Electricity System Operator

  • Energy storage and flexibility

    Sky-high prices in Dynamic Containment

    In this week’s ‘Chart of the Week’, we explore the drivers behind the record high prices seen in the Dynamic Containment Low service in June, which saw individual assets accrue gross revenues of over £1mn, and consider the outlook for future service prices.

  • Energy storage and flexibility

    Chart of the week | Interactions between frequency response markets – can’t get enough

    Frequency response markets are in a period of transition, as the Electricity System Operator (ESO) looks to usher in a new suite of three faster-acting frequency response services that can better manage frequency changes on a low inertia, high renewables system. Dynamic Containment (DC), the first of these new services,...

  • Energy storage and flexibility

    Chart of the week | Wider Access: BM sees annual increase in smaller participants

    In recent years National Grid ESO’s Wider Access programme has rolled out several measures to support the entry of smaller and non-traditional participants into the Balancing Mechanism (BM). This 'Chart of the week' looks at the level of new entry into the BM over the past year. Specifically, it looks...

  • Energy storage and flexibility

    Chart of the week | Increasing electricity balancing costs and an increasing System Operator role

    Last week saw the publication of Ofgem's review of GB energy system operation. This makes recommendations that the roles and functions of the electricity and gas system operators need to change in light of net zero. In this week's 'Chart of the week', I wanted to focus on one aspect...

  • Home supply and services

    Chart of the week | Takes time to make time: When will we have time-of-use tariffs?

    Time-of-use (ToU) tariffs could be a key tool in supporting system decarbonisation and ensuring consumers see the benefits of the energy transition. Research for our latest edition of the Connected Homes Insight Service has found suppliers and consumers both taking tentative steps in exploring ToU pricing, with ambitious innovation and...

  • Energy storage and flexibility

    Chart of the week | Grand unveiling: Dynamic Containment goes live

    At 11pm on 1 October National Grid ESO debuted its new frequency response service, Dynamic Containment (DC). This is the first in a suite of new faster-acting response services, designed to address significant frequency deviations when they occur on the transmission system.   The roll-out of this new post-fault response...