UK Power Networks has announced the successful results of its latest flexibility tender, which is set to provide more than 400MW of additional electricity capacity to the UK. The company’s new product is set to connect more renewable energy to the network, while avoiding substantial expenses on major network reinforcement.
This innovative product is a UK first, enabling UK Power Networks to connect distributed energy resources and aggregators to increase demand or turn down supply during periods of excess power. The flexibility tender attracted more than 1000MW of flexible capacity against requirements of 426MW, providing competition that will drive down costs.
In addition to procuring flexibility to turn down demand at times of peak consumption, the company has established itself as the UK’s first independent Distribution System Operator (DSO) earlier this year. The DSO has committed to saving customers £410 million over the next five years by delivering capacity on the network at a lower cost than building new infrastructure.
The latest tender round saw the company seek bids for flexibility from 1037 sites, up from just 28 in its first-ever flexibility tender in 2018. This demonstrates the company’s commitment to integrating more renewable energy onto the grid and meeting the needs of the evolving energy landscape.
The new product from UK Power Networks is a significant step forward for the UK’s renewable energy industry, providing more capacity and reducing the need for major network reinforcement. As the company continues to innovate and invest in flexibility, it is paving the way for a more sustainable and cost-effective energy future.
