Thursday 17 February 2022
Britain’s energy networks, in collaboration with Energy Networks Association (ENA), marked a range of market leading achievements across the past year through its Open Networks programme.
The achievements, which focused on standardising and simplifying processes to make market participation easier, include:
These achievements have been marked by ENA in its review of the progress of its world-leading Open Networks programme, which brings together all of Britain’s network companies and industry stakeholders to help transform the way our energy networks operate. ENA’s Open Networks ‘2021 in Review’, demonstrates how the networks are:
Flexibility was the largest area of work for the programme in 2021, where efforts focused on opening markets for local flexibility and standardising and improving the experience for customers across network operators and with the ESO. Other important areas of work included improving both the visibility of data and connections process, increasing collaboration between electricity and gas networks and the transition to Distribution System Operation (DSO).
The report, now in its fifth year of publication, reflects on the achievements from the past 12 months and looks to the key priorities for the year ahead. It has been developed with an open and accountable approach in mind by highlighting the programme’s progress in connection to the 2021 Work Plan’s deliverables.
David Smith, Chief Executive of Energy Networks Association, said:
“In the year that included pivotal moments such as COP26, the publication of UK Government’s Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan and the publication of RIIO ED2 Business plans, Britain’s electricity and gas network infrastructure continued to sit at the heart of decarbonisation.
“As the transition towards a Net Zero economy accelerates, the networks are building an energy system fit for a net zero future, which leaves nobody behind. Open Networks aims to continue to set out a clear delivery pathway, drawing on the expertise of network companies, Ofgem, UK Government and wider industry to progress the necessary steps.”
Looking to 2022 – which marks five years of Open Networks – it will be another important year as the programme ramps up efforts to enable net zero.
Government’s Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan reiterates these challenges and has given Open Networks the mandate to build on its work to date and deliver a common framework for flexibility by 2023. More information on priorities for this year are available in the 2022 Work Plan.