SP Energy Networks launches phase two of the FUSION flexibility trial
UK: SP Energy Networks has launched phase two of its FUSION trial in St Andrews, East Fife, using flexibility services to balance constraints on the electricity network.
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UK: SP Energy Networks has launched phase two of its FUSION trial in St Andrews, East Fife, using flexibility services to balance constraints on the electricity network.
The network operator is utilising its flexibility platform – provided by OpusOne Solutions – to manage real-life network constraints in the area. This follows the project’s landmark achievement last year of delivering GB’s first Universal Smart Energy Framework (USEF) compliant flexibility market, which has been live and operational since September 2021.
This latest phase of the live trial will test enhanced functionality on the digital platform. Engie Power and Orange Power (known as ‘aggregators’) will continue to act on behalf of customers to trade their electricity consumption and generate ‘flexibility’ in this digital marketplace. This will continue to help maintain the smooth and cost-effective running of the network in East Fife.
Customers are becoming increasingly dependent on their electricity supply as we make the transition to net zero, heightening the need to maintain and operate a network capable of supporting modern lifestyles. Innovative projects like FUSION allow for the network capacity to be maximised in a way that helps to defer or avoid the need for costly and time-consuming traditional reinforcement – in turn helping to keep costs as low as possible for customers.
Customers from the first phase of the FUSION trial, like the University of St Andrews who were able to be flexible with their demand across their entire campus, were able to take advantage of the commercial opportunity to participate whilst SP Energy Networks sought to maximise the capabilities of its network.
“Following the successful first phase of our FUSION project, we’re really pleased to launch phase two and to be using our learnings from phase one to help set the foundations for a greener future in the UK and beyond,” said Graham Campbell, Director of Processes & Technology at SP Energy Networks.
“FUSION has enabled customers to participate in the flexibility market with minimum disturbance to lifestyle, and in fact will help to enable the increased uptake of low carbon technologies like electric vehicles and electric heating in our homes of the future. We are really looking forward to phase two of the project which is exploring further innovative methods to enable the best customer experience possible for those participating in grid flexibility,” said Justin Ma, Director of Operations at Orange Power.
Source: SP Energy Networks
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