Northern Powergrid

Update on flexibility capacity requirements for Summer tender

Now that we have awarded contracts in our Spring 2024 tender, we can confirm the detailed capacity requirements for the Summer tender.

• The full details of these signposted requirements, including service windows and guide prices, can be found on the ‘documentation tab’ and on Piclo Flex.‍
• We are seeking a total of up to 3MW flexibility across two HV and 26 LV locations in Yorkshire and the Northeast. The service windows are for Winter 24/25 and Winter 25/26.
• We will be procuring the pre-fault Scheduled Utilisation product to manage demand constraints at both primary substations and distribution substations, so our requirements are for demand turn down or generation turn up.
• Additionally, we are looking for expressions of interest at a further six primary substation locations for years starting from 2025/26 through to 2028/29. These competitions are described as ‘visibility only’ on Piclo.

A reminder of the timetable for the Summer tender:    

• Deadline to apply to DPS for pre-qualification: 11 July 2024 @ noon
• ITT issued and competitions live on Piclo: 1 August 2024  
• Deadline to confirm asset entry into competitions: 15 August 2024 @ noon`  
• Bidding window opens: 23 August 2024  
• Bidding window  closes: 6 September 2024 @ noon

For information on how to participate in our flexibility tender, please scroll down to our previous announcement.

June 28, 2024

Update on Northern Powergrid Summer 2024 tender

• Following our Spring tender, we can confirm that the Market Weighton Southgate zone will not be included in the Summer tender
• The confirmed timetable for the summer tender is as follows
• Deadline to apply to DPS for pre-qualification: 11 July 2024 @ noon
• ITT issued and competitions live on Piclo: 1 August 2024
• Deadline to confirm asset entry into competitions: 15 August 2024 @ noon`
• Bidding window opens: 23 August 2024 @ noon
• Bidding window closes: 6 September 2024 @ noon

‍Summary of flexibility needs

• We are signposting our need for up to 3MW flexibility across 28 locations in Yorkshire and the Northeast. The service windows are for Winter 24/25 and Winter 25
• More details of these signposted requirements, including service windows and guide prices, can be found on the ‘Documentation tab’ and on the Piclo map. On a temporary basis, these competitions are listed as SIGNPOSTED FOR INFO ONLY until 1 August 2024
• We will be procuring the pre-fault Scheduled Utilisation product to manage demand constraints at both primary substations and distribution substations, so our requirements are for demand turn down or generation turn up
• Additionally, we are looking for expressions of interest at a further six primary substation locations for years starting from 2025/26 through to 2028/29. These competitions are described as ‘visibility only’ on Piclo
• Issue 8 of our regular news update is a special edition for the Summer tender with more information about the requirements, changes to the processes for pre-qualification and contracting, and useful hints and tip
• For some of the locations, the flexible capacity requirement is described as ‘up to’. This means that the capacity we are looking for in the Summer tender will depend on how successfully our Spring tender fulfilled our needs. We expect to be able to confirm the Spring outcomes in mid-July 2024. Then we will update the Summer requirements to a firm capacity, republish these firm requirements, and use them in the ITT and  the live competitions on Piclo

‍How to participate in our flexibility tender

Step 1: If you’re new to Piclo Flex, please create an account. Once you have created an account, we recommend that you upload your flexibility assets. Find out more about uploading assets here.
‍Step 2: If your organisation is not already pre-qualified to provide flexibility services to Northern Powergrid, you should apply for company qualification before the Dynamic Procurement System (DPS) closes.  Find out more about the DPS Application here.
‍Step 3: Once you have passed company qualification and uploaded assets in competition zones, you will be ready to complete company qualification; i.e. to confirm entry of assets into the competitions you wish to bid into.
‍Step 4: Submit a bid during the bidding window. Find out more details about submitting a bid here.When the ITT is published, this will include an Instructions to Bidders document and we recommend that you read this carefully.In the meantime, we're very happy to chat with new or existing providers of flexibility services.

If you have any questions or would like to set up a 1-2-1 meeting with one of our team, email us at flexibility@northernpowergrid.com.Email support@picloflex.com for help with setting up your account or using the Piclo platform.

New DSO flexibility opportunities available via Piclo!

• Our Spring 2024 tender is calling for 5MW flexibility across 19 locations in Yorkshire and the North East
• The service windows are between Winter 24/25 and Winter 25/26
• Northern Powergrid is procuring the pre-fault Scheduled Utilisation product to manage demand constraints at both primary substations and distribution substations, so our requirements are for demand turn down or generation turn up
• Additionally, we are looking for expressions of interest at a further five locations for 2025/26, 2027/28 and 2031/32. These locations are for visibility purposes only
• Full details of these requirements, including service windows and guide prices, can be found on Piclo Flex

Key dates:‍

• Pre-Qualification closes: noon Wednesday 10 April 2024
• Deadline for asset registration: noon Wednesday 1 May 2024
• Deadline to confirm asset entry into competitions: noon Thursday 16 May (or noon Monday 3 June for visibility only competitions)
• Bidding window: Friday 17 May 2024 to noon Monday 3 June

What next?

Step 1: If you are new to Piclo Flex then create an account. After an account has been created, we recommend you upload relevant assets. Find out more about uploading assets on this page. Existing flex providers, please go to Step 3

Step 2: If your organisation is not already pre-qualified to provide flexibility services to Northern Powergrid, you should apply for company qualification before the DPS closes at noon on Wednesday 10 April. Find out more about the DPS application on this page.

Step 3: If you are intending to bid, you will need to confirm entry and ensure your assets are eligible to participate by noon on 16 May. The bidding window opens on Friday, 17 May 2024 and closes at noon on Monday, 03 June.

We are happy to chat with new or existing flexibility service providers. If you have any questions or would like to set up a 1-2-1 meeting with one of our team, email us at flexibility@northernpowergrid.com. Contact support@picloflex.com for help with setting up your account.

We are happy to announce that we are making excellent progress with our preparations to launch our Spring 2024 tender round. We aim to share the details of the locations and capacities we are seeking for Flexibility Services later in February. 

However, interested parties should register for DPS now in readiness of our Spring 2024 competitions. Find out how to register your DPS here.

Bidders please download the ITT Procurement Documents listed in the Documentation tab.

‍

Northern Powergrid is looking for both demand turn-down and generation turn-up services.

Northern Powergrid will also shortly be calling for flexibility service providers to participate in its Autumn 2023 flexibility tender to provide flexibility between December 2023 & March 2024, and October 2024 & March 2025.

We have DSO flexibility opportunities on Piclo Flex now!

• Flexibility is required across 13 locations
• Earn up to £900/MWh depending on location

Additionally, Northern Powergrid is calling for expressions of interest from flexibility service providers to provider flexibility from Winter 2027/2028

• Flexibility is required across 6 locations
• Find out more about the opportunities on offer via the Piclo Map here as we have provided visibility of flexibility requirements per zone (location).

What next?

Step 1

Create a Piclo Flex account and complete the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) application by 16 October. If you haven’t already, you’ll need to upload your asset data onto the Piclo Flex platform

Step 2

Complete the asset upload and confirm entry on Piclo Flex platform by 24 October 2023. Competition will open on 31 October and close on 07 November.
We’ll be in touch to let you know if you’ve been pre-qualified by 04 December 2023. Those that successfully pass the pre-qualification stage can proceed to the Competition stage

In the meantime, we're very happy to chat with FSPs so if you have any questions or would like to set up a 1-2-1 meeting with one of our team, email us at flexibility@northernpowergrid.com. Email support@picloflex.com for help with setting up your account.