Case Study

Grid Compliance and Future Energy Integration Across a Live Telecoms Estate

The Project

As telecoms networks advance to meet the rising data demand, higher resilience standards, and increased hybrid power integration, the infrastructure linking sites to the grid is becoming critical.

Many legacy MNO estates feature grid interface systems built to outdated engineering standards that now diverge from modern requirements.

UK Mobile Network Operator

From Legacy Infrastructure Risk to Assured Grid Compliance

Sites may appear operational, but unresolved compliance gaps present latent risks — including possible disconnection, safety hazards, or barriers to upgrades.

Our client, a leading UK Mobile Network Operator, engaged us to assess, validate and remediate G78 grid interface infrastructure across their extensive live operational estate, providing the technical knowledge and integration expertise required to establish a clear, compliant and future-ready status.

More than a compliance exercise, this programme was designed to protect network availability, reduce operational risk, and enable the integration of future energy technologies across the estate.

The Challenge

Managing Hidden Risk Across Operational Infrastructure.

The risk was not an obvious failure, it was concealed.

Sites across the estate remained live and operational, but underlying protection systems varied significantly in condition, configuration and compliance status. This created a fragmented and uncertain risk profile across the portfolio.

Key challenges included:

Outdated or poorly maintained protection systems
Protection settings misaligned with the current ENA G78 requirements
Limited legacy documentation, certification and settings traceability
Interface modifications completed without formal revalidation

Without a structured approach, these factors introduced significant risks, ranging from non-compliance and operational disruption to constrained future development. Addressing these risks required a structured, repeatable methodology that could be applied consistently across a live operational estate.

The Approach

Structured Technical Assurance Across a Live Estate

We deployed a structured, engineering-led methodology to assess and remediate grid interface infrastructure without disrupting live network operations.

Each site underwent a detailed technical audit and validation, including inspections of protection systems, load harmonisation, compliance with ENA G78 standards and DNO-specific requirements. Where we identified gaps, a prioritised approach was implemented, categorising risks by safety, compliance, and operational impact.

Additionally, we developed engineering solutions to address non-compliant infrastructure, including the specification of modern protection systems and integration strategies aligned to both existing grid agreements and future energy requirements.

Our structured approach ensured that remediation works were compliant and aligned with the long-term operational and strategic needs of the network. This formed the basis for the collaborative delivery model essential for multi-stakeholder projects.

Wayne Brierley, Business Development Director at Clarke Connect, commented on the project:

Ensuring compliance across legacy grid interface infrastructure requires more than technical intervention — it demands a structured, engineering-led approach that brings clarity, control and assurance across entire estates.

Our programme establishes a compliant, auditable foundation that protects network operations, introduces robust and accessible information documentation, and enables future energy integration with confidence.

Assured Delivery

Integrating Engineering, Stakeholders and Programme Control

Delivery required close coordination across multiple stakeholders, including the MNO (Mobile Network Operator), DNO (Distribution Network Operator), ICPs (Independent Connection Providers), Meter Operators and specialist delivery partners.

We ensured the management of the installation, protection configuration, and system integration were delivered seamlessly in line with engineering standards and operational constraints.

Testing and commissioning formed a critical stage of delivery, including secondary injection testing (a process to test protection systems by simulating fault conditions), functional verification and certification.

A comprehensive G78 handover documentation pack was created for each site, ensuring complete traceability and a verifiable compliance status throughout the estate.

This structured, controlled delivery model ensured upgrades were completed safely and compliantly, without disrupting live network operations.

Outcome, Value and Scale

Establishing a Compliant and Future-Ready Infrastructure Platform

The programme provided our client with a clear and assured compliance position across its grid interface infrastructure, removing uncertainty and reducing operational risk.

The project delivers:

A validated and auditable G78 compliance position across the estate
Reduced risk of disconnection and unplanned network disruption
Standardised protection systems and improved asset traceability
A defined and efficient pathway for infrastructure upgrades

Beyond remediation, the programme has adopted a consistent, disciplined approach to grid interface management, enhancing transparency, accountability, and long-term operational certainty.

From Compliance To Future Energy Enablement

By addressing compliance at a portfolio level, the client is now positioned to move forward with infrastructure development as a structured, scalable programme, rather than isolated site-level interventions.

The upgraded and standardised grid interface infrastructure provides a platform for the future integration of:

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
Hybrid power solutions
Embedded generation and demand-side response capabilities

These are delivered in compliance with ENA G78 standards and designed to maintain the safety of telecoms operatives and the public. Our multi-estate programme approach demonstrates how to resolve existing risks while enabling the network to actively manage grid interaction, support resilience strategies, and unlock future energy opportunities. The delivery model and engineering approach offer a repeatable blueprint for infrastructure growth, ensuring future expansion proceeds with certainty in compliance, performance, and operational continuity.