Balancing programme | National Energy System Operator

Balancing programme | National Energy System Operator Show/Hide Menu Toggle Add to favourites Close tooltip Sign in to add this page to your favourites Sign in or register Show favourites Close Close tooltip Sign in or register to manage your favourites Sign in or register Help You are now signed in Visit My NESO account to view and manage your dataset subscriptions. Maybe later Go to your account Balancing programme This programme was established to develop the balancing capabilities that the Electricity National Control Centre needs to deliver reliable and secure system operation, facilitate competition everywhere and meet our ambition for net-zero carbon operability. To date, the programme has done extensive work to modify our existing capabilities to meet changing market conditions and customer requirements. However, in their current form, our existing capabilities will not be able to meet all future challenges. Additional investment is required to develop new capabilities that can meet changing requirements. We are modernising and transforming our balancing capabilities and associated platforms. This will ensure that we have the vital flexibility to facilitate future changes, both expected and emerging, across the industry. In line with our RIIO-2 plan , we have assessed what is required to transform our systems whilst maintaining our existing systems and enabling market changes to continue. We now have a better understanding of the complexity of change required and the large number of dependencies involved in transitioning from old to new systems. Following a strategic review we held in spring 2022, we committed to engage with our stakeholders quarterly, providing updates on what we have been delivering and how we plan to transform the balancing capabilities of the control room. Through these engagements we have taken on feedback that more detailed conversations with stakeholders are required around certain topics. We have therefore established stakeholder groups to collaborate on topics more regularly. Roadmap capability journey Industry engagement Closure Reports Stakeholder focus groups Strategic capability review Balancing trials Roadmap capability journey Roadmap capability journey Want to learn more about what the Programme has delivered so far, and what’s still to come? We’ve broken our delivery into four capability journeys, each showing how the Electricity National Control Centre is already using the functionality delivered, and how it will continue to do so in the future. These journeys highlight the benefits and impact for the Control Room & industry, the key challenges addressed, and how our work aligns with NESO’s strategic goals. The capabilities you see have been shaped through a combination of external engagement & internal NESO workshops. Name Published Sort ascending Scheduling Capability Journey 26 Mar 2026 Forecasting & Predictions Capability Journey 25 Mar 2026 Ancillary Services Capability Journey 25 Mar 2026 Dispatch Capability Journey 25 Mar 2026 Industry engagement Ongoing engagement As agreed through our strategic review with industry between April and June 2022, we will provide regular updates on our website and look to host in person events every quarter to keep our stakeholders informed of our progress. The in-person workshops offer a great space for collaborating with our stakeholders, ensuring we continue to gain valuable insight and feedback from across the industry into what we are delivering. March 2026 event November 2025 event September 2025 event June 2025 event March 2025 event January 2025 event November 2024 event September 2024 event June 2024 event March 2024 event November 2023 event June 2023 event February 2023 event October 2022 event Rich text On 26 March 2026, we welcomed over 120 customers to our bi‑annual Balancing Programme webinar. The session provided the latest updates on Balancing and Forecasting capabilities being delivered into the Control Room, alongside a high‑level overview of the EDT/EDL transition plan and the planned retirement of the Ancillary Services Dispatch Platform (ASDP), as we move to our enduring scheduling and dispatch Control Room system – OBP – for both BM and Non‑BM units. We also delivered a comprehensive walkthrough of GC0166, including insights emerging from proof‑of‑concept testing, what to expect from the second stage of testing, and implementation timeline of the change. Our NESO 1 Plan was shared, together with links to the four capability journeys that set out delivery by Programme through to March 2028. The Q&A session was particularly active, with strong engagement throughout, enabling our subject matter experts to share deeper insights; a rolling Q&A document is available at the bottom of this page. Download Slides Watch the Webinar On 18 November, we welcomed over 100 external stakeholders to our bi-annual in-person Balancing Programme event. The day was packed full of interactive breakouts and insightful discussions. If you missed the event you can catch up on all the content here; summary descriptions of the day's sessions are provided below. Balancing Transformation Capability Journeys 2023 - 2028: Three sessions exploring balancing system transformation capability journeys for dispatch, scheduling, and ancillary services. Progress to date and plans through to March 2028 were presented, with details of how functionality is/will be used in the NESO Control Room and what this means for Industry. As