UK Power Networks launches flexible electricity opportunity

UK Power Networks has put its largest ever flexible electricity offering on the market today.

The tender round, launched simultaneously on the Piclo platform and at a launch webinar, makes up to 850MW of opportunities available for bidders in London, the East and Southeast of England.

It covers demand turn-up and demand reduction across 452 different zones – enough to power nearly half a million homes.

UK Power Networks has led the way for flexibility at distribution level in the UK, since its first flexibility tender for 95MW in 2019. Since 2018, the company has awarded contracts to 38 companies for nearly 2GW of flexibility up to 2028.

The market offering gives flexible providers – from energy storage operators to renewable energy plants and generators – opportunities to create new revenue streams by ensuring that the region’s power distribution infrastructure is not over-loaded and renewable energy is prioritised.

The demand on the electricity network continues to rise as people opt to use more low carbon, electric technologies meaning that greater capacity will be needed at peak times.

Flexibility regulates the outputs between renewable energy generators such as batteries and wind turbines, and energy users who can sign up to reduce their demand at peak times to benefit financially. This offers a lower cost way to meet extra energy demand without the need for long term infrastructure upgrades, while ensuring that enough electricity is available to meet growing demand from millions of electric vehicles and heat pumps.