Piclo’s pioneering smart energy platform has been used at a commercial scale for the first time in UK Power Networks’ recent flexibility auction. Contracts have now been signed with AMP Clean Energy, Limejump, Powervault and Moixa to deliver 18.1MW of flexibility.
First announced on the 15th May, UK Power Networks held the first auction for flexible power,contracting 18.2MW within their distribution network. This auction was the first commercial use of Piclo’s smart energy platform, representing a significant milestone for both Piclo and UK PowerNetworks. The contracts are collectively worth £450,000 but have helped defer networkreinforcement costs.
Piclo’s platform provides a heat-map of areas of network congestion and correlates them withflexibility providers including demand-side-response, batteries and behind-the-meter generationwhich can be leveraged to minimise bottlenecks within the network. Following on from thissuccessful first auction, Piclo has secured an ongoing commercial agreement with UK PowerNetworks to support them deliver their future auctions. This is Piclo’s second commercialagreement following the signing of Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks announced in March this year.
Smart energy systems such as Piclo create the ability to locally control the production,consumption and storage of power, enabling further integration of renewables and electric vehicles into the grid in a cost-effective way. Furthermore, the platform provides unprecedentedtransparency over the flexible plant available in network operator’s jurisdictions. Without Piclo’ssolution, DNOs would be forced into expensive and disruptive network reinforcement withimplications for the consumers who pay for it and the local communities affected. Whilst somephysical changes to the network will be required as we decarbonise, Piclo’s platform significantlyreduces this need, minimising the cost to the consumer whilst maximising the flexible, low-carbon plant in the mix.
As Piclo continues to rapidly grow they are actively seeking more flexibility partners across the UK, expressions of interest from potential international clients and software developers to help support this exciting period for the business.
James Johnston, CEO and Co-Founder of Piclo commented:
“We’re thrilled with the results of our first commercial auction, years of trials and ongoingdevelopment have been realised with over 18MW of flexibility now under contract.
As renewables have boomed across the UK and internationally, grid congestion and the networkflexibility required to affordably alleviate it have become top priorities for network companies.
This first full, commercial auction will be the first of many as distribution companies across the UK and even internationally take UK Power Network’s lead in enabling the shift to a smart, flexible, low-carbon power system.”
Sotiris Georgioupoulos, Head of Smart Grid Development at UK Power Networks said:
“Flexibility offers a wealth of opportunities for the energy resources connected to our network like wind and solar plants, but also demand side response to help us create an open, transparent and accountable new market for their services.
All of the bids we accepted in this tender round met our robust economic criteria to ensure theywill benefit our customers by offering lower costs in comparison to the traditional approach ofbuilding new assets. The UK is a world-leader in Smart Grid technology and Flexibility has a keyrole to play as we move towards a decarbonised, decentralised and digitised network that will offer significant benefits to our customers.”
FTI Consulting
+44 (0)20 3727 1000
Elizabeth Adams, Joshua Atkins
About LimejumpLimejump is an award-winning energy tech company, connecting trading and data abilities withcustomers who generate and manage energy assets through to the National Grid to optimisevalue. Limejump, based in London, manages the largest portfolio of batteries in the UnitedKingdom in its Virtual Power Platform.
Embracing sustainable energy generation such as hydro, solar, wind and AD, Limejump isreplacing carbon-emitting legacy energy generation through precise connectivity and asset control in its VPP, thereby creating revenue opportunities for renewable energy developers and investors. This encourages further investment in renewables, increases the volume of renewables in the wholesale market and leads the UK closer to the ultimate aim of removing carbon emissions from the environment.
In addition, Limejump provides its customers with market insight and daily market analysis,granular billing, performance data and customer support. Limejump is a member of the Shellgroup.
Powervault is a British technology company, which designs and manufactures smart energystorage systems for the modern home. The new Powervault 3 system stores free solar energy and cheap electricity from the grid to reduce household energy bills and increase energy efficiency. The new system is also capable of frequency regulation, which enables owners to generate an income for supporting the grid when there is constraint. Powervault's mission is to reduce dependence on fossil fuels by designing products which accelerate the transition to a low-carbon, decentralised energy system.
Urban Reserve from AMP Clean Energy is developing flexible generation plants which help support the transition to a low carbon economy by providing on-demand electricity when and where it is most needed. As well as being renewables enabling; delivering energy when wind and solar cannot provide electricity, these plants defer network reinforcement costs and promote the growth of new technologies such as electric vehicles and heat pumps. Urban Reserve supports the evolving energy model which combines renewables with flexibility to create the new baseload.
[This notice was update on 26th March, 2024]
Piclo’s mission is to decarbonise the grid. We develop software solutions that make our energy networks smarter, flexible and more sustainable. Piclo Max, our market access platform, enables flex sellers (such as EV and battery owners) to access all electricity markets from one place. Piclo Flex, our flexibility services marketplace, enables flex buyers (system operators) to source flexible electricity from flex sellers during times of high demand or low supply.
To date, Piclo has over 300,000 registered flexible assets representing 22 GW of registered flex capacity, with flexibility contracts awarded totalling £74m and 2.6 GW+ of flexible capacity procured.
Piclo currently operates in six global markets: in the UK, supporting all six Distribution System Operators (UK Power Networks, SP Energy Networks, Electricity North West, Northern Powergrid, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks and National Grid Electricity Distribution); and the Transmission System Operator (TSO) (the ESO); in Ireland (ESB Networks), Italy (E-Distribuzione), Portugal (E-REDES)); in Australia (CitiPower, Powercor); and in the United States in New York State (National Grid) and Connecticut (United Illuminating). Aside from its leading position in the UK, Piclo has a growing presence in Europe, USA and the Asia-Pacific.
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