UK Power Networks has become the first Distribution System Operator (DSO) to respond to industry calls and publish full data on curtailment history across its network.
The company has acted to be more open with data on when and why distributed energy resources are ‘curtailed’ to reduce the impact and get more renewable energy into customers’ homes.
UK Power Networks introduced flexible connections to the UK in 2014 to enable renewable energy generators to connect to the network faster and cheaper. The trade-off is that flexibility customers can sometimes see their exported energy curtailed, to keep the network within safe limits. UK Power Networks’ DSO is already providing easy access to detailed data of curtailments into the public domain on its Open Data Portal.
After launching the UK’s first independent DSO in May 2023, the company has established new data and operations teams working to deeper understand and reduce the curtailment process.
DSO director Sotiris Georgiopoulos said with a significant renewable energy pipeline connected now and anticipated in the coming years, having excellent data foundations on our curtailment actions is essential to keep curtailment as efficient as possible.
He said, “We know generators want to get as much of the energy they produce, onto the network, and that’s exactly what we are doing. By gaining a really clear understanding of exactly what’s happening and then working with our customers we’ve been able to deliver a significant drop in the volume and duration of curtailment.
“We strongly believe in the principle of opening up our data and we’re opening up granular curtailment reporting, to release data on exactly how much spare capacity is available at each Grid Supply Point, and how many projects have already requested a new connection Supporting customers by sharing more data is ultimately getting more renewable energy into people’s homes at lower cost.”
Commercial director of Locogen Philippa Hardy welcomed the move. She said, “The more data we have on curtailment, capacity and constraints, the more we can support our clients to plan where renewable energy, energy storage and hydrogen projects are best placed to support the networks and customers”.
