Electricity North West (ENW) has become the latest distribution network company (DNO) to join Piclo’s ‘Flex’ consortium.
Piclo Flex, developed by energy software developer Piclo, previously known as Open Utility, is an online marketplace for networks company to procure demand-side flexibility.
ENW joins both UK Power Networks and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks in joining the consortium, meaning that three of the UK’s eight distribution network operators (DNOs) have signed up to the programme.
The deal will see ENW add areas of need to the Piclo Flex platform, acting as a “signpost” as to where flexibility services are required.
Cara Blockley, central services manager at ENW, said the platform stood to lower barriers and increase participation in demand-side flexibility.
“Our energy landscape is evolving at a rapid pace and as an organisation, we are absolutely committed to the transition to a low carbon economy and as such, it’s vital that we play a central role in facilitating this transition both in the North West and across the UK,” she said.
Piclo Flex was borne out of Piclo’s previous work with clean energy retailer Good Energy, with whom it developed a peer-to-peer energy sourcing platform which went onto be dubbed Selectricity by the supplier.
Piclo then received funding from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to initiate a trial to test the platform’s potential in flexibility service procurement.
James Johnston, chief executive and co-founder at Piclo, said: “We are excited to welcome Electricity North West to the growing number of DNOs who are trialling the platform. We hope to demonstrate how better visibility of flexible assets and streamlining of procurement processes through our platform can lead to better outcomes and more efficient operation of the grid.”
In November last year Current± visited Open Utility at its Shoreditch offices for a glance at its plans for networks flexibility.