The green energy supplier will use 80% of its fleet of battery-powered customers to provide 4MW of FFR capacity to the ESO throughout the day.
By enabling its customers to seamlessly take part in the weekly Frequency Response Auctions, Social Energy can ensure they benefit financially by maximizing the trading opportunities through keeping a diversified portfolio, while supporting the future of energy.
Firm Frequency Response is one of the balancing services that the ESO uses to keep the electricity system in balance and ensure demand for power is matched by the levels of electricity generated. With thousands of domestic energy customers throughout Britain and the technology needed to take part, Social Energy is uniquely positioned to deliver this service with purely domestic assets.
The ESO is using FFR as part of its program of work preparing Britain’s electricity system to be able to run on purely zero-carbon electricity by 2025 – ready to accommodate whatever quantity of renewable electricity is being generated at that time.
The Frequency Response Auction trial is a two-year project to trial the procurement of a portion of ESOs frequency response requirement via weekly pay-as-clear auctions. The trial, which is funded by the Network Innovation Allowance, supports core ESO Forward Plan deliverables to remove barriers to entry, promote competition and deliver value for end consumers.
Social Energy is a new generation of energy supplier that uses smart technology to reduce its customers’ electricity bills. Homeowners can get their solar and battery system from a local approved installer and connect it to the Social Energy tariff to reduce their electricity bills by up to 70% - saving a typical household £516 per year.
By adding a battery and connecting it to Social Energy’s smart technology, customers will maximize their solar energy usage, receive the best price for exporting their excess energy to the grid and automatically take advantage of low or even negative priced energy.
Steve Day, chief technology officer at Social Energy, said, “It’s fantastic to work with the National Grid ESO to supply frequency response solely from domestic assets as part of the weekly trial.
"By expanding our portfolio of grid services to include the frequency response auctions, it enables us to secure greater benefits for our customers, while helping to future proof the electricity system in Britain."
David Spencer, new business manager at National Grid ESO, said, “It’s great to see a new approach in this market and a first contract made up entirely of domestic customers.
“Managing the frequency of electricity, through matching supply and demand is a key part of our role making sure Great Britain has safe, secure and reliable electricity. FFR is one of the many tools we use to balance the system.
“It’s a great initiative helping us towards achieving our ambition of being able to operate the GB electricity system carbon free by 2025, with the services being used to balance the grid moving away from traditional sources to cleaner, decentralized power.”
