SP Energy Networks demonstrates flexibility

Network operator for North and Mid-Wales SP Energy Networks has demonstrated a successful flexibility partnership following work with Statkraft and its Rheidol hydropower scheme.

The 60-year old hydropower scheme helped SP Energy Networks manage the network and continue to meet the needs of 25,000 of its customers in the Ceredigion region of Mid Wales.

Statkraft’s hydro scheme has been in operation since the 1960s, providing enough electricity to power over 35,000 homes every year. Last month, it completed a four month long contract to provide operational flexibility services to SP Energy Networks.

Using the hydro station to provide flexibility services enabled SP Energy Networks to continue to provide electricity services to customers while work on the electricity grid between Aberystwyth and Barnmouth was carried out, it said.

Without the service, customers would have been off-supply during the planned outages, and it also ensured customers would have power restored within 90 minutes of a potential fault due to the planned outage.

SP Energy Networks is exploring flexibility options as part of its RIIO-ED2 strategy, including greater participation in flexibility markets. Last month its flexibility tender secured 76MWh of volume from domestic aggregators and generators across 14 locations between its two licence areas.

As part of its flexibility strategy, the network operator is developing new tools and capabilities, including greater flexibility utilisation from evolving flexibility markets and growing market participation, it said.

Gerard Boyd, Head of Flexibility at SP Energy Networks, said:

“Operational flexibility is intrinsic to our work as we move towards a Net Zero future and our role in becoming a distribution system operator, helping us manage the demands of our customers and an ever-evolving electricity network.

“Flexibility helps us to defer the need for costly reinforcement now and manage outages pre and post fault as we build the network for tomorrow to allow for more low carbon technologies and renewable generation to come onto our network.

“Entering into this partnership with Statkraft is a practical example of flexibility and demonstrates our commitment to working with industry partners to manage network risk and reduce potential impact on our customers.”

Image courtesy of SP Energy Networks