part of these sessions there was the opportunity for attendees to share feedback & reflections on co-created capability journeys. OBP Functionality Demo: Demo showcasing new capabilities and functionality delivered into the Control Room, including work to harmonise BM & Non-BM within a single system. Dispatch Transparency: Interactive session providing updates on progress against key deliverables on the dispatch transparency roadmap including GC0166, skip rate root cause analysis, and the dispatch strategic review. There was also an opportunity for attendees to shape the skip rate reduction target, ahead of a decision in February 2026. A Day in the Life of a Control Room Engineer: Session exploring the management of constraints in scheduling and dispatch timescales inc. processes & considerations; as part of this, the role of OBP in evolving how NESO manages constraints was explored. View slide pack from the day Demo Name Watch Demo Fast Dispatch & Target Bulk Dispatch Optimisation Watch demo Ancillary Service and Dyn Response Watch demo MWI Wind Multi Price Stack Watch demo NBM Dispatch Watch demo Constraints Margin Based Exclusions, System Tagging and Multi Dispatch Watch demo Demand Predictor Watch demo Rich text September 2025 event On the 16 September we were joined by over 115 Customers at our Balancing Programme Webinar. The session provided an update on our balancing and forecasting system transformation, including and overview of deliverables and changes in the FY 25/26 roadmap, a digital enabler update, inc. the latest on our EDL/EDT transition plan & NBM integrations, and information on the GC0166 proof of concept testing, and how to get involved. Download Slides Watch the Webinar Rich text June 2025 event On the 24 June we welcomed 85 Industry customers to our Balancing Programme in person event. Customers were updated on the latest functionality enabled on the Open Balancing Platform (OBP), with deep dives into constraint management using OBP, and a demo of the system's functionality. Topics also included updates on Project Volta, work to build out our beyond 2025 balancing roadmap, and details of new market services being enabled in OBP. An interactive session on the Reveal trials platform enabled customers to share ideas & pain points which may inform potential future trials. A highlight for many was the return of the ever-popular “A Day in the Life of a Control Room Engineer” — offering a powerful, behind-the-scenes look at what it truly takes to keep our energy system balanced all year round. We were delighted and very grateful for the fantastic engagement from attendees on the day who provided helpful insights and ideas on how we can continue to progress delivery to support CP30. Watch Full Combined OBP Demo June 2025 Event Slide Pack Platform for Energy Forecasting Update Balancing Programme Overview Update Rich text March 2025 event On the 5 March we welcomed 122 customers to our bi-annual Balancing Programme webinar. We shared the latest on our Balancing and Forecasting capabilities planned for delivery into the Control Room and provided an update on progress to shape our capabilities beyond 2025 using customer input. ​ The webinar featured a deep dive on the upcoming OBP deliverable - bulk dispatch of wind (rule based) alongside a digital enabler update with the latest on the EDL/EDT transition plan and non-BM API implementation. Our Q&A session enabled our subject matter experts to provide further insights and fuelled further engagement with customers. Watch March 2025 Webinar March 2025 Webinar - Slide Pack Rich text January 2025 event On the 30 January we welcomed 106 customers to our Balancing Programme ‘Beyond 2025’ webinar. Having analysed the results from the capabilities survey launched at our November event, we shared what Balancing and Forecasting capabilities Industry told us they felt was most important Beyond 25 and the level of effort needed to implement the change from their side. Led by our Balancing Programme Principal Product Manager and Balancing Programme Operational Manager, this included enhanced dispatch results, data and transparency results and whole systems and flex results. The webinar had interactive elements enabling customers to highlight which capabilities they would like us to deep dive into at future engagement events and provide suggestions on the developments on some of the capabilities. Watch Webinar Balancing Programme Capabilities Beyond 2025 Pre-Read Balancing Programme Beyond 2025 Webinar - Slide Pack November 2024 event On the 27 November we welcomed 77 Customers to our Balancing Programme in person event. Customers were updated on the Open Balancing Platform (OBP) programme of work one year in and were provided with details on the longer-term view of the OBP product roadmap and what this means for market participants, along with the digital enablers in our Balancing Transformation journey. Those present inputted ideas and views to help shape product development post 2025 in the balancing and forecasting space and asked questions to our panel of subject matter experts. Breakout sessions provided the opportunity to deep dive into topics proposed by customers including Constraint Management and National Optimisation. This included a very popular session on a “Day in the Life of a Control Room Engineer” which explored how the energy team balance supply and demand in real-time, generating lots of interest and questions. We also included an update on new market services and the Clean Power 