Flexibility platform provider Piclo has completed a clean sweep of Great Britain’s networks by signing up Western Power Distribution (WPD) to its Piclo Flex marketplace.
Having signed up all five other distribution network operators (DNO) in Great Britain previously, WPD was the only DNO not to be participating in the marketplace.
Piclo Flex operates by allowing DNOs to signal where and when they require flexibility services. Online auctions then take place wherein asset owners, managers, aggregators and other providers of such flexibility can bid for that contracted capacity.
In signing up to Piclo Flex, WPD will support its own Flexible Power programme which has been established to procure flexibility throughout its licence areas.
WPD will too seek to improve its visibility of unmet flexibility needs by sharing data on Piclo Flex.
Ben Godfrey, network strategy team manager at WPD, said: “Allowing our flexibility needs to be displayed on Piclo Flex should drive more participation and build upon the visibility already available on our website’s Network Flexibility Map.”
Last month, Current± caught up with Piclo co-founder James Johnston who revealed that interest in the platform had surged in recent weeks, with more than 50 different flexibility providers having signed up to bid for contracts.
Responding to the news of WPD joining the network, Johnston said: “We view their decision to trial our platform as being very significant in a number of ways. For the first time flexibility providers will be able to access all DNO flexibility opportunities in GB through a single platform, via the same format and using common processes. We also welcome Western Power Distribution’s knowledge and expertise.”
