The Energy Transition | Energy Networks Association launches new UK flexibility standard

This week's edition looks at the Energy Networks Association's launch of a new internationally-aligned flexibility standard, National Grid's plans to expand dynamic line rating, the launch of National Grid Distribution System Operator's 2026 network development plan, and the prospective opening date for Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 8.

Energy Networks Association launches new UK flexibility standard 

The Energy Networks Association (ENA) has launched a new standard for dispatching flexibility developed together with Elexon, the National Energy System Operator (NESO) and the OpenADR Alliance. The standard will be incorporated into Elexon's delivery plan in its capacity as the UK's flexibility market facilitator.

Flexibility services allow grid operators to match supply and demand by paying households and businesses to dial up or down their energy use during periods of peak demand or surplus generation. The ENA expects flexibility via the new standard to deliver savings of more than £3 billion by 2028.

The standard is aligned with the OpenADR 3.1 specification, providing a common interface that allows consistent connection and communication between distribution network operators and flexibility service providers across multiple markets around the country.

Elexon has confirmed it will continue to support the industry on the "processes, implementation and governance required to deliver" the standard and to coordinate across "flexibility providers and system operators".

National Grid expands dynamic line rating across 585km of British transmission network

In 2025, National Grid expanded its dynamic line rating (DLR) technology across nine circuits, covering more than 275km of overhead line conductor. Under a new five-year contract, National Grid is now deploying the technology across a further 585km of transmission routes.

DLR monitors line conditions to identify real-time capacity ratings rather than relying on fixed, conservative assumptions. National Grid says that its effective deployment can result in a safe increase in power-carrying capacity of an average of 8%. Over the RIIO-T2 period (2021-2026), National Grid estimates that DLR has added over 16 GW of new transfer capacity and saved £21 million in constraint costs.

National Grid estimates that the new expansion could save consumers up to £50 million over the next five years. Deployment of the majority of DLR installations is expected to be complete by 2028.

Alice Delahunty, president of National Grid Electricity Transmission, said the use of DLR would unlock greater capacity on the existing network and enable "more renewable energy to flow to homes and businesses."

National Grid DSO launches interactive Network Development Plan

National Grid's Distribution System Operator (DSO) has published its 2026 Network Development Plan (NDP), a new interactive tool designed to: determine the suitability of the distribution system to meet the future growth of customers' demand; identify sites for intervention, such as due to network constraints; and give industry stakeholders a clearer picture of existing capacity, anticipated constraints and planned development across the network to enable the transition to net zero.

The 2026 NDP and its accompanying summary interactive map are available via the network opportunities map, which shows network headroom available across National Grid Electricity Distribution's bulk supply point, primary and distribution substations. Indicative headroom for both current connections and the future contracted position are shown, as well as both constraints and solutions per grid supply point, bulk supply point, and primary substations.

The NDP is designed to serve all stakeholders from local authorities to investors and operators, helping each understand how the distribution network will need to change to accommodate increasing demand, the growth of low-carbon technology and decarbonisation. 

Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 8 prospective application opening date stated

The government has previously set out its intention to open Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 8 (AR8) in July. In a recently published exemptions request notice for CfD AR8, which notes that the information is provisional, the government has stated that the prospective application opening date is 20 July.