30 publication. Download slides Survey guide & capability descriptors OBP Demo Balancing Systems Update Watch overview of Balancing Programme Delivery Watch PEF update September 2024 event On the 26 September we were joined by over 70 Customers at our Balancing Programme Webinar. The session provided an overview of system transformation for both balancing and forecasting, as well as details on constraint management using the Open Balancing Platform & enhancements being made to the Legacy Dispatch Algorithm to enable advice for the battery zone. Download slides Watch the webinar June 2024 event On 27 June we welcomed industry partners to our sixth balancing programme engagement event, where we provided an overview of new balancing functionality being delivered into the control room, as part of current system upgrades and Open Balancing Platform (OBP) delivery. We also updated partners on forecasting products and planned activity as we transition to the new platform for energy forecasting (PEF). Breakout sessions provided details of ESO innovation projects and how these will enhance and future-proof control room operations, a summary of optimisation developments and enhancements, and a demonstration of fast dispatch in action. There was also an interactive session which enabled partners to input into and shape balancing and forecasting product roadmaps beyond 2025. A customer listening session provided the opportunity for partners to tell us how they would like to see the balancing programme evolve its approach to customer engagement and partnership working. The day concluded with a live Q&A panel, where questions were posed to our panel of subject matter experts around all things balancing and forecasting. Download slides Watch the intro Watch OBP Demo Watch OBP update Watch Current Systems update March 2024 event On 27 March we hosted a Balancing Programme webinar where we provided an update to industry on progress to develop our control room balancing capabilities. We presented an overview of deliverables since our last engagement event for both current systems and the Open Balancing Platform (OBP), and outlined the impact and benefit of these to the market. Details of future system releases were also provided, with a particular focus on fast dispatch, and the functionality this delivers to the control room. Changes made to the OBP delivery roadmap were highlighted to stakeholders, and an explanation as to the reason for these changes provided. A series of polls were run during the session regarding the location of future in-person events and topics for discussion, and future engagement opportunities throughout 2024 were highlighted to stakeholders. The webinar concluded with an interactive Q&A session. Download the workshop slides Watch the webinar November 2023 event We recently hosted our fourth Balancing Programme engagement event, where we confirmed the launch of the Open Balancing Platform (OBP) which will go live on 12 December and is the foundation to start replacing current balancing systems. We provided details about the OBP Release plan, the optimisation logic that’s sits behind the Bulk Dispatch Optimiser, the latest demo which shows the OBP system in operation and our approach to transitioning from current balancing systems to OBP. We also provided an overview of our delivery roadmap across our portfolio of balancing systems. Download the workshop slides Watch the PI9 demo Watch the OBP demo June 2023 event In our latest workshop with industry stakeholders, we showed the benefits and value of what we have been delivering as a programme. Following this we had a choice of four different break out sessions for stakeholders to attend, exploring the topics below: Open Balancing Platform demo Stakeholder groups Balancing trials Dispatching wind We then looked at how what we are delivering in the programme is contributing to our 2035 net-zero operability ambitions. The session finished with a Q&A panel with our speakers from throughout the day. Download the workshop slides Watch the webinar February 2023 event In February we welcomed stakeholders to our latest workshop in London. The day started with updates on the progress the team has made in delivering the co-created roadmap, showing how improvements being made in existing systems are helping bring in new services, as well delivering benefits to dispatch efficiency for control room engineers. The afternoon session looked to collaborate with stakeholders, seeking their feedback and insight into the key future deliverables of the team. Topics included the latest demo of the new Open Balancing Platform that is due to be deployed this year, as well as open discussions on the future dispatch optimiser and how we could improve energy forecasting. Download the workshop slides Watch the webinar October 2022 event In October we held our first Balancing Programme quarterly update at our offices in Wokingham. We gave stakeholders a recap of the strategic review we ran earlier in the year, before providing updates on how we are working towards delivering the co-created roadmap. In the afternoon we held a breakout session, with several stalls focusing on the different areas of the programme and across the ESO. The video shows our facilitator talking through how the day worked with one of our stakeholders who attended the event, gaining valuable insight into how they thought the day went. Download the workshop slides Watch the webinar Closure Reports Closure Reports Read our latest Open Balancing