The new partnership between GridBeyond and ENWCML launches the availability of enhanced Demand Side Response (DSR) and intelligent energy service technologies to a huge range of industrial, commercial and public sector businesses.
The direct partnership between Electricity North West (Construction and Maintenance) and GridBeyond exists to better manage the decentralisation and flexibility of energy in the North West, and to ensure industrial, commercial and public sector organisations in the area have access to the best combined experience, expertise and innovation in energy.
DSR and energy services are becoming more prevalent in businesses today, as the need to integrate more renewables onto the grid becomes pressing. In October this year, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published the Special Report on Global Warming and concluded that an increase of just 1.5 degrees in global temperature could have a significant impact on climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty. Energy intensive businesses are beginning to understand the significant role they need to play in combating climate change, as well as operational and financial benefits of their actions in that area.
Wayne Muncaster, UK Managing Director at GridBeyond, commented: “Our partnership with Electricity North West (Construction and Maintenance) illustrates our collective vision for transforming large energy consumers into smarter, more active participants in the energy market. The more businesses we can work with to deliver these enhanced energy services, the closer we are to a truly innovative and participative electricity system, providing value to the industrial, commercial and public sector businesses customers and improving the security of electricity supply nationally to all.”
For businesses with concerns around interruption to processes, the partnership provides peace of mind on two levels. The first being that Electricity North West (Construction and Maintenance) manage the site power infrastructure. The second is that GridBeyond’s experienced engineers and machine learning platform will ensure that parameters are set to guarantee no interruption to operations, and that energy resilience is improved.
The partnership helps to deliver objectives in a number of key areas that support further development of a flexible, decarbonised energy system: flexible consumption, active and well-informed consumers, access to new energy markets and community energy.
Mark Williamson, CEO at Electricity North West (Construction & Maintenance) , said: “Our partnership with GridBeyond is a significant step into expanding our customer service offering. Traditionally Electricity North West (Construction and Maintenance) have not assisted customers to realise the potentially significant benefits available through participation in the frequency and flexibility markets. GridBeyond are leaders in the flexible services sector, with a wealth of knowledge and experience that we are looking to utilise to assist our customers in the North West and beyond. We look forward to working with GridBeyond to develop real value for our customers, whilst ultimately providing much needed flexibility to the wider energy network.”
Michael Phelan, Chief Executive and co-founder at GridBeyond, also commented on the partnership: “The partnership with Electricity North West (Construction and Maintenance) is strategically very important to our business. GridBeyond has already formed significant relationships with distribution partners in Ireland, and we plan to replicate the success we’ve had in Ireland over here in the UK.”
When asked what the secret to a successful partnership is, Phelan responded: “It’s in our corporate DNA to develop collaborative, transparent partnerships where parties work together in unison, without barriers, to create a pool of knowledge and expertise. Combined, Electricity North West (Construction and Maintenance) and GridBeyond can provide some really powerful solutions, and this shared proficiency means businesses benefit to a far greater extent.”