Challenge
Engaging with locally connected Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) becomes an increasing challenge as more connect. The utility was looking to actively transition to a role of a Distribution System Operator and access DERs connected to their network.

Solution 
To address these challenges, Electron designed and deployed a market in which two types of events occurred: demand response events in which London Hydro procured demand turn down service from its customers to ensure grid stability during periods of high demand; and community energy events in which local prosumers sold their excess solar energy to local customers.

Challenge
In this context, local prosumers were residential customers with rooftop solar and/or batteries. With the feed-in tariffs expiring, there was a need for new financial incentives to encourage rooftop solar uptake in the region.

Solution 
Local prosumers with rooftop solar and/or batteries took part in community energy events where they could sell their excess solar energy to local customers. Trading was facilitated by London Hydro, local distribution company, with communication to customers via the Trickl app.

Challenge
Local consumers were residential demand customers operating electric vehicles (EVs) and smart homes (homes with smart appliances) in this context. Local consumers were interested in providing load shifting services to the grid and accessing local renewable energy from their community, but didn’t have an opportunity to do so.

Solution 
Local consumers provided demand turn-down services in demand response events, as well as demand turn-up services in community energy (excess solar) events.

Challenge
SVCE was procuring an increasing volume of wind and solar generation for its portfolio, often resulting in imbalance during late morning and early evening. At these times of high demand and low generation, SVCE was exposed to the wholesale market, which has cost and carbon implications.

Solution
A market was designed to access three value streams: minimisation of wholesale market exposure via load shifting and shedding; minimisation of Resource Adequacy (RA) payments through load shedding; and finally, the reduction of hourly emissions using load shedding. SVCE became the buyer of load shifting and shedding services.

Challenge
This proved more of an opportunity for the aggregator, rather than a problem. The VPP’s needed access to the system to be able to support with operational balancing of the high voltage network and provision of capacity.

Solution
The flexibility marketplace design enabled multiple aggregators operating multiple device types to enrol and participate in each market event. This market operated as a continuous market based on forecasted day-ahead energy prices, closing before the CAISO day-ahead energy market. The aggregators – or Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) – participated in the market on behalf of DER owners and SVCE customers, as the sellers.