Programme (OBP closure reports which provide details of the latest deliverables alongside upcoming activity for the next programme increment(s) (DI) 20 Closure Report (DI) 19 Closure Report (DI) 18 Closure Report (PI) 15 Closure Report (PI) 14 Closure Report Theses updates will focus on how we are working towards delivering our co-created roadmap, ensuring we are transparent with the costs, risks and benefits associated with our delivery plan. Stakeholder focus groups Following feedback from stakeholders, we have established stakeholder groups to ensure we work collaboratively and align internal balancing enhancements with industry expectations. We have set up these groups to allow for more focussed discussions on a variety of topic areas. These include: Optimisation - A group to share details of the new algorithms we are creating and to proactively seek examples from Industry that they would like us to test and explain. This is to supplement material we will be publishing online allowing interested parties to explore the details of the logic in greater detail. IT Technology - Looking at ways to develop future technical roadmaps and to facilitate testing as we deliver new functionality. As we develop new solutions, we are aware that a number of software developers would like to test out new methods of exchanging data with the ESO before we go into production. We’d also like your ideas on how new emerging technologies could improve communications and we’d like to develop shared roadmaps where these are appropriate. Forecasting - The group's primary focus will be on enhancing the forecasting capability for zero-carbon energy operations, by improving the transparency and accessibility of energy data and exploring innovative forecasting methods using new data and modelling techniques. The group will collaborate with industry stakeholders to align internal forecasting enhancements with their expectations, addressing their pain points and planning for future improvements. Storage – A group to collaboratively work with industry to develop new capabilities that address some of the challenges currently faced by Storage providers. The group will help us to prioritise capabilities that provide the greatest benefit. To join one or more of these groups, register here . All information regarding the group and the materials from the meetings can be found on the respective tabs: Storage group Optimisation group Forecasting group Technology group Storage group Rich text July 2023 stakeholder group Download the slides May 2023 stakeholder group Download the slides Terms of Reference Storage group June 2025 optimisation group Watch the webinar Download the slides February 2024 optimisation group Watch the webinar Download the slides June 2023 optimisation group Terms of reference Download the slides Interactive Mural Board Rich text October 2025 forecasting group Watch the webinar Download the slides Interactive Mural Board June 2025 forecasting group Watch the webinar Download the slides Interactive Mural Board May 2025 forecasting group Watch the webinar Download the slides Interactive Mural Board 1 - Factors influencing energy demand Interactive Mural Board 2 - Feedback on proposed forecasting strategy goals October 2024 forecasting group Watch the webinar Download the slides Interactive Mural Board November 2023 forecasting group Terms of reference Download the slides Interactive Mural Board Technology Rich text January 2026 technology stakeholder focus group Watch the webinar Download the slides July 2025 technology stakeholder focus group Watch the webinar Download the slides April 2025 technology stakeholder focus group Watch the webinar Download the slides BM to OBP EDT/EDL Transition - Guide March 2025 technology stakeholder focus group Watch the webinar Download the slides October 2024 technology stakeholder focus group Watch the webinar Download the slides Interactive Mural Board April 2024 technology stakeholder focus group Watch the webinar Download the slides Interactive Mural Board Terms of reference Strategic capability review Strategic capability review Read the details of our strategic capability review which was held between April and June 2022. It was undertaken to help us ensure that we meet our RIIO-2 objectives, minimise balancing costs, deliver consumer benefits and create a foundation for future market changes and reform. Strategic capability review Balancing trials Powerloop: trialling vehicle to grid technology In 2022 we collaborated with the Octopus Energy Group on a trial to understand the viability of domestic EVs playing a role in our energy balancing activities through vehicle to grid (V2G) technology. The trial was the first of its kind for the British energy system, linking actions in our Electricity National Control Centre to end consumer’s EV charge points. It explored how altering charging and discharging schedules of individual households could offer us a greener, cheaper way to balance the energy system, while protecting customers’ preferences. The trial was a proof-of-concept piece with two high level objectives: Understand the viability of entry into the Balancing Mechanism (BM): Looking at the aspects of the BM framework and obligations that currently act as a barrier for V2G enabled EVs to enter this market Demonstrate the capabilities of V2G enabled EVs: Proving the capabilities of V2G enabled EVs when working in a BM framework, gathering insights into their ability to respond to instructions and the commercial viability