Northern Ireland Electricity Networks (NIE Networks) has selected Piclo’s flexibility marketplace to manage and deliver its flexibility procurement and operations across Northern Ireland.
Under this new collaboration, Piclo will provide the digital infrastructure for NIE Networks’ to enable their Local Flexibility Markets, a core part of their transition to a Distribution System Operator (DSO) and utilisation of flexibility to manage distribution constraints.
NIE Networks, which owns the electricity transmission and distribution networks – and operates the latter – serving over 966,000 customers, is using flexibility services to defer or avoid costly network reinforcement. This will enable more efficient and targeted delivery of network investment, to allow increased electrified demand, facilitating the net zero transition in alignment with Northern Ireland’s Energy Strategy – Path to Net Zero Energy.
Piclo’s proven marketplace technology – already in use by major distribution network operators and transmission operators in Great Britain and internationally – will allow flexibility service providers (FSPs) to participate in upcoming tenders across Flexibility Managed Zones (FMZs). Providers will be able to register assets, bid competitively for opportunities, receive dispatch instructions, and view settlement and performance reports via a single intuitive interface.
“We’re delighted to be working with Piclo to implement a scalable flexibility management platform” said Joel McCreery, Network Innovation Engineer, NIE Networks. “This will enable NIE Networks to reduce barriers to participation, increase visibility of opportunities and streamline processes.”
“We’re thrilled to be supporting Northern Ireland’s journey toward a modern, flexible electricity system,” said James Johnston, CEO and Co-founder of Piclo. “By partnering with NIE Networks, we’re helping to create the digital foundations for a smarter grid – empowering homes and businesses to participate in the energy transition.”
Piclo will enable NIE Networks to advertise flexibility needs, qualify providers, manage procurement competitions, dispatch flexibility, and calculate payments – bringing the end-to-end flexibility lifecycle into one place for flexibility providers.
Piclo will support NIE Networks’ operations with this development aligning with the company’s wider digitalisation and innovation programmes. It will ensure transparent, non-discriminatory access to flexibility markets and provide robust data, dispatch and settlement processes.
