From today, Elexon began performing the flexibility market facilitator role with a mission to align and standardise local and national flexibility markets and rapidly scale up trading of flexibility in Great Britain.
Consistent rules and coordination
Currently, flexibility markets are fragmented and in need of consistent rules, coordination and market entry processes to improve the accessibility and market participation for sellers of flexibility services. This enables more effective use of flexibility for electricity system operators and drives broader energy system benefits.
Delivering the flexibility market asset registration solution
Through the role, Elexon will also deliver flexibility market asset registration capability to create visibility of interoperable and high-quality flexibility asset data across all markets.
Stronger leadership for flexibility markets
Elexon Chief Executive, Peter Stanley, said, “The market facilitator is pivotal to improving flexibility in Great Britain as we strive to achieve Clean Power 2030. Providing stronger leadership, market coordination and monitoring will support these markets to grow, stimulating greater participation and investor confidence.
“To achieve the required flexibility targets, we need strong collaboration across the sector. I would like to thank all stakeholders who have worked with us over the past year to define and set up the role and successfully achieve the go-live milestone.”
10 rules have been set
Elexon has set 10 Flexibility Market Rules for the National Energy System Operator (NESO) and Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) to follow. They are based on Elexon’s work with stakeholders throughout 2025 and build on the outputs of the Energy Networks Association’s (ENA) Open Networks programme.
The rules will improve coordination and standardisation across the markets and reduce barriers to entry for flexibility providers. They will also create compliance requirements for system operators to drive the performance needed to make flexibility markets function better for all. The rules are backed by Ofgem licence conditions on NESO and the DNOs.
