Flexibility market provider Piclo has expanded into Portugal, announcing a new collaboration with E-REDES, Portugal’s largest distribution system operator (DSO).
The partnership will see flexibility providers in the country able to sign up to Piclo Flex ahead of flexibility service opportunities.
This will allow those with assets such as batteries, electric vehicles or demand-side response to flex their demand and response to help alleviate network stress, ultimately allowing more variable renewables to connect to the grid.
In doing so, it can help facilitate the decarbonisation of the energy system in a company, as well as building resilience.
“We’re really excited to be working with E-REDES, Portugal’s largest DSO and a leading voice in the country’s commitment to decarbonising its grid and reaching net zero by 2050,” James Johnston, CEO and co-founder of Piclo.
“We are proud to play a part in this journey with the country launching its first local flexibility market with our independent marketplace Piclo Flex. This new market will unlock opportunities for local and international flexibility service providers while supporting greater energy security and equal access to clean, reliable power.”
Portugal is currently targeting carbon neutrality by 2050, with plans for 80% of its energy to come from renewable sources by 2030.
E-REDES serves six million customers in Portugal, and is the latest in a growing list of DSO’s to use Piclo’s software platform to enable flexibility markets.
“Today’s milestone is an important step towards the transformation of the national electrical system, enhancing the distribution grid capability to answer its current and emerging challenges,” said Pedro Godinho Matos, head of business development and associate director of strategy and regulation at E-REDES.
“This project, developed with Piclo, enables the interested Flexibility Service Providers to contribute to E-REDES goal to decarbonise the electricity grids, giving a major contribution to the Portugal National Energy and Climate Plan 2030. It is a first step towards a future process of managing the electricity grids, and its success will depend on the engagement of grid users, national businesses and communities who will have the key role in this future evolution.”
Piclo’s expansion into Portugal follows the company announcing a partnership with Energijos Skirstymo Operatorius, Lithuania’s largest DSO in August. Whilst in the UK, UK Power Networks, SP Energy Networks and Electricity North West all use the platform.
