UK Power Networks calls for rules change to sell demand side response into capacity market

Electricity distributor UK Power Networks has reiterated calls for market rules to be rethought so that networks can aggregate demand side response and energy storage services and sell them to the National Grid to help balance intermittent power generation.

Speaking at a Westminster Forum conference yesterday, head of future networks Dave Openshaw said both commercial aggregators and distribution firms had a role to play in ensuring intermittent low carbon generation could be maximised. However, while currently being discussed between government, regulator and industry, the current regulatory and market arrangements do not cater for such services.

“One thing we shouldn’t do is say ‘this is the market and regulatory structure that we have and therefore everything we do has to be within that structure'”, Openshaw said. “We should think about what is the best way to do it and then change the market structure accordingly.”