ADE: Demand response will aid energy security over harsh winter

In recognition of what is going to be a historically difficult winter for the electricity system, National Grid ESO have announced their intention to launch a new service to help system security and bring more flexible capacity onto the grid.The ADE welcomes the introduction of the Winter Demand Flexibility Service, having been actively engaged in helping the service be realised in a short timescale.The Service is specifically aimed at Demand Side Response (DSR) capacity. DSR and the flexibility it provides is crucial in supporting the decarbonisation of the UK electricity system. DSR is where energy users change their electricity consumption patterns in response to a signal or incentive from the network operator.The Service will run from November to March, to assist during the highest cost months for balancing the electricity transmission system and will allow the Electricity System Operator (ESO) to contract with suppliers, aggregators and industrial sites to flex their electricity use at times of system stress in return for payment.This service builds on the work of Octopus Energy’s trials with SPEN and NGESO. Results were encouraging, with customers on time-of-use tariffs (ToUTs) showing a significant reduction in demand during peak times – approx. 50% in response to a specifically signalled event. The new Winter Demand Flexibility Service will closely resemble this “signalling”, prompting customers in advance of an energy event and allowing them to plan their use accordingly.Sarah Honan, Flexibility Policy Manager at the ADE, said:“The Association welcomes the introduction of the Winter Demand Flexibility Service as a tool to help the UK navigate the challenging season on the horizon. The Service has the potential to demonstrate the enormous – and as yet untapped – potential of domestic Demand Side Response, as well as the ongoing importance of industrial and commercial flexibility in maintaining a safe and secure electrical grid as we move rapidly towards decarbonisation.”Notes to editors:About FlexibilityFlexibility is used to balance supply and demand across the energy system. It can include, for example, energy users responding to a signal to turn down their demand which helps balance supply and demand without the need for additional generation (e.g. power stations). Energy users can also be asked to use excess energy from the grid, for example on a windy day.About Energy EfficiencyEnergy efficiency in buildings reduces demand for the heating and power of the indoor space through a combination of measures, such as insulation, draught proofing, and LED lighting. The cheapest, safest and most secure form of energy is the energy we do not use. That is why energy efficiency must be allowed to compete on equal terms with new supply capacity. Energy efficiency means the construction of fewer new generating plants and reduced network infrastructure investment combined with greater resilience and lower carbon emissions.About the ADEThe ADE is bringing energy together to advocate on the priorities for the UK in achieving net zero. We have over 150 members organisations and together we are driving the decarbonisation of heat, championing the role of industry in the green transition and pushing for UK homes, places of work and public services to be energy efficient and smart. Only by getting users engaged and investing in energy efficiency, low carbon heat and providing smart flexibility will be the UK truly be able to decarbonise its energy system. For this to happen, energy must work for the user. At the ADE, we believe that an energy system designed around the user’s needs, enabling the right technology choice in the right place, serves everyone better.For further information please contact:George DibleyCommunications and Public Affairs Officer  Association for Decentralised EnergyTel: 07817851529george.dibley@theade.co.uk