SSEN Distribution taps Electron for flexibility platform

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution has partnered with flexibility platform provider Electron to streamline and expand its procurement of flexibility services.

Specifically, SSEN Distribution will be making use of Electron’s ‘ElectronConnect’ platform in a three-year partnership to streamline the entry into market for Flexibility Service Providers (FSPs).

This will open up new opportunities for both long-term and short-term flexibility from a single platform, in line with the ambitions set out in SSEN’s Flexibility Roadmap.

The platform provides the end-to-end procurement and contract management process, with an intuitive application programming interface, to meet the needs of SSEN’s stakeholders.

The announcement comes on the heels of SSEN’s DSO Acceleration Action Plan identifying the selection of a new flexibility market platform during the Spring of 2024 as a key enabler for further growth.

Have you read:
Feasibility trial launched in UK to test EV charging flexibility
Cars instead of cables: V2G’s potential to enhance a flexible energy system

Commenting in a release, SSEN’s head of network operations, Nigel Bessant, said: “Digitalisation is at the heart of DSO transition, and it’s key to accelerating our net zero plans. In our DSO Acceleration Plan, we identified flexibility services as a key area where we needed to refine our digital tools.

“With our partnership with Electron, we’re doing just that. This new platform is critical to further building our flexibility portfolio to meet the requirements identified in our Distribution Network Options Assessment. Electron is a great partner for SSEN on this digital journey, with a well-aligned product and service vision, and a commitment to collaborative development.”

According to SSEN, the DSO worked with its stakeholders to understand what they need from the platform running its distribution flexibility market. The feedback from the people and groups SSEN works with informed the decision to select Electron’s platform.

Flexibility services have the potential to quickly and efficiently maximise the capacity of the existing network and work alongside strategic investment to release further network capacity in the most effective way possible.

It provides DSOs with a configurable market platform that offers compliance and alignment with industry standards straight out of the box.

Electron CEO and Co-Founder, Jo-Jo Hubbard, added: “We’re incredibly excited about the ambition of SSEN’s vision for scaling flexibility markets; they’ve contracted over 700MW of flexibility in the past few months alone.

“Being selected to support this expansion across both central southern England and north of Scotland is hugely significant for Electron. We’ve built our platform to unlock flexibility at scale, so we’re delighted to be bringing this to life with the SSEN team and the flexibility service providers who’re active in their licence areas.”

Migration of data to Electron’s platform will happen over the European summer.

The first bidding windows will be accessible through ElectronConnect from August.