Source · Select Committees · Business and Trade Committee
Recommendation 55
55
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 220
Accelerate National Grid ESO IT upgrades to handle sub-1MW flexibility and report progress to Parliament.
Recommendation
To unlock the potential role that flexibility can play in better synchronising supply and demand, National Grid ESO will need to improve its digital capabilities. We recommend that National Grid ESO speeds up progress on making sure its IT upgrades mean that it can handle flexibility from assets smaller than 1MW and reports to Parliament on its progress in hitting this target.
Government Response Summary
The ESO acknowledges the need for investment in systems and states it is modernising balancing capabilities through its Open Balancing Program. However, it does not specifically commit to handling assets smaller than 1MW or reporting progress to Parliament.
Paragraph Reference:
220
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
135. [Response provided by ESO] The ESO recognises the size of the investment required in our systems to ensure that electricity system operation meets Great Britain’s net zero ambitions. Through its Open Balancing Program, ESO is modernising and transforming its balancing capabilities and associated IT platforms. This will ensure that ESO has the vital flexibility to facilitate future changes, both expected and emerging, across the industry. The ESO’s transformation program will look to increase the number of market participants, adapt faster to changing requirements and innovations on the road to 2035, enable a level playing field for flexibility services, and optimise balancing costs for the consumer. The ESO is engaging with industry across this program and providing regular updates to demonstrate its progress against strategic objectives.