Breaking new ground in Flexibility Operations
Our DSO Team is leading the way in real-world flex planning, and we're now the first Distribution Network Operator to publish how we'd consider the impact and mitigations needed in the unlikely event of a shortfall in contracted Flexibility Services.
The details of our approach are published in our latest Operational Decision-Making (ODM) Framework , which is now open for consultation .
This framework sets out how we dispatch what are known as ‘Distributed Energy Resources’ (DER) to meet short-term capacity needs. These can be any asset on the electricity distribution system that is able to generate or store electricity.
We've created a new process to identify shortfalls in flexibility, to ensure a secure network is maintained. An example of when a shortfall might occur could be if a provider became unexpectedly unavailable.
The details of our approach.
Our Flexibility Scheduling Engineers assess available services, demand forecasts, and network capacity weekly, identifying any shortfall post-market engagement. If a shortfall is likely, they will assess overload risks and select suitable mitigations. As a leader in dispatch decision-making, we're publishing this detailed process in our latest ODM Framework.
Our previous ODM publications have been well-received by stakeholders, with praise given to the work that’s been done to set up, streamline, and optimise the processed involved in active network management, and dispatch decisions.
Welcoming your feedback
Feedback garnered by our DSO Team has also suggested that stakeholders are impressed by how our ODM frameworks have successfully defined business processes while also keeping the needs of the end customer in mind, thus supporting greater involvement in flexibility.
Gavin Stewart , Flexible Solutions Manager at SSEN Distribution, says:
“We’re publishing this draft of our latest Operational Decision-Making Framework with a clear-eyed vision for what we need to deliver, and what people need from it.
“Hard work on previous frameworks has established our leadership in this field, and we’re now seeking to build upon this with our assessments of flexibility shortfall management.
“We’ve drafted this latest document, considering the areas our stakeholders expect us to; their feedback thus far has been both illuminating, and constructive. We look forward to getting their fresh reflections once they’ve assessed this latest iteration of our framework.”
I think the work SSEN are doing, particularly around the ODM, is truly one of a kind and aligns remarkably well with the key objectives of RIIO-ED2. Starting from a blank canvas is no small feat, but seeing how others are making strides always helps. So, thank you for sharing this and opening it up to us, Gavin Stewart Really think SSEN's efforts in this area set a truly great example for the industry!