity targets;
- Use AI where appropriate to predict outcomes and assist in scenario planning.
Our CP2030 tools enable developers and investors to prioritise the most promising projects in their portfolios, focus development efforts efficiently, and make informed decisions on resource allocation. This allows them to respond proactively to NESO’s reform timelines and maximise their likelihood of timely connection.
Importantly, the development of these tools has been done at pace, allowing us to provide real-time, actionable insights to clients as the policy and planning environment evolves.
Enabling Smarter Investment & Accelerated Connection
Both our curtailment and CP2030 services are underpinned by deep domain expertise and advanced analytics, including optimisation, simulation, and automation techniques. We bring together electrical engineering knowledge with software development to create bespoke tools and models that solve the most pressing challenges faced by renewable energy developers today.
Our curtailment assessments often show that real-world constraints are far less severe than DNOs estimate, which can unlock investment that might otherwise stall. Conversely, when high curtailment risk is confirmed, developers are able to reallocate capital and engineering resources toward more promising projects.
Similarly, our CP2030 services allow clients to strategically position themselves in the transmission and distribution queue reform environment, enabling faster grid connection and more efficient portfolio development.
In both areas, our services contribute directly to the UK’s Net Zero objectives by supporting faster, smarter, and more cost-effective integration of low-carbon energy infrastructure.
Developing Innovation
Scripting and innovation in power systems analysis and grid consultancy highlights how we have successfully embedded innovation into every aspect of our work within Blake Clough Consulting. We are now developing and winning innovation projects for the network operators, funded by Ofgem, and with other organisations such as the Energy Systems Catapult and multi-stakeholder projects with European funding. Our agile, highly skilled and motivated team, coupled with the tools and track record we have built up through our networks project work, is leading to great opportunities, and we look forward to developing these in the months and years to come.