Northern Powergrid is to partner with smart solutions provider Piclo to assess the potential for a national flexibility procurement platform.

The system is expected help identify potential flexible assets across energy networks and assist the organisation in its transition from a Distribution Network Operator (DNO) to a Distribution System Operator (DSO).

The company aims to boost flexibility across its areas of operation as an alternative to installing longer-term reinforcement, which it says would be far more expensive.

The technology will assess the benefits flexibility services could provide to customers within the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire areas.

It will also help explore new routes through which the local power grid operator can connect with more households and businesses.

The operator’s newly appointed Commercial Development Manager, Andrew McKenna, said: “We have a lot of multi-site businesses on our patch and we still have a significant number of heavy industry players who we expect will be able to provide flexibility services.

“Over the course of the next few months we plan to ramp up meaningful engagement with potential flexibility providers and publish details of where we would like to procure future services on the Picloflex platform.”