The journey so far
- The Innovation and Participation Advisory Group (IPAG) carried out an independent review of Transpower’s demand response programme between 2020 - 2021. The outcome highlighted how distributed and consumer energy resources could support The Grid. This led to the establishment of our Distributed Energy Resource Management System, FlexPoint™.
- 1950 Demand-Side Management
Hot water ripple control was introduced and remains widely adopted as an important network management tool.
- 2007-10 DR Trials Begin
Upper South Island trial conducted, proving DR is a reliable option as a transmission alternative solution.
- 2011-15 DRMS Platform
Purchased and customised a DRMS allowing the DR programme to scale-up to a meaningful size. The DRMS effectively removed barriers by automating communications, verification and coordination functions in an operational DR environment.
- 2015 DR Programme Starts
RCP2 5-year DR investigation programme to further explore DR as a viable transmission alternative and to continue to grow MW capability ahead of need especially in geographic regions where demand is likely to be constrained in the future.
- 2019 FlexPointTM
New Zealand's first, locally built and supported flexibility management system (FlexPointTM) goes live. Fully automated DR capabilities are enabled allowing communications to be established between various emerging equipment types such as batteries, EV charging stations and smart IOT devices.
- 2020+ Operationalising Flexibility Services
FlexPointTM continues to be utilised by our internal operations team members, providing additional DR/DER resource options to assist The National Grid.
Find out more:
- Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Report – Understanding the potential (PDF)
- Transpower's approach to seeking alternative solutions for transmission investments
- Innovation and Participation Advisory Group (IPAG) presentation (ZIP)
- Transpower's Electrification Roadmap
- Electricity Networks Association's Network Transformation Roadmap.