DSO will create opportunities for everyone
Using our real-world experience from working with stakeholders in DSO trials we have developed a set of customer-aligned scenarios, based on the typical features and needs that different kinds of customers will expect to be fulfilled by DSO. We have aligned with Ofgem and grouped our DSO functions into three core areas:
Supporting stakeholder opportunities with DSO services
Click on the drop downs below to read the stakeholder scenarios typical of each customer and stakeholder category, illustrating the opportunities available to each. The individuals and locations in the scenarios below are fictitious, but their circumstances, opportunities and needs are typical of members of the communities we serve.
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Kate invested in solar panels on her property when the Feed in Tarif was at its height. She has since installed a battery to store the power she generates. Kate’s employer has recently started to offer electric cars as an option and she’d like to replace her old diesel car with an EV. She has read that she might be able to make money from her new low carbon technology and she keeps getting flyers from local companies saying she could be selling something called ‘flexibility services’.
What does the DSO mean for you?
Delivering network Flexibility: An understanding of flexibility and to know how and when to trade your capacity/energy with somebody else safely.
Developing a flexibility marketplace: An understanding of how flexible solutions could help bring your energy bills down and provide opportunities for you to earn money by trading your capacity/energy.
Forecasting and planning future needs: A reliable power supply that you can easily connect your low carbon technology (EV) to.
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Example 1:
John’s business employs 80 people and is installing batteries of different sizes on both the distribution and transmission networks. John wants his business to support the local economy but also wants to reduce carbon emissions. He wants to expand the business and needs to know where the best opportunities will be and how I can maximise the opportunities to earn the most from the new batteries he wants to install. There’s lot going on around trading flexibility with both the DSOs and ESOs being potential buyers so he really needs to be prepared for the future.
Example 2:
Keith operates a manufacturing plant that consumes large amounts of electricity that can vary significantly throughout the day. Shareholders and customers want to see Keith actively supporting the nation’s efforts to reach net zero. Someone has told Keith that if he can control electricity consumption through the day he could get paid to do this, even if still using the same amount of electricity. The plant also produces a great deal of wasted heat that Keith’s friend has told him could be used to heat local homes.
What does the DSO mean for you?
Delivering network flexibility: An understanding on how flexibility is being used, procured and managed to support the network, and how you can trade your capacity/ energy with someone else.
Developing a flexibility marketplace: Clarity on flexibility procurement, payments and rules, and confidence that you are being treated fairly.
Forecasting and planning future needs: Visibility of the network to understand future opportunities for flexibility, confidence that decisions on flexibility versus network growth are transparent.
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Cllr. Walker is the Chairman of Shellworth Town Council. He wants his Council to make a positive contribution to net zero and is looking to raise the finance for a solar installation with a battery. He is also looking at energy efficiency measures for Shellworth and working with the local social housing provider to support vulnerable householders and improve the housing stock. To help fund this work he wants to sell the energy from the solar installation locally. On top of that, Cllr. Walker is also considering whether to change Council vehicles to electric and installing an EV charger.
What does the DSO mean for you?
Delivering network flexibility: Clarity around how flexibility is being used, early visibility of any planned constraints or outages, and ability to trade my capacity/energy with others.
Developing a flexibility marketplace: To understand how DER assets contribute to net zero and generate income by using flexibility services, and how to finance a flexibility service/flexible connection?
Forecasting and planning future needs: To understand future constraints on the network and the bigger whole system picture so we can align plans
and opportunities for EV charging points. -
Claire works for national home builder ‘Harvey Homes’ as a Utilities Planner. She needs to understand the potential problems for connecting new homes to the grid well in advance. This includes any future constraints there might be and she often work with an Independent Connection Provider. Harvey Homes also work with local authorities and housing associations to improve the energy efficiency of new housing stock available in the social housing sector.
What does the DSO mean for you?
Delivering network flexibility: Clarity around how flexibility is being used, early visibility of any planned constraints or outages, and ability to trade my capacity/energy with others.
Developing a flexibility marketplace: How can I earn money through offering flexibility and how do flexibility services provide a cost-effective alternative to
reinforcement?Forecasting and planning future needs: To understand future constraints on the network, how constraints may affect my connection and how I can participate in flexibility markets to resolve network constraint issues and drive investment.
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Anish works in the Energy Systems Operator (National Grid). He works in a Control Room team that forward plans what energy flexibility will be needed to balance the Transmission network. To do this he needs to understand what is happening in the distribution network as it may also be procuring flexibility – he could even be talking to the same service providers as the DNO.
What does the DSO mean for you?
Delivering network flexibility: To understand the flexibility services connected to my network; access to DSO flexibility planning and timescales, and to avoid conflicts with other network/system operators.
Developing a flexibility marketplace: A consistent and coordinated approach across markets; to understand the risk profile and cost impact of flexibility, and how we can support those least able to pay for the smart grid.
Forecasting and planning future needs: To understand the bigger whole system picture, exchange data and align our plans, and have DSO coordinate with ESO on our behalf.
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Yasmin works for ChargeMyEV plc who are installing a network of EV Chargers in local town centres. She is working with her local County Council Transport and Economy Team. They are collaborating to identify where best to locate the charge points to support the local Transport and Tourism Plan. Yasmin is also interested in using the Council’s carparks for Vehicle to Grid. Some of this technology is very new to Yasmin – the carpark space is already at a premium so using spaces that also bring revenue to the council is always questioned.
What does the DSO mean for you?
Delivering network flexibility: To understand how flexibility is being used to support the network and how I might be able to improve DSO operational decisions.
Developing a flexibility marketplace: Understand route to market opportunities, how time of use tariffs can be used to help the network, and how I can use a third-party platform to sell our flexibility.
Forecasting and planning future needs: To understand the bigger whole system picture, exchange data and align our plans, such as where to locate EV charging points.