This report explores the critical role of flexibility in the ongoing transformation of the Great Britain power system toward Clean Power 2030, and the broader net zero target.
This report explores the critical role of flexibility in the ongoing transformation of the Great Britain power system toward Clean Power 2030, and the broader net zero target. Flexibility, defined as the system’s ability to balance electricity supply and demand in real-time, is becoming increasingly vital as renewable energy sources replace traditional, dispatchable fossil-fuel power stations.
This transition introduces significant challenges related to variability, uncertainty, and the need for system reliability, while also pursuing the decarbonisation goals mandated by government policies.
The report emphasises the importance of flexibility for maintaining system security and balancing supply and demand under physical and operational constraints. Historically, fossil-fuel generators provided this. However, the shift to renewables and decentralised energy resources necessitates novel approaches and technologies to meet the increasing demand for flexibility.
The electrification of transport and heating and the shift to renewables underscore the urgent need for innovative solutions to ensure system stability and cost-effectiveness while minimising environmental impact.
In addition to the mainstream energy storage technologies, such as batteries, which are crucial for providing flexibility, substantial energy storage and demand response potentials exist within different energy vectors. Namely, heat and gas/hydrogen. This report focuses on the flexibility that can be provided by the other energy vectors to the power system. For instance, the gas network offers substantial short-term storage capacity through its within-pipe storage capability known as ‘linepack’, while hydrogen infrastructure and electrolysis present opportunities to integrate excess renewable electricity. Similarly, the heat sector, leveraging thermal storage and thermal inertia in buildings supplied by heat pumps, could play a pivotal role in demand-side management.
In addition to identifying these alternative sources of flexibility, the report outlines three primary routes to achieving low-carbon flexibility for the power system:
-
Transitioning natural gas infrastructure to low-carbon alternatives, such as hydrogen
-
Retrofitting carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology at existing power plants
-
Unlocking flexibility through a comprehensive focus on demand-side management and distributed energy resources
Current market mechanisms, such as the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme and Capacity Market, need to be revised to incorporate incentives for flexibility and long-duration energy storage solutions. The implementation of digitalised platforms and enhanced consumer participation are critical to aligning market structures with technical and operational needs.
The report underscores the urgency of addressing the GB power system’s growing flexibility requirements. As the country advances toward its Clean Power 2030 and net zero targets, system operators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders must collaborate to deploy scalable and sustainable solutions. The integration of novel flexibility sources, coupled with a supportive policy framework, is essential for ensuring a secure, reliable, and cost-effective transition to a decarbonised energy system.
