National Grid seeks industry’s views on creating a flexible energy market
National Grid has asked energy users and other stakeholders to submit their views on flexible markets and products.
The move is part of the grid operator’s work programme focused on the development of a flexible system that welcomes new players within the UK’s energy industry.
Over the next 12 months, its will look at ways to improve the flexibility of market information as well as develop balancing products and services “to sustain a flexibility market appropriate to entrants regardless of the technology type”.
“We would like to gain valuable insight from our customers to inform any decisions made,” it said to industrial or commercial energy users.
National Grid, the government and regulators are working together to create a flexible energy system and guarantee security of supply. This is taking place against a backdrop of intermittent renewables coming online while old, ageing coal-fired power stations close down.
Energy experts recently told City PM that the UK is facing an energy gap, despite the government’s recent approval of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant.
“We do need new, secure baseload to replace retiring coal fired power stations, and intermittent renewables simply can't provide this, regardless of cost,” Jeremy Nicholson, director at the Energy Intensive Users Group (EIUG), said.
“We need action to ensure new gas fired power stations get built quickly during the ten years or more that it will take before Hinkley Point is built.”