
An Edinburgh-based electricity demand-response provider has successfully stress-tested the generating assets it pledged to provide during the first full delivery year of the GB Capacity Market, which begins today.
After winning agreements for 35 Capacity Market Units, delivering 206.3MW in January, Flexitricity passed industry tests proving capacity, reliability and responsiveness – without impacting on its customers’ day-to-day operations.
Flexitricity’s customers include businesses in retail, manufacturing, communications and banking, and public-sector organisations covering central government, higher education and the NHS.
Dr Alastair Martin, founder and chief strategy officer at Flexitricity, said: “As summer wanes and colder, darker nights creep in, these results provide reassurance, especially in this first delivery year of the Capacity Market proper, that demand response delivers.
“Our network is a truly decentralised virtual power plant – something that is becoming increasingly important as we move away from traditional baseload power stations. From Aberdeen to Somerset, our customers span the length and breadth of the UK and a remarkable range of industrial, commercial and public sector energy users.
“We have proven that, when it’s done right, demand response is a solid resource that can help secure the energy needs of the UK, come what may.
“It also proves that successful demand response requires expertise, technical capability, experience and sheer hard work.
“We would urge the UK Government to fully consider the results of the testing stage to inform the rules for the Capacity Market going forward.”
4 Sept 2017