Somerset Energy Innovation Centre, Bridgwater
Thursday 4 July
10:00 – 15:00
Community and local energy organisations across the UK are a key part of our changing energy system. As we move towards a decentralised and decarbonised energy future, local and community participation will be key to gaining customers trust and engaging people with the changes and benefits of using energy in a smarter and more flexible way.
This event, held by Western Power Distribution (WPD) and Regen, provided an interactive forum to continue the collaboration and learning that is fundamental to local energy projects. The event provided community energy groups, local authorities and local energy stakeholders with a ‘beginner’s guide to flexibility’, supporting attendees to learn about how flexibility services work, and discussing how to provide a service to generate additional revenue.
We explored the latest intelligence from projects happening on the ground, and hear from the most advanced community and local energy projects. WPD experts were on hand to update us on the latest innovation projects, and to help us learn about the emerging value we could access from new flexibility markets.
Flexible Power is about building partnerships that generate income for local organisations and can enable WPD to accommodate increasing demand for electricity without having to build a larger network, so that customers benefit from a resilient energy supply and reduced future energy costs.
WPD will be procuring Flexible Power demand response services in the Lincoln, Bridgwater, Exeter and Stafford areas during 2019/2020.
You can view presentations from the day below:
- Beginner’s Guide to Flexibility – Ky Hoare, Regen
- Western Power Distribution Innovation Work and Community Energy – Ricky Duke, Western Power Distribution
- Flexibility through Communities – Mary Gillie, Energy Local
- Western Power Distribution Flexibility Services – Helen Sawdon, Western Power Distribution