Flexibility

Flexible Networks & SPEN

To meet our evolving customer NEEDS, we will need to develop smarter, more flexible network solutions which could mitigate the need for traditional reinforcement and reduce costs for our customers.

We recognise that resources connected to our networks could provide services to assist in key areas that have specific challenges during periods of network constraint.

We will therefore explore markets for flexibility with new and existing customers who are able and willing to control how much they generate or can reduce their demand.

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Benefits

Flexibility will:

• Assist Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) to transition to Distribution System Operators (DSOs,) allowing us to plan and operate our networks to meet changing customer needs.
• Reduces the need in some areas for costly, traditional reinforcement.
• Allow consumers to capitalise on the opportunities arising from a transition to a smarter grid and participate in the low carbon future.

Piclo Trial

Piclo Energy were awarded £400k of funding in Sep-17 from BEIS Energy Entrepreneurs Fund (EEF) to develop a new online marketplace for local electricity flexibility trading to help DNOs play an active role in managing local smart grids. We have contracted to participate in Phase 2 of the Piclo Live Trial and our initial locations will be posted on the Piclo Flex platform. 

Flexibility providers are encouraged to register, free of charge, with Piclo Flex to enable them to view all opportunities.

Responses from Flexibility providers will be used to:

• Identify availability of flexibility resources in specific areas where flexibility could benefit the network.
• Understand the capabilities and restrictions of these resources.
• Evaluate the viability of using flexibility to meet network requirements.

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Locations

To provide early visibility of the areas with a potential need for flexibility services, the following three areas have initially been identified.

Area	Newtown	Newtown	Newtown	Welshpool	Buttington Cross
Type	Post Fault	Post Fault or Planned Outage	Post Fault during Planned Outage	Post Fault	Post Fault
Requirement	10MVA	5MVA	40MVA	5 - 20MVA	7MVA
Period	Nov – Feb	Mar - Oct	Mar - Oct	Nov – Feb	Mar - Oct
Days	Weekdays	Weekdays	All	Weekdays	Weekdays
Times	07:00 – 10:00 16:30 – 20:00	07:00 – 10:00 16:30 – 20:00	When notified (for 3 Hours )	07:00 – 10:00 16:30 – 20:00	07:00 – 10:00 16:30 – 20:30

Definition of Type
Post Fault	To help with restoration following fault conditions. Such events offer no warning as they result from equipment failure. Response from providers would be used to reduce stress on the network.
Post Fault or Planned Outage	In circumstances as above or during planned outages on the network (i.e. operational states of the network where an equipment is out-of-service to enable repairs or maintenance activities) where services could be contracted pre or post event.
Post Fault during Planned Outage	In circumstances where a fault occurs during a planned outage.

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Area	Flint	Flint	Greenfield
Type	Post Fault	Post Fault	Post Fault during Planned Outage
Requirement	15MVA	10MVA	2 - 5MVA
Period	Nov – Feb	Mar - Oct	Mar - Oct
Days	Weekdays	Weekdays	Weekdays
Times	07:00 – 10:00 16:30 – 20:00	07:00 – 10:00 16:30 – 20:00	07:00 – 10:00 16:30 – 20:00

Definition of Type
Post Fault	To help with restoration following fault conditions.  Such events offer no warning as they result from equipment failure.  Response from providers would be used to reduce stress on the network.
Post Fault or Planned Outage	In circumstances where a fault occurs during a planned outage.

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Area	Warout Road	Warout Road – Pitteuchar	Warout Road – Queensway
Type	Post Fault	Post Fault during Planned Outage	Post Fault during Planned Outage
Requirement	1MVA	2MVA	1MVA
Period	Nov – Dec	Jan - Dec	Jan - Dec
Days	All	All	All
Times	10:00 to 17:00	10:00 to 17:00	10:00 to 17:00

Definition of Type
Post Fault	To help with restoration following fault conditions. Such events offer no warning as they result from equipment failure. Response from providers would be used to reduce stress on the network.
Post Fault during Planned Outage	In circumstances where a fault occurs during a planned outage.