Distribution grid operator Electricity North West is partnering with flex innovators Piclo & trading software firm Electron to help flexibility service providers (FSPs) maximise access to flexibility markets.
The alliance will see the software authors’ ElectronConnect product as the core market platform for the DNO to tender and trade flexibility services, offering an end-to-end solution for FSPs to participate in all functions, from onboarding through to dispatch and settlement.
Electricity North West will be launching its next flex tender in April. FSPs will be able to access opportunities and prequalify via either platform.
Providers will also have an alternative access point through Piclo Max, further removing barriers to participation.
The three way collaboration will make Electricity North West the first Distribution Network Operator (DNO) to bring together these two identified platforms to maximise both functionality and FSPs’ routes to market.
Electricity North West is among the first DNOs to leverage Piclo Max. Launched in 2024, the platform seeks to meet the needs of flex sellers, streamlining access to all electricity markets from a single position, enabling sellers to maximise revenue stacking opportunities across multiple markets.
Electron says its ElectronConnect product is the next generation of flexibility market platforms, maximising the scale and value of the flexibility procured by ENW and other actors across a variety of FSPs, technology types, and time scales.
Its integration capabilities with network monitoring and control systems unlock deeper automation and value capture. Its open ecosystem approach to design enables it to onboard FSPs directly or through any central or private onboarding platform of their choice.
Ben Grunfeld, the DNO’s strategy director said: “Electricity North West is firmly committed to playing a leading role in the evolution of the distribution system operation landscape.
“Embracing innovative technologies like Piclo Max and ElectronConnect is crucial to unlocking the full potential of flexibility and delivering real benefits to our customers. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in our journey to create a more efficient, secure, and customer-centric electricity network for the North West.”
