• Portugal’s first flexibility market will enable DSOs to unlock value from decentralised energy resources, secure flexibility at scale, and decarbonise the grid. 
• Flexibility Service Providers (FSPs) are encouraged to participate in future flexibility opportunities by registering on Piclo Flex.

Wednesday 30 November, London, UK – Piclo, the leading independent marketplace provider for flexibility services, has today launched Portugal’s first project to build a local flexibility market with E-REDES, Portugal’s largest distribution system operator (DSO). The collaboration will use the Piclo Flex marketplace to streamline the procurement and participation in E-REDES’ DSO flexibility market.

Flexibility Service Providers (FSPs) with existing or planned assets such as battery storage, electric vehicles or demand side response are now able to register on Piclo Flex to participate in upcoming flexibility service opportunities. By streamlining the process, Piclo Flex helps DSOs to unlock flexible capacity and enables FSPs to access additional revenue streams. For more information on E-REDES flexibility markets and the Piclo Flex platform, FSPs are encouraged to register for a webinar on 12 January 2023.

Flexibility services are required to decarbonise the grid. The growth in renewables and clean technologies such as electric vehicles is vital but can lead to stresses on the electricity networks through the technologies’ additional and varying generation and demand patterns. In response, Distribution System Operators like E-REDES can pay companies with assets such as batteries, electric vehicles or demand-side response to change (or flex) their generation or demand patterns to alleviate network stress. These flexibility services help networks accelerate decarbonisation by enabling more clean technologies to connect to the grid whilst ensuring system resilience.

Portugal was among the first countries in the world to set a target for carbon neutrality by 2050, with its ambitious National Energy and Climate Plan 2030 setting out its trajectory to achieve 80% of its electricity from renewables by 2030. Flexibility is critical to achieving the decarbonisation of electricity grids and E-REDES’s project launch today signifies the leading position Portugal is taking, in alignment with the EU’s Clean Energy Package requirements.

E-REDES currently serves 6 million customers throughout Portugal and joins a growing cohort of leading DSOs working with Piclo, including the UK’s UK Power Networks, Electricity North West and SP Energy Networks and Lithuania’s Energijos Skirstymo Operatorius AB, with new markets opening across Europe and the USA imminently. 

James Johnston, CEO and co-founder of Piclo, said:

“We’re really excited to be working with E-REDES, Portugal’s largest DSO and a leading voice in the country’s commitment to decarbonising its grid and reaching net zero by 2050. We are proud to play a part in this journey with the country launching its first local flexibility market with our independent marketplace Piclo Flex. This new market will unlock opportunities for local and international flexibility service providers while supporting greater energy security and equal access to clean, reliable power.“‍

Pedro Godinho Matos, Head Of Business Development – Associate Director of Strategy and Regulation at E-REDES said:

“Today’s milestone is an important step towards the transformation of the national electrical system, enhancing the distribution grid capability to answer its current and emerging challenges. This project, developed with Piclo, enables the interested Flexibility Service Providers to contribute to E-REDES goal to decarbonize the electricity grids, giving a major contribution to the Portugal National Energy and Climate Plan 2030. It is a first step towards a future process of managing the electricity grids, and its success will depend on the engagement of grid users, national businesses and communities who will have the key role in this future evolution.”

Interested FSPs are invited to view further details and register on the platform here  or register for the upcoming webinar on 12 January 2023.

Piclo and E-REDES will be celebrating their collaboration with a drinks reception at Enlit 2022 on 30 November 2022. If you’re attending, join them at Stand 12.1.G154 from 15:30 – 17:30 to celebrate this momentous milestone. 

About E-REDES

With over 40 years in existence, E-REDES, a company of EDP group, is the major distribution system operator in mainland Portugal. Serving 6.4 million customers and delivering 45TWh per year, E-REDES manages more than 230 thousand kilometres of high, medium, and low voltage lines while ensuring electricity supply to all consumers, with quality, safety, and efficiency. E-REDES is fully committed to support the energy transition and building a more sustainable future