Published 8th March 2024
Electricity North West partners with Electron to unlock flexibility at scale with enhanced, end-to-end market platform.
Electricity North West has signed a two-year contract with Electron to improve how it procures flexibility across its network, using Electron’s configurable market platform, ElectronConnect, to provide more visibility and greater choice for both Electricity North West and Flexibility Service Providers (FSPs).
As EV adoption and electrification continues to accelerate at pace, flexibility is becoming an increasingly critical tool for DSOs who need to deliver a low-cost energy transition whilst maintaining a safe and reliable network. DSOs like Electricity North West are leading this change by digitising more of the DSO function to improve network visibility and control, whilst creating more value and choice for FSPs.
This evolution in flexibility, and the tools that support it, has been a key factor in Electricity North West’s choice to partner with Electron, moving to a next generation flexibility market platform – ElectronConnect – that can drive greater participation, liquidity and value into flexibility markets.
Existing FSPs can expect a smooth transition to the new platform, with access to the same opportunities through a more intuitive and streamlined user-experience, offering both UI and API access for the end-to-end journey. The ElectronConnect platform will also provide data-driven insights to help FSPs better predict their flexibility availability, maximising profitability and unlocking value stacking as more opportunities become available over time.
Electricity North West strategy director, Ben Grunfeld, said:
“As the North West’s network operator, we are uniquely positioned to drive the North West’s transition to a sustainable and equitable energy future. By harnessing digitalisation and prioritising customer needs, we can seamlessly integrate renewable energy sources, reduce carbon emissions, and ensure that our customers have access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions.”
Electricity North West head of DSO, Cara Blockley, said:
“Electricity North West is committed to remaining at the forefront of innovation in distribution system operation. This partnership with Electron underscores our dedication to using flexibility to deliver tangible benefits to our customers. We look forward to collaborating with Electron to further drive the digitalisation and development of our network, opening up these opportunities for flexibility to all of our customers, and working together to create a sustainable and equitable energy future for all, together.“
Electricity North West was the first distribution network operator to tender for a full end-to-end platform for the provision of these services, launching the tender in summer 2023 and offering innovators the opportunity to provide modular, consortium or full end-to-end solutions, to ensure that they were driving the best performance across both the procurement and utilisation aspects of these fast growing markets.
Electron CEO and co-founder, Jo-Jo Hubbard, said:
“Electricity North West’s ambition is to have the most digitalised network management system driving its distribution system operation, and our collaboration to deliver its flexible services platform for live markets across its network is testament to that. This new partnership reflects a step change in how flex markets can and should be perceived.
“Markets aren’t a static creation but should develop and adapt with the needs of a rapidly evolving system. Our configurable multi-market solution was created with this adaptability in mind, using best-in-class technology combined with carefully selected delivery partners to ensure the best experience for all market participants.”
This partnership also underlines Electricity North West’s commitment to transparency and fair market practices. By outsourcing real-time dispatch through ElectronConnect, the company exhibits clear conflict of interest management to flexibility market. This demonstrates their dedication to creating a level playing field for all participants.
About Electron
Electron runs flexibility markets for DSOs and the grid edge, unlocking fast, low-cost capacity from millions of flexible distributed energy resources (DERs). By pairing grid analytics with flexibility markets, Electron reveals where DERs are and what they’re worth, so flexibility can scale wherever it makes technical and economic sense. Trusted by customers across the UK and North America, Electron is helping build a more cost-effective, reliable, and resilient energy system.
For media requests, please contact Emma Lovell at emma.lovell@electron.net.
About Electricity North West
Electricity North West is the distribution network operator for the North West of England covering Manchester, Lancashire and Cumbria. It employs more than 2,000 people and manages more than 60,000km of overhead lines and underground cables – enough to wrap around the world one and a half times.
The way we use electricity is changing rapidly. We’re at the forefront of energy innovation, working with local communities, key stakeholders and expert partners to ensure everyone has the power they need when they need it. We’re underway with a £2bn investment programme which started in 2023 and finishes in 2028 as we continue to operate one of the most reliable and innovative networks in Europe.
