UK Power Networks’ Distribution System Operator’s Day-Ahead Flexibility Market has delivered 4.4GWh in a year, with more than 40 flexibility zones open and more than 150 flexibility competitions since April last year.  

Flexibility is part of the long-term solution to ensure there is enough capacity to connect green energy generators like wind and solar and low carbon technologies and avoid delays. Initially, the Distribution Network Operator (DSO) ran tenders for flexibility twice a year, but opening up a day-ahead market last year has enabled electric vehicles, heat pumps and batteries to participate in distribution, transmission and wholesale markets.  

UK Power Networks collaborated with the National Energy System Operator (NESO) and aligned to its transmission balancing markets, to help participants decide which is right for them on a day-by-day basis. In particular, the UK Power Networks’ auction results are announced before participants need to decide their availability for subsequent NESO day-ahead auctions. When consulted in summer 2024, three-quarters of participants said that the timings of UK Power Networks’ market aligned with their wider commercial processes.

The market is supported by an advanced forecasting model that predicts network usage with unprecedented accuracy for the days ahead. This ensures that flexibility services can be aligned precisely with network needs.

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