Wednesday
Track 2 / Room: Chapel
15.00 - 15.30
Part 1: Common digital infrastructure to enable flexibility markets
This session will discuss Ofgem’s Call for Input on the Future of Distributed Flexibility and current policy developments. It will highlight the Flex Markets Unlocked innovation project and work happening in the UK on coordination of flexibility markets and energy sector digitalisation.
OFGEM proposed a need to converge on common digital infrastructure which supports transparent, accessible, and coordinated flexibility markets in order to unlock the full value of flexibility. Four identified market failures of lack of information transparency, lack of coordination, lack of trust, and market specific issues, can be addressed by common digital infrastructure and underpinning enabling work. Stakeholder responses to the Call for Input supported these interventions, and policy thinking is being developed on what functionality the common digital infrastructure should deliver and what appropriate governance arrangements could be.
Presented by Nina Klein from OFGEM
Part 2: UK approach to flexibility: technical standards for domestic DSR, innovation programmes and policy strategy
Sponsored by the UK Government, the British Standards Institution has published two industry-led standards (PAS 1878 and 1879), which set a technical framework for small-scale DSR, guided by the principles of interoperability, data privacy, grid stability and cyber security. The “Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan 2021”, joint publication by the UK government and Ofgem, sets out key steps for delivering a smart and flexible electricity system that will underpin the UK energy security and transition to net zero.
As part of the plan, the UK government will work with industry to support the uptake of PAS 1878 and 1879 for “energy smart” appliances. Moreover, the UK Government is funding the IDSR Innovation Programme which is part of the Flexibility Innovation Programme from the £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP), containing a number of projects developing systems against PAS 1878 and 1879. The Smart Charge Point Regulations 2021 ordinarily require compliance with elements of PAS 1878, which is compatible with existing international standards. This talk will briefly overview the progress on innovation, standards and regulatory strategy and outline the present outlook.
Presented by Laura Schade and Rebecca Shutt
About Nina Klein
Dr. Nina Klein is Head of the Enabling Flexibility Markets team at Ofgem the UK energy regulator. The team develops policy on digitalisation and decentralisation to enable flexibility, and recently published a Call for Input on the Future of Distributed Flexibility. Previously, Nina was an Energy Engineer at the UK Department for Energy advising on smart energy policy. During a secondment to National Grid Electricity System Operator Nina led various digital innovation projects.
About Laura Schade
Dr. Laura Schade is a Senior Energy Engineer in the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Her role consists in using a wide variety of science and engineering analysis to influence Government policy in energy and decarbonisation, particularly in the area of domestic demand side response, ensuring that effective technical solutions are in place to support the transition to Net Zero. Laura holds a PhD from the University of Oxford on perovskite photovoltaics and is passionate about science and environmental challenges.
About Rebecca Shutt
Rebecca Shutt is an Energy Engineer in the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Her work provides technical expertise to multiple policy teams including digitalisation and smart and secure electricity systems and several Flexibility Portfolio innovation programmes in the Net Zero Innovation Programme. Previously, Rebecca researched into advanced materials for battery technologies, working in both industry and as a PhD researcher.
About OFGEM
OFGEM is the UK Office of Gas and Electricity Markets. We are a non-ministerial government department and an independent National Regulatory Authority, recognised by EU Directives. Our role is to protect consumers now and in the future by working to deliver a greener, fairer energy system.
About DESNZ
The UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is focused on the energy portfolio from the former UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Our responsibilities are:
- delivering security of energy supply
- ensuring properly functioning energy markets
- encouraging greater energy efficiency
- seizing the opportunities of net zero to lead the world in new green industries
Platinum sponsors Flexcon 2024
