Arup, Electron, and Energy Systems Catapult partner to conduct 'flexibility markets unlocked' feasibility study

Funded through the Flexibility Markets Unlocked Programme, the study aims to evaluate the possibility of creating a technical process and a defined set of open protocols to enable distributed energy resources (DER) to better provide large-scale electricity system flexibility through smart, accessible technologies and markets. The funding has been made available through the Flexibility Innovation Programme, which is part of the government’s £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP).

The programme will also support the design of technical solutions that can enable data standardisation, and revenue stacking across multiple flexibility markets, allowing a more diverse and competitive marketplace.

This will help realise the flexibility benefits that exist from Low Carbon Technologies (LCTs) to reduce system costs while also enabling and encouraging commercial interoperability.

These measures will pave the way for seamless integrations between buyers and sellers across multiple markets, products, and platforms, preventing vendor lock-ins and siloed operations while consolidating existing flexibility market developments.

The programme will enable the facilitation of a smart, flexible electricity system underpinned by data and digitalisation. In turn, this will drive wider use of smart technologies, utilising low carbon energy and intermittent generation sources, such as solar and wind, and help contribute to meeting the target of Net Zero by 2050.