
Local flexibility is already procured through operating markets. Scale now depends on simpler participation, shorter cycles and a digital operating layer that connects registration, dispatch, measurement and settlement to network decisions.
Four signals define the move from active markets to a scalable operating model.
Government aims for 10–12 GW by 2030, including about 4.5 GW from smart EV charging and 1.7 GW from non-domestic flexibility.
In 2024/25, one network operator accepted 179 MW of bids and dispatched 511 MWh; another ran 10 month-ahead tender cycles.
Shared market rules and common asset registration are intended to align local and national participation.
The report prioritises portable asset data, automation, performance evidence and network integration.
Map friction across the market chain, then invest in shared data and operational integration so flexibility can be assessed alongside reinforcement