National Grid publishes latest version of its Evolution of Distribution Flexibility Services Strategy

National Grid, the distribution network operator for the Midlands, South West and South Wales has published the latest version of its Evolution of Distribution Flexibility Services Strategy. The Strategy was released as part of its yearly flexibility engagement programme and outlines how National Grid is making Distribution System Operator (DSO) led flexibility services more accessible.

The Evolution Strategy is a key part of National Grid’s engagement with the flexibility market and focuses on how distribution flexibility services can be improved. This year’s Strategy outlines National Grid’s vision for distribution-led flexibility products and a decentralised, modular view of flexibility products and platforms.  Within these products and platforms National Grid is aiming to define clear functions with defined interfaces and push for competition and innovation within them.

This year’s document is focused on the delivery of the flexibility services that will be introduced over the next 12 months, including the platforms and processes needed to support them.

With new products and a supporting market gateway launching in the new year, the document looks at specific flexibility deployment questions, as well as broader systems and market architecture. The strategy includes details of the Sustain project, which is set to be released next year and will help domestic assets participate in flexibility zones. The strategy also looks at how Sustain should be split geographically, how to build market clearing processes, and how to best coordinate flexibility services with the ESO.

Ben Godfrey, National Grid Electricity Distribution’s Director of Distribution System Operator, said “At National Grid we want to make our flexibility markets as accessible as possible and deliver incremental products and processes to ensure we can adapt to changing market conditions and deliver value early.

“It is vital that we avoid delays for industry flexibility projects and drive agility, recognising the wider changes that are taking place across the energy system. Alignment should be driven by market forces and competition between System Operators, rather than self-policing working groups. Over RIIO-ED2 we hope to see the development of common standards for our interactions with flexibility service providers, rather than common systems.”

For more information and to view the latest Strategy document, click here