Flexibility requirements for four distribution network operators (DNOs) are to be published on a single site as part of a push towards simplicity.
The Flexible Power website is to detail the flexibility locations, requirement data, procurement notes and documentation published by Western Power Distribution (WPD), ScottishPower Energy Networks (SPEN), Scottish and Southern Energy Networks (SSEN) and Northern Powergrid (NPg).
Access to the joint Flexible Power Portal is granted once a provider is contracted, with the portal allowing them to declare their flexibility assets’ availability, receive dispatch signals and view performance and settlement reports.
The four DNOs are intending to continue their partnership to further develop both the Flexible Power brand and the portal functionality, with an aim of enabling interface capabilities with other flexibility platforms so that wider market participation options are increasingly made available to providers, they said.
Flexible Power was originally created by WPD using funding from the Network Innovation Allowance. Previously, the DNO has used flexibility platform Piclo for its flexibility tenders.
Graham Halladay, Western Power Distribution’s operations director, said that today’s announcement “marks a huge step forward towards convergence within distribution system operations”, with the intention of simplifying the process for flexibility providers.
This comes after customer feedback called for a simpler way to engage in the distribution flexibility services market. By not needing to liaise with the DNOs separately, providers should find the process less complex and resource intense.
“This is an industry first and a fundamental step change in how network businesses will operate flexibility,” Jim Cardwell, Northern Powergrid’s head of policy development said, adding that “the collaborative use of the Flexible Power system delivers for customers who’ve been asking for greater unification across DNOs”.