New DSO flexibility opportunities available via Piclo!
Key dates:
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 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!
Additionally, Northern Powergrid is calling for expressions of interest from flexibility service providers to provider flexibility from Winter 2027/2028
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.
Spring 2024 – Invitation to Negotiate. The next stage of tender process for NPg24095 - Flexibility Services is now open to all accepted Bidders. Please download the ITN Procurement Documents listed below.
Document 1: Instructions to Bidders
Document 2: Conditions of Contract
Document 3: Scope and Specification
Document 5: BHE Information Security Questions - ITT Stage
Bidders must complete the following documents and submit them via the Piclo Flex Messaging Service - support@picloflex.com
The deadline for the submissions is noon on 3 June 2024
For more information on Northern Powergrid’s flexibility activities:
Please visit our flexibility services website: Flexibility Services | Northern Powergrid
We are procuring the Scheduled Utilisation product to manage demand constrained areas of our network, so we are looking of either demand turn down or generation turn up
We will consider bids from assets already connected and also from those in development. However, we are using these services to ensure network security, therefore during our bid assessment phase we will consider the validity and certainty of projects and may require development milestones within the Flexibility Services Contract.
Note: any asset may need to be available for testing at least one month prior to the first service window.
Performance will be monitored using meter data from meters at the site.
Each solution should have metering with half-hourly resolution or higher. Metering should meet the accuracy requirements of the relevant Code of Practice at the time of installation (https://www.elexon.co.uk/bsc-and-codes/bsc-related-documents/codes-of-practice/).
There are a number of baseline options.
We will use a baseline methodology that is mutually acceptable to both us and the flexibility services provider.
Please refer to our baselining methodology and workbook which can be found here.
The revenues vary by location. Please refer to individual competitions for location-specific information.
We are happy to have face-to-face discussions with our flexibility services stakeholders. To arrange this or to ask for assistance with any queries relating to our procurement and use of flexibility services please email: flexibility@northernpowergrid.com.
Email us at flexibility@northernpowergrid.com to sign up to our mailing list.
We welcome feedback from all stakeholders. Please e-mail us at flexibility@northernpowergrid.com with any comments or questions.