UK Power Networks is launching a £13 million flexibility tender for 292MW of power at 113 different sites across its region.
The tender, hosted on the network operator’s Piclo Flex platform, includes locations with early start dates up to four weeks after arrangements are made.
The company said this offers an immediate revenue opportunity for existing generators, energy storage and demand side response.
UKPN’s first flexibility tender was worth £12 million for 95MW in 2018/19. In total it has awarded flexibility contracts to 29 companies worth more than £44.5 million for almost 500MW of peak power up to 2028.
In December last year the network operator also unveiled plans to establish a legally independent distribution system operator (DSO).
Sotiris Georgiopoulos, UKPN’s head of smart grid development, said: “We know that flexibility can provide a cost-effective and quick alternative to building new infrastructure to help manage the rise in low carbon technologies like electric vehicles and heat pumps.
“This latest tender underlines our commitment to the market. Establishing an independent DSO is demonstrating to potential providers of flexibility that UK Power Networks, as the market facilitator is credible and evaluates options with impartiality.”