System Operator

  • 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...

  • Energy storage and flexibility

    Chart of the week | New to the party: Recent changes in Balancing Mechanism activity

    The Balancing Mechanism (BM), one of National Grid Electricity System Operator’s key tools to balance supply and demand in real time, has experienced a notable increase in activity in 2020, especially in light of the heightened challenges that have come from COVID-19. In the BM parties submit bids and offers...

  • Low carbon generation

    Chart of the week | PAR for the course?

    The recent cold weather resulted in gas system stresses and correlated spikes in gas commodity prices. These flowed through to the power market where peaking plant called on by the System Operator to manage the electricity system resulted in System Imbalance Prices (SIP) hitting £990/MWh on 1 March. Since November...