UK Power Networks has opened its largest ever flexible electricity offering.

The tender round is seeking up to 850MW of flex – both demand turn-up and demand reduction – across 452 different zones in its London, East and Southeast England service area.

Alex Howard, head of flexibility markets at UK Power Networks’ distribution system operator, said: “We’ve been offering flexibility opportunities for several years now but this latest tender round is our biggest. It demonstrates how we are opening our networks through the use of technology and data. We need flexible assets on our network to cut costs for our customers and maximise the generation of renewable energy options which are so crucial for helping us achieve Net Zero.”

Michael Evans, lead flexibility analyst at Octopus Energy Group, said “We’re excited to continue working with UK Power Networks, who as the first GB DSO to launch a demand turn-up service has been able to rapidly unlock domestic energy flexibility opportunities where our customers benefit from green electricity that would otherwise be wasted.”

The opportunities range from just a few hours of flexible provision per year and as little as 10kW per zone. Potential providers can view flexibility zones on the Piclo Flex website and on the UK Power Networks DSO website.