DERs requiring a grid connection often have the choice of waiting in a connection queue for a non-curtailable (or firm) connection or accepting a curtailable (non-firm) connection.

A curtailable connection means potentially getting curtailed in times of constraint, with a cap on the amount of energy that can be exported.

This can help ensure the connection of more renewables quickly and more cheaply to the grid, rather than waiting for network reinforcement.

However, in certain circumstances, some assets may be more likely to accept curtailment than others. For example, those assets with low demand at a given time will more readily accept it.

The solution was to design and build a new peer-to-peer market on ElectronConnect. The market allows DERs to directly trade their curtailment obligations with other DERs, in real-time.

This would therefore help DERs mitigate the business risk associated with curtailment and encourage more to participate in markets. Network operators would then also have more flexible assets to call on to help maintain grid resilience and avoid grid congestion.

Network operator control room integrations are at the heart of this project, to coordinate bilateral data flows for full system visibility. Electron’s dynamic market platform was chosen to achieve this goal.

Read more about the project

ENWL has already partnered with Electron to run procurement rounds for flexibility services. Project BiTraDER adds a new dimension to those existing integrations, enabling more market opportunities for DERs in the ENWL’s region.

Discover ENWL’s live markets on ElectronConnect.

Step one: Design and build – Completed

The trading platform for the peer-to-peer market will be designed and built taking on board customer feedback.

Step two: Simulation trading – In progress

The next step is testing the trading platform in a simulated environment, to test a core set of trading rules and refine where necessary. These are tested across different network constraint use cases.

Step three: Live network trials – Not started

After the simulations are complete, ElectronConnect will integrate with ENWL’s Active Network Management System in a reduced part of the network. Live trials will then take place using real network data and real trades for curtailment obligations.