This is an important new innovation on the network as all previous data integrations used standard SCADA protocols and dedicated VPN links which can be more costly and take longer to set up. The new MQTT interface was developed by National Grid ESO with Upside Energy collaborating on the development, offering expertise, testing support and creating its own client connector for the new interface. The first integrations went live on the 2nd of September on two sites owned by Gresham House Energy Storage Fund plc and optimised by Habitat Energy - Roundponds (20MW) and Red Scar (49 MW).
The sites went live in under 48 hours after being connected to Upside’s platform. Upside can now offer this route to market to all customers who own or trade battery storage assets and want a quick way to meet the operational metering requirements to participate in the Balancing Mechanism.
National Grid ESO’s cloud-based data concentrator interface for operational metering, for which Upside Energy developed its client connector, accommodates and supports the growing number of smaller participants in the balancing mechanism. This enables them to provide an array of metering data, depending on the type of technology they are using.
“We have worked very closely with National Grid ESO to establish this new route to market technology and the speed and ease with which we can now integrate battery assets is astounding” said Upside CEO Devrim Celal. “I’m sure that very soon it will become the standard but we are very proud to have been the first to market with this new technology”.
Carolina Tortora, head of innovation strategy and digital transformation at National Grid ESO, added that removing barriers to providers and technologies entering the balancing market is crucial in making sure Britain’s electricity system is as flexible and secure as possible and that by innovating with industry in this way to widen access still further, new opportunities are being opened up to diversify the energy mix and take another step towards being able to operate the grid with zero carbon by 2025.
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