Connecticut, USA, July 9th 2024 – Eversource and United Illuminating have launched their first online grid flexibility marketplace in Connecticut. For the 2024/2025 winter season, they are seeking to procure approximately 35 MW of energy flexibility and compensate participants who support the grid and improve reliability.
Through the Piclo platform, Eversource and United Illuminating will offer Distributed Energy Resource (DER) owners, operators, and aggregators the opportunity to win contracts that can provide them with revenue for flexing electricity load and generation.
In its first season, the aim of the joint initiative is to demonstrate the ability of DERs to strengthen the reliability and resilience of the electric system in Connecticut, enhance grid capacity in preparation for increased electrification, and lower energy costs for customers.
DER aggregators, owners, and providers will be able to register on the Piclo platform starting on July 9th, 2024. The deadline to participate is Friday, September 27th, with bidding open from October 7th to November 1st, 2024. Interested participants are invited to attend an introductory webinar on July 17th, 2024, to learn more about this new offering and check their eligibility.
Register here: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H09Rx8g0
The launch follows last month’s (May 2024) White House summit and launch of the Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative.
This marketplace was launched via the Innovative Energy Solutions (IES) Program, a statewide initiative led by the state’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to identify, pilot, and scale innovative ideas that help build a decarbonized, affordable, and equitable electric grid for Connecticut.
Mike Strahlman, Chief Growth Officer at Piclo, said:
"Today, Eversource and United Illuminating launch Connecticut's first online DER market through the Piclo platform, marking a major step towards a sustainable energy future. This initiative redefines energy management by offering DER owners and aggregators the chance to support a decarbonized, affordable, and equitable grid while generating revenue. Join us in this groundbreaking effort to create a resilient energy system for all."
Jennifer Schilling, Vice President of Grid Modernization at Eversource, said:
“This innovative market-based solution is a unique opportunity that leverages customer-owned DERs to address local grid constraints, promote adoption of clean DERs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
Rita King, Senior Director of Smart Grids Innovation and Clean Energy Policy at Avangrid, the parent company of United Illuminating, said:
“At UI, we know that building a modern, innovative, and flexible grid is one of the essential steps we can take to mitigate the effects of a changing climate. By offering incentives to DER owners and aggregators to shift their electricity load and consumption, we’re putting Connecticut on the cutting edge of real solutions that will enable widespread electrification. I’m proud of our team’s partnership with Piclo to introduce this pilot to UI’s customers, and I encourage all interested participants to learn more about this innovative solution.”
Get involved Webinar
Register to attend the upcoming webinar and find out more about this exciting new marketplace on July 17th.
You can register here: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H09Rx8g0
Marketplace
View the live opportunities on Piclo and register here: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0b4V3j0
Eversource transmits and delivers electricity to 1.28 million customers in 149 cities and towns, provides natural gas to 251,000 customers in 74 communities, and supplies water to approximately 217,000 customers in 59 communities across Connecticut. Eversource harnesses the commitment of approximately 9,900 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The #1 energy efficiency provider in the nation, the company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like a first-in-the-nation networked geothermal pilot project, solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com.
The United Illuminating Company (UI) is a subsidiary of Avangrid, Inc. Established in 1899, UI operates approximately 3,600 miles of electric distribution lines and 138 miles of transmission lines. It serves approximately 341,000 customers in the greater New Haven and Bridgeport areas of Connecticut. UI received the Edison Electric Institute’s Emergency Recovery Award in 2019 and 2021. For more information, visit www.uinet.com.
The Connecticut Innovative Energy Solutions (IES) Program is a statewide initiative to identify, pilot, and scale innovative ideas that enable a decarbonized, affordable, and equitable electric grid for Connecticut.
With a budget of up to $5 million per project, the IES Program provides resources and support for the implementation of innovative projects over the course of a 12-to-18-month period. Projects that demonstrate benefits, cost-effectiveness, and scalability will have the opportunity to be deployed at scale in Connecticut.
The IES Program presents an exciting opportunity for third-party innovators and technology developers to establish collaborative partnerships with Connecticut’s two investor-owned EDCs, and play an active role in enabling Connecticut’s decarbonized energy future.
Find out more at https://ct-ies.com/
FTI Consulting Strategic Communications
Piclo Marketing and Communications Team
[This notice was updated on 15th October, 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 350,000 registered flexible assets representing 26+ GW of registered flex capacity, with flexibility contracts awarded totalling £75m and 3+ 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 independent System Operator (NESO); 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.
For more information book a demo, follow us on LinkedIn, and watch us on YouTube.