About the Project
The increase in Distributed Energy Resources coupled with the increasing load demand from low carbon technologies such as electric vehicles has fuelled a need to create an active distribution network capable of managing modern customers’ needs.
Our innovative FUSION project is trialling commoditised local demand-side flexibility through a structured and competitive market, based on the Universal Smart Energy Framework (USEF).
FUSION will enable Distribution Network Operators and all market actors to unlock the value of local network flexibility in a competitive and transparent manner. This will be enabled by applying the functions and structure defined in the USEF.
SP Energy Networks are working closely with the Energy Networks Association (ENA) on the Open Networks Project. This collaborative work will accelerate our transition to a Distribution System Operator.
Check out our project video for more information:
News
20 May 2022
We are proud to have launched phase two of our FUSION project trial in East Fife, where we're using flexibility services to balance constraints on the electricity network...
Check the full post here (opens in a new window).
20 September 2021
As part of Trial Phase-II, Project FUSION is scheduled to invite tender responses for the provisions of 4.5MW local Flexibility Services in East Fife in November this year. The 4-week window for completing ‘Expression of Interest’ (EoI) response forms will close on 15th October. The figure below shows the timeline being employed for the remaining stages in the flexibility procurement process. Further details on the procurement process and the trials themselves are available by clicking the above tab titled ‘FUSION Flexibility Tender - II’.
20 September 2021
We have become the first company to successfully deploy a fully-functioning Universal Smart Energy Framework (USEF) compliant flexibility market in GB.
The deployment of this local flexibility market was a key objective of Project FUSION, our £5.7million innovation project tasked with pioneering ways to operate the electricity distribution network - a key part of our vision to deliver a better future, quicker for our customers.
The FUSION trial is now live and operational, with Engie Power Limited and Orange Power Limited ('aggregators') acting on behalf of customers to trade their electricity consumption and generation 'flexibility' in a new digital marketplace. For full press release, click here (opens in a new window).
14 June 2021
As the aim of FUSION is to test an innovative ‘flexibility market’ in East Fife, the project team are looking for homeowners in the area who are willing and able to participate in a project trial, allowing us to manage the local network more intelligently and cost-effectively than traditional reinforcement would typically allow. Operating the network ‘flexibly’ means we can meet local demand requirements whilst ensuring stability and security of supply, and enables more low carbon technologies to connect – ultimately contributing to the UK’s ambitious net zero targets.
If you are a homeowner in East Fife and either have low carbon technologies installed (such as solar panels or battery storage) or are considering doing so in the near future, please click here to read more and to complete our short survey form: FUSION homeowner network trial.
16 September 2020
This December Project FUSION will be inviting tender responses for the provision of local flexibility services in East Fife.
The window for completing ‘Expression of Interest’ (EoI) response forms closed on 7th October. The figure below shows the timeline being employed for the remaining stages in the flexibility procurement process.
Further details on the procurement process and the trials themselves are available by clicking the above tab titled ‘FUSION Flexibility Tender’.
Collaboration
FUSION is working directly with TRANSITION (opens in a new window) (SSEN in partnership with ENWL) and EFFS (opens in a new window)(WPD), two other awarded NIC 2017 projects focussing on the Distribution System Operator transition. The aim of this is to develop a thorough and robust collaboration structure and plan. Collectively the projects are referred to as T.E.F. (TRANSITION, EFFS, FUSION). This is a welcomed project funding condition for all three projects.
SP Energy Networks are proactively engaging in discussions, workshops and reporting to develop the collaboration plan, finding and developing synergies across the projects to enable and promote collaboration wherever possible.
FUSION Flexibility Tender I
In December 2020 Project FUSION will issue an Invitation to Tender (ITT) for the provision of flexibility services in East Fife.
If you wish to consider responding to that ITT, you will need to complete this Expression of Interest (EoI) form.
Next Steps
Interested parties have until 7th October 2020 to complete this online ‘Expression of Interest’ (EoI) Response Form (opens in a new window).
Guidance on how to complete the EoI will be provided via a dedicated Webinar on Monday 28th Sep, 12:00 – 13:00.
Supporting Documentation
Flexibility Service Requisition - Project FUSION
| Ref | Year | Response Type | Period | Service Window | Days | Service Type | Duration (mins) |
| Demand | Generation |
| (kW) | (kW) |
| 1 | 2021 | -250 | 250 | Oct - Dec | 09:00 – 10:30 | Mon - Fri | Sustain Peak Management | 60 |
| 11:00 – 13:00 |
| 15:00 – 17:00 |
| 2 | 2021 | -250 | 250 | Jul – Sep | 09:00 – 10:30 | Mon – Fri | Sustain Peak Management | 60 |
| 11:00 – 13:00 |
| 15:00 – 17:00 |
| 3 | 2021 | -250 | 250 | Oct - Dec | 14:00 - 16:00 | Mon – Fri | Secure DSO Constraint Management (Pre-Fault) | 60 |
| 4 | 2021 | -250 | 250 | Jul - Sep | 14:00 - 16:00 | Mon – Fri | Secure DSO Constraint Management (Pre-Fault) | 60 |
| 5 | 2021 | -250 | 250 | Jun - Dec | 14:00 - 16:00 | Mon – Fri | Dynamic DSO Constraint Management (Post-Fault) | 60 |
SPEN is currently running two parallel and separate tender exercises to procure flexibility services in East Fife area.
- This ‘FUSION’ Flexibility Tender
- The BaU Flexibility Tender
The two tenders are complementary and interested parties are strongly encouraged to respond to and participate in BOTH.
In November 2021, Project FUSION will issue an Invitation to Tender (ITT) for the provision of flexibility services in East Fife.
If you wish to consider responding to this ITT, please complete this Expression of Interest (EoI) form (opens in a new window) by 15th October 2021.
Guidance on how to complete the EoI will be provided via a dedicated Webinar on 5th October 2021. You can register to this Webinar online (opens in a new window).
We’ll furnish full agenda and further updates to all registered parties in the near future. 
Supporting Documentation
Flexibility Service Requisition – Project FUSION
NB: SPEN is currently running two parallel and separate tender exercises to procure flexibility services in East Fife area.
1. This ‘FUSION’ Flexibility Tender - II
2. Other ED2 Flexibility Tender (opens in a new window)
The two tenders are complementary and interested parties are strongly encouraged to respond to and participate in BOTH.
Also, existing FSA (opens in a new window) is for information purpose only. We expect to adapt latest version of the FSA to emerge from ENA (expected in Q4 2021).