NE businesses incentivised to go low-carbon

NE businesses incentivised to go low-carbon

Northern Powergrid is offering businesses across the North East and Yorkshire that are large energy users, generators or operate energy storage the opportunity to secure extra income for their business and support the transition to a low carbon energy future.

The network operator is urging those interested to visit its Flexible Power webpage and register on its procurement system by 15 August to pre-qualify and be part of a new flexibility services procurement tender covering 12 areas. Northern Powergrid is interested in hearing from large users of electricity such as factories and supermarkets, businesses with their own onsite generation or electricity storage and aggregators.

From Stockton-on-Tees down to Gainsborough, the tendering is part of Northern Powergrid’s ‘Flexibility First’ approach to create a more active and flexible network that can help the region decarbonise more quickly and meet the UK’s commitment to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

Liz Sidebotham, Northern Powergrid’s Commercial Manager – New Markets, said: “Our customers have made it clear that they want to see our region decarbonise more quickly – and we have a critical role to play in enabling this in the regions we serve. A more active and flexible local electricity system will help us to achieve this.

“Being flexible with how and when energy is consumed and produced can help ensure the power generated and delivered always matches the amount used. By reducing consumption or releasing power back to the grid at times of high demand, and storing it or using it during times of lower demand, local 'flexibility services' can unlock additional capacity and support the connection of more low carbon technology like wind power. Our ‘Flexibility First’ approach means that where it’s possible and more efficient, we will seek flexibility services first to unlock capacity, before carrying out construction which can take longer, be more costly and disrupt communities.”

The flexibility requirements (e.g. voltage, capacity, time windows, contract start date) vary by location and more information on these and the procurement process can be found on the Flexible Power website www.flexiblepower.co.uk/locations/location/northern-powergrid