Great Britain hits new record in contracted flexibility
Electricity network companies tendered a record 4.6GW of capacity on Great Britain’s local flexibility markets last year, with 2GW contracted.
The latest figures from Energy Networks Association (ENA) show that more than 70% of the contracted flexibility is made up of low-carbon technologies, such as stored energy, solar and biofuel. It is also the highest amount of flexibility tendered in Great Britain.
The figures come in the sixth year of ENA’s Open Networks programme and shortly after Ofgem noted progress and confirmed it would continue to support the programme as it accelerates.
ENA is also launching a new Success Framework to give market participants greater visibility of when each network company implements the Open Networks programme’s recommendations. A new benchmarking system will provide greater transparency and highlight progress.
Local flexibility services are an important component of the UK’s net zero transition – by releasing power back to the grid at times of high demand, and storing it during times of lower demand, local flexibility services unlock additional capacity and support the connection of more low-carbon technology like wind power.
Dr Avi Aithal, Head of Open Networks at ENA, said: “The statistics we’ve released today show just how far flexibility has come. We believe these figures make Great Britain one of the biggest flexibility markets in the world. But today’s success is history tomorrow, so we need to keep pushing on and maximising flexibility across the networks.
“The government’s and Ofgem’s support for the programme has been invaluable and we look forward to continuing to work closely with them. It’s been a tremendously exciting time for the scheme as we have been focused on making flexibility accessible to everyone in the UK, which is vital to helping the UK meet our net zero goals at the least cost to customers.”
Image courtesy of ENA.
