NIE Networks

Today, NIE Networks have launched their first flexibility procurement via the Piclo platform. This includes the launch of the utilities dynamic market. The Qualifying Utilities Dynamic Market allows potential providers to register and apply for membership initially, without the need to provide company information for each individual flexibility opportunity. This aims to allow NIE Networks to procure flexibility more quickly, responding to the needs of the distribution network and customers.

The requirements published represent the current forecast requirements for the next three winter periods, as forecasts are updated new zones may be added, those zones will be visible on the Piclo platform.

The current requirements (up to 2028) total to almost 300 hours of utilisation and 400MWh of availability.

All procurement information and supporting documentation is available on the documentation tab.

The key steps to ensuring you can participate are:

1. Create a Piclo account

2. Complete an application for company qualification (qualifying utilities dynamic market application) for NIE Networks review

3. Upload assets

Key deadlines:

Initial company qualification closure: 13th March 2026 17:00

‍Asset upload for current competitions: 13th March 2026 17:00

‍Submit commercial bids: 24th April 2026 23:59

‍The full process can be found on the documentation and timeline tab.

NIE Networks owns and operates the electricity network consisting of approximately 2,300km of transmission network and over 58,000km of distribution network, reaching over 966,000 customers in the form of homes, businesses, and farms.

Flexibility services are defined as a customer adjusting their demand and/or generation in response to an instruction from NIE Networks.

Flexibility Services help manage the delivery of our investment plans. While network reinforcement will still be required in the form of upgrading assets and building new portions of the network, NIE Networks, using flexibility services to defer or avoid the need for investment in costly conventional reinforcement solutions.

Through procuring Flexibility Services from customers connected to the distribution system, the stress on network assets can be reduced by customers adjusting their generation or demand.

NIE Networks typical approach to flexibility is to contract availability, ensuring services are ready when called. NIE Networks then send utilisation instructions based on forecast conditions as required.

Background information can be found at NIE Networks' Website

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