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James begins his day with a review of the network’s current and forecasted state. Leveraging real-time data and historical insights, he analyses how the network is performing compared to predictions made in the Planning Phase in order to produce a closer to real-time forecast.
James assesses network activity, asking: Are current loadings within expected ranges? Are there potential constraints that need attention?
If he finds a discrepancy, James can anticipate challenges and implement strategies to mitigate risks before they materialise.
James then shifts focus to long-term flexibility resources. He examines existing contracts and agreements to compare how they align with the closer to real-time forecasted electricity demand.
James’ goal is to ensure that long-term resources provide a solid foundation for network security and identifying any gaps that may need to be met through the Short Term flexibility market.
James then turns his attention to short-term flexibility offers. He reviews week-ahead market bids to top up flexibility gaps where needed. His process involves:
Prioritising bids in price order to ensure we take the cheapest options in order to maximise cost-efficiency.
Evaluating how offers align with both operational requirements and financial targets.
James addresses situations where there is competition between flexibility offers by applying the dispatch principles previously described in this document and using an industry standard Pay-As-Clear (PaC) model, this model discourages bidding activity that could distort the market. This ensures that competitive pricing is maintained by setting the marginal offer rate as the clearing price, meaning all successful bids are awarded the same price.
James understands that there is value in smaller assets for their ability to provide services across multiple voltage levels and enhance dispatch accuracy, so he ensures where the bid price is competitive these are not skipped within the PaC process when a larger asset could fulfil the entire requirement alone. Small assets are often domestic Low Carbon Technologies like heat pumps and Electric Vehicle Chargers aggregated to deliver flexibility as a group, making sure these asset types receive value from flexibility participation helps stimulate future market growth.
Late morning James will carry out analysis to ensure that the flexibility he chooses provides a balance of utilisation between both the long-term and short-term flexibility markets, while also aiming to maximise value for the operation of the network.
In the afternoon, following flexibility selection James identifies any locations where there has not been enough flexibility offered by the market meaning there is a shortfall in the volume need to meet the closer to real-time forecast. By analysing demand patterns, he identifies areas where resources may be insufficient. Once he spots a gap, James collaborates with the DNO Control Centre to explore additional options and resolve issues quickly. We’ve further described how we manage shortfalls later in this document.
Working closely with the DNO Control Centre, James shares detailed information on pre-scheduled flexibility resources and information of further resources that can be made available in real-time if needed. This transparency ensures everyone is on the same page, enabling swift action should unexpected constraints occur in the Control Phase.
With the decisions landed, James updates the Flexible Power Portal, a market platform that facilitates the communication of flexibility market decisions to providers of flexibility, with the details of his flexibility utilisation decisions. The market must be informed of our decisions by midday each Thursday. This step is critical for maintaining transparency and ensuring flexibility providers receive timely dispatch instructions. By leveraging the portal’s API, the process of sending start/stop messages is streamlined and receiving, making flexibility market operations efficient and reliable.
James’ day reflects the dedication and precision required to manage the complexities of the energy system. Through proactive planning, collaboration, and real-time responsiveness, he plays a vital role in delivering a resilient and efficient network.
