Operating a future energy system with high levels of renewables will require significantly more flexible, zero carbon capacity than currently available. Large amounts of short-duration flexibility will be needed to match supply and demand within the same day. During periods of high or low renewable generation, greater amounts of within-day flexibility (WDF) will be needed.  

There is no widely agreed method for quantifying the need for WDF. Unless this method is developed, inconsistent and flawed methods may be used, leading to inefficiencies. 

The project will seek to develop a rigorous, repeatable, transparent method for quantifying the need for WDF. The method will include identifying relevant data sources and how to process them, assumptions, treatments of averages and extremes, calculations and interpretation of results. 

Benefits

A rigorous method for quantification of the need for WDF will allow more accurate and consistent foundational assumptions across many ESO processes including setting market requirements for existing balancing services, developing new balancing services and markets, forecasting energy, flows and constraints, planning network development, planning control room capability. 

Making the method transparent and public will allow other energy system participants with an interest in flexibility to challenge and improve the method, and to incorporate it into their own processes.