Flexibility Services

About Flexibility

Flexibility Services Overview

Flexibility services is where a Distribution Network Operator (DNO), like us, pays a third party to operate assets in a way that’s beneficial to our network. Those third parties will be owners of generation assets or low carbon technologies (LCTs) such as wind turbines, battery storage, solar or electric vehicles, and we may ask them to “turn down” or up depending on the needs of our network. In other words, we might ask them to lower the power consumption of their assets for an agreed period to allow us to free up that capacity for use elsewhere, or we might ask them to use more power in areas where we have excess generation.

As the needs of our customers and communities are constantly changing, the requirements of our electricity network are too. The increased uptake of LCTs does often result in constraints on the network during periods of high demand. However, new technologies and connections can often lead to excess generation in other areas too. Flexibility therefore provides an agile, smart means of balancing our network to solve both of those challenges.

Flexibility Providers

We will look to procure flexibility services through competitive tenders where possible and the responses from the flexibility providers will be used to:

• Identify the 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.

Team

Gerry Boyd – Head of Flexibility:

'‘’’Gerry has worked for SP Energy Networks for 20 years, covering a range of commercial and operational commercial roles. Previous projects include; the deployment of our Active Network Management system(s), the implementation of Ofgem’s Access Significant Code Review and the engineering lead for our RIIO-ED1 business plan submission. After championing the use of Flexibility Services and growing our capabilities from our first tender in 2019, Gerry recently took up the role of Head of Flexibility, leading the procurement and implementation of Flexibility and ensuring that it represents the lowest overall cost for consumers. ’’

Pamela Mathieson – Flexibility Procurement Manager:

'‘’’Pamela has over 16 years’ experience in the Energy Industry. Covering a number of roles within Energy Management, Finance and Risk.’’

Elin Williams – Lead Flexibility Procurement Analyst:

'‘’’Elin has worked within the Electricity industry for over 5 years. She has experience in the Renewables industry seeking routes to market for multiple renewable energy projects and focused primarily on ancillary services. Elin joined the DSO Flexibility Team in September 2023 to work on Flexibility Services Tenders.’’

Basil Varghese​ - Senior Commercial Specialist:

‘‘“Basil is a Senior Commercial Specialist mostly focused on flexibility performance. Basil has a strong foundation in electrical engineering, coupled with several years of experience in teaching, banking and finance.”

George Fournarakis – Senior Energy Systems Specialist:

‘“George is a Senior Specialist who joined SPEN's flexibility procurement team in August 2024. He has over 3 years experience in the Oil, Gas, and Energy sector working in commercial, business development, and stakeholder engagement roles. George has a Business and Management MA and an International Relations MRes from the University of Glasgow and has joined the SPEN Flexibility procurement team to help grow participation in DSO Flexibility products, engage with stakeholders, support on procurement processes, and work on new Flex projects. “

Leonard Barraclough – Energy Systems Specialist:

‘“Leonard is an Energy System Specialist who joined SP Energy Networks as a Graduate Engineer. He has strong knowledge in Renewable Energy Systems and Distribution Networks studying an MSc at Durham University. Leonard joined the flexibility performance team in September 2024 to help design the systems, processes, and platforms to deliver flexibility services on our electricity network.”

Tender Information

Our partner, Piclo, are facilitating our procurement process on their Dynamic Purchasing Platform. For more information on our procurement processes and to view tender documents please visit SPEN’s profile on the Piclo Website

• Link to procurement platform
• Link to flexible tenders historic and current information on our flexible power subsite

Spring Tender: Signposting. Company PQQ. April - May: Asset Qualification 6 weeks. May - June: Technical Assessment 2 weeks. June: Bidding Window 1 weeks. June - August: Commercial Assessment 4-8 weeks. Contract Award

Our Documents

Useful Flexibility Documents

Procurement Statement

Procurement Report

• April 24 - C31E Report Template
• April 23 - C31E Report Template - V3
• March 23 - Domestic demand shift
• March 23 - Reactive Power Trial
• March 23 - Flexibility Procurement Statement Appendix
• Review of Scottish Power Energy Networks uptake of flexibility services

2024-25 Market Prospectus

2024-25 Market Prospectus Supporting data

 

Contact Us

We would welcome any feedback, comments or questions on our flexibility tenders. Please contact our flexibility team at: Flexibility@spenergynetworks.co.uk

Month Ahead Market

SP Energy Networks is calling on flexibility service providers to participate in its new month ahead Flexibility market.

We have new DSO flexibility opportunities available on our DPS system Piclo Flex.

• Tender for flexibility requirements for service windows on a month-by-month basis from June 2024 to March 2025
• Visibility of flexibility requirements for the next four years until March 2028

If you're a Flexible Service Provider looking to earn extra income, register your solutions via Piclo Flex on https://picloflex.com/‍

You can find all the tender documentation and supporting information in our supporting documentation below:

• ITT Letter 2024-25 Flexibility Tenders
• 2024-25 Participation Guidance
• SP MANWEB ENA V3 Standard Flexibility Services Agreement
• SP Distribution ENA V3 Standard Flexibility Services Agreement

Next Steps

1. Create a Picloflex account and complete the Dynamic Purchasing (DPS) application if you have not done so already.
2. Upload your asset data to the Piclo Flex platform, providing all the requested information.
3. Review and sign the Standard Fllexibility Services agreement

In order to take part in our competitions you must complete the above on picloflex.com, have prequalification confirmed and signed the Standard Flexibility Services Agreement.

Tender Process

The process, steps and timeline of our month-ahead tendering model is as follows:

Bidding opens on the 15^th of each month. However, if the 15^th of the month falls on a weekend or bank holiday this will be adjusted automatically to the next working day.

Further information about the tender process and instructions on how to submit tender bids is available at SP Energy Networks Flexibility Services Market - Piclo Flex

Tender Timelines

We will now tender for flexibility services for the next year on a month-by-month basis. Key dates for each tender round for the next year is highlighted in the table below:

Axle Energy

Axle Energy is a flex provider focused on distributed devices: EV charging, batteries, and heat pumps. Axle connects to these devices on behalf of OEMs or energy suppliers and optimises devices considering needs of the customer and the grid. Axle Energy founded in early 2023 by energy industry & software veterans has quickly become a large provider of distributed flexibility in Great Britain. Utilising EV chargers, batteries, and heat pumps, Axle is able to provide large amounts of domestic flexibility in the GB DSO markets including SP Energy Network’s.

Axle

GB DSOs have demonstrated that flexibility services are a cost-effective alternative to traditional methods like network reinforcement. By using flexibility, DSOs can manage grid stability and peak demand more efficiently, reducing the need for expensive infrastructure upgrades. Axle Energy focuses on distributed assets such as EV chargers, batteries, and heat pumps, which are perfect for DSO flexibility programs. These assets provide significant benefits to the grid and offer advantages to consumers, including lower energy bills, increased efficiency, and potential earnings. For flexibility service providers, the benefits include improved operational efficiency and new revenue opportunities. Axle is committed to demonstrating how these devices can enhance the distribution grid, ensuring a reliable and cost-effective energy future.

SP Energy Networks has been working with Axle over many years through the long-term tenders, and recently, in our Month Ahead Market. Our month ahead market allows flexibility service providers to bid in to flex opportunities across both our SPD and SPM license areas. Each month, new flex requirements are made live, enabling providers to bid into locations where their assets can provide demand turn down services.  The Month Ahead Market provides quicker returns for flexibility providers and immediate value for consumers. By participating in shorter-term tenders, providers can respond rapidly to grid needs, optimize asset use, and generate revenue more frequently, benefiting both the grid and customers with timely and efficient flexibility services.

“A key metric for us is how quickly we can return value to device owners after they opt-in to flexibility. The Month Ahead Market allows us to participate with a much shorter delay, creating more value for consumers while responding to the short-term flexibility needs at SPEN. We consider the addition of Month Ahead to be a very positive addition to the DSO flexibility landscape.”

Pelle Jacobs – Axle Energy

Over the next few years, Axle hopes to prove that DSO flex is an enduring, reliable alternative to network reinforcement, enabling the distribution grids to connect distributed assets more cheaply and easily without the cost and delay of major infrastructure works. For SPEN, Axle has been a key participant across both our SPD and SPM license areas provider demand side flexibility in over 25 locations whilst utilising both EV chargers and domestic batteries – highlighting the ability for all types of controllable domestic technologies to participate in our DSO Flex Markets. Below you can see a snapshot of the Axle’s key stats in our MA market so far:

“SPEN’s customer engagement has been fantastic - the team has been supportive, available, and helpful. We look forward to continuing to work with the SPEN flexibility team.”

Axle Energy

Learn more about Axle Energy. If you are interested in talking to us about Flexibility Services, you can contact us at flexibility@spenergynetworks.co.uk and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible!