FlexPoint™, our Distributed Energy Resources Management System, unlocks distributed energy resource and demand-side management potential, by enabling flexibility owners and aggregators (e.g. Flexibility Service Providers) to participate in flexibility service opportunities, supporting our National Grid.
This kiwi developed and locally software platform enables flexibility providers to offer and enrol distributed energy storage, generation, and demand response resources. Operators use FlexPointTM to call on these resources and request additional flexibility for our Grid.
FlexPointTM:
- Registers resources and organisations offering Distributed and Consumer Energy Resources
- Verifies which Distributed and Consumer Energy Resources to call upon to meet grid needs
- Manages and coordinates Flexibility events
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Enables better visibility of assets to determine which are operational (available / unavailable) and identify issues
- Tracks event performance (Post M&V) and settles payments
- Enables seamless customer relationships, communication, and contract management
FlexPointTM is an open-access platform built around application programming interfaces (APIs) and is certified by the OpenADR Alliance for the OpenADR 2.0 standard (IEC 62746-10-1 ED1).
An alternative to transmission investment
$1.5 billion in generation, transmission, and distribution investment can be avoided for every GW of peak demand saved using flexibility services, as forecasted in our Electrification Roadmap. When combined with Distributed Energy Resources Management Systems (DERMS), flexibility services make excellent alternatives to transmission investment.
We modelled the uptake of Electric Vehicles (EVs) to 2035 and the impact of connecting them to smart chargers which automatically charge at non-peak hours. By using DERMS, automated smart chargers, and batteries, peak demand can be reduced by approximately 2 GW. To put this quantity of conserved power in perspective, 2 GW is equivalent to more than twice the energy generation output of Lake Manapouri, the largest hydro power station in Aotearoa.
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.
The future
Flexibility services are vital to the success of equipping New Zealand’s Grid to meet future electricity needs. FlexPointTM enables the integration of these programmes, alongside Electricity Distribution Businesses, generators, retailers and new market entrants who are working to build new business models to optimally leverage modern flex technologies.
Transpower actively supports the development of local and regional Distributed and Consumer Energy Resource programmes and other non-wired alternatives, where regional major capital project grid investments are considered. This includes working with local lines companies (Electricity Distribution Businesses) in areas where demand is forecasted to exceed system capacity, investigating the potential of flexibility services delaying or replacing additional expensive infrastructure investments. Learn more about potential upcoming Flexibility projects.
Interested in providing an alternative to transmission investment?
If you would like to inform Transpower of potential Flexibility Services which could support our flexibility initiatives, you can Register for providers of transmission alternatives/non-transmission solutions or directly contact Transpower’s Flexibility Services team.