Western Power Distribution (WPD) has launched a trial of a new flexibility platform that will allow the company to procure services in closer to real time.
NODES was developed as a joint venture between the Nord Pool power exchange and Norwegian energy firm Agder Energi.
The platform, which has already been piloted in other European countries, can provide day-ahead and intraday markets for flexibility.
WPD’s IntraFlex project will see the addition of a new “auto-rebalancing function” that will prevent intraday trades from creating an imbalance in the wider electricity market and thereby reduce suppliers’ exposure to imbalance costs.
“This innovation trial will help us understand how we can reduce any impact our flexibility services might have on suppliers as well as opening up new opportunities for participants who can’t participate at the week-ahead stage,” said Roger Hey, DSO (distribution system operator) systems and project manager for WPD.
“Trialling the NODES platform in the UK is an exciting opportunity to test new markets that can help us manage our network more effectively and manage future uncertainty, both of which will benefit customers in the long run.”
Gary Swandells, director of Smart Grid Consultancy, which will provide management and technical expertise for the project, said: “Now that flexibility is moving towards ‘business as usual’ there is a risk of increased volumes that may impact the wider market.
“So we see this trial as a challenging but vital body of work to ensure that the expansion of flexibility markets does not negatively impact or distort the wider industry.”
The project is being supported with funding from the Network Innovation Allowance.
Meanwhile, WPD has also given several updates on its Flexible Power initiative.
The company confirmed that it has awarded 10 contracts for a total of 119MW of flexibility in its latest tender.
WPD network strategy manager Ben Godfrey commented: “The results of this latest procurement round show a large increase in the amount of participants, proving confidence in DSO flexibility markets is growing and it’s evident that more providers are able to participate confidently in distribution flexibility”.
The firm additionally revealed that between May and September it purchased 1,670MWh of availability from contracted flexibility providers and dispatched a total of 204MWh.
And, following feedback from stakeholders, WPD has announced that it is lowering the minimum run time for assets in future tenders from one hour to two to help technologies such as battery storage to participate.