The appointment means the new market facilitator will join the Open Networks Steering Group, which guides the strategic running of the programme towards delivering a more coordinated and accessible flexibility market. This news comes following a busy 12 months for UK energy flexibility, with network operators tendering a record 6.4GW of capacity on Great Britain’s local flexibility markets, with 4GW contracted, almost doubling in one year.
Avi Aithal, Head of Open Networks at Energy Networks Association, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Elexon as the new Chair of the Open Networks Challenge Group. Incorporating Elexon’s voice into the programme will help ensure that we are fully aligned as we continue to deliver a programme that has supported the creation of a world class flexibility market. We also look forward to working with Ofgem and Elexon in evolving the concept of the market facilitator and ensuring the voice of the networks is heard in the national debate on energy flexibility.”
Elexon’s Chief Executive, Peter Stanley, said:
“The Open Networks programme plays an important role in bringing together electricity grid operators to work collaboratively to speed up the connection of low carbon generation to the networks, and increase the participation of flexibility providers in local markets. As a sector, it is essential that we keep up the momentum of this work before Elexon begins operating as the Market Facilitator by early 2026 at the latest.”
Hussein Osman, Elexon’s Market Intelligence Advisor, said:
“I am very pleased to have been appointed as Chair of the Challenge Group. Elexon has been involved in the Challenge Group since its inception in 2022 and we fully understand the significance of its role. As Chair, Elexon is eager to work with the Challenge Group members to ensure their views are considered and integrated into the process, while also understanding the changes they would like to see, as Elexon transitions to Market Facilitator operations.”
Notes to editor
Background information
- The market facilitator will be a new single, expert entity, with a mandate to grow and develop local flexibility markets and align local and national flexibility market arrangements
- The Open Networks Challenge Group, established in 2022, includes energy suppliers, flexibility service providers, local authorities, government, consumer advocates and others, totalling twenty members. This group helps shape the programme's direction, priorities, and outcomes, by providing a challenge function on behalf of the wider industry
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Energy Networks Association (ENA) is the industry body representing the energy networks. Our members include every major electricity network operator in the UK. The electricity networks are at the heart of the energy transition. They directly employ more than 26,000 people in the UK, including 1,500 apprentices. They are spending and investing £33bn in our electricity grids over the coming years, to ensure safe, reliable and secure energy supplies for the millions of homes and businesses reliant on power every day.
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