By making its standby generator available to Flexitricity when not required for local generation, Rotherham MBC provides 800kW of capacity to help support National Grid during winter peaks or other periods of stress in the national electricity system.

Short-Term Operating Reserve (STOR) is one of National Grid’s most important tools for securing the national electricity system in real time. Fast-acting generators are held in readiness so that Flexitricity can start them when National Grid runs short of electricity. This can happen if a power station fails, or if demand is unexpectedly high. Flexitricity delivers reserve energy to National Grid using a fully-automated control and monitoring system.

The generators at Rotherham MBC are operated remotely in response to national or regional needs, while ensuring that the council’s core requirement for standby power is always met. This fully-managed service optimises revenue using a tailored control approach and intelligent arbitraging between services.

Triad management at Rotherham MBC is complementary to its STOR participation. During the November to February triad season, Flexitricity remotely starts generation during likely triad periods. This lowers site consumption and reduces the triad charges on the site’s electricity bills.