Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has awarded Opus One Solutions a contract to develop and deploy solutions to test different flexibility market models.
The contract follows a competitive tendering process and will see the software engineering and solutions company develop a market platform and coordination tools to support SSEN in delivering a smarter, low-carbon energy network by increasing flexibility.
Opus One Solutions is set to deploy a Neutral Market Facilitator (NMF) platform, this will be used by buyers and sellers of flexible electricity assets to register requirements and capabilities.
It will also deploy a Whole System Coordination (WSC) tool, which will combine data from a number of sources to quantify the requirements needed for network flexibility across different timeframes.
Hisham Omara, VP of Strategic Growth at Opus One Solutions, said they were “thrilled” to be working with SSEN as it transitions from DNO to DSO through the deployment of a flexibility market platform.
“Opus One is committed to support SSEN in its journey towards building the necessary business as usual infrastructure to enable flexibility as they enter RIIO-ED2.”
The NMF and WSC form part of the SSEN-led TRANSITION Project, which was launched in 2018 and is expected to run till 2023. The project is the first Network Innovation Competition project with two DNOs – SSEN and Electricity North West – working together.
Brian Wann, TRANSITION project manager, said: “Working with Opus One Solutions provides an exciting opportunity to trial and test flexibility and coordination solutions which will help shape how we can best meet energy demand.
“As part of TRANSITION, it will help in understanding and trialling approaches to energy system architecture and coordination. We are very pleased to be working with Opus One Solutions on this project.”
Over the next two to three years, the NMF and ESC tools will be used as part of a programme of market trials, helping to demonstrate the functionalities and requirements of a DSO, as well as local flexibility markets.
SSEN is looking at a number of solutions for increasing flexibility, including its Constraint Management Zone flexibility scheme, which recently awarded its first onshore wind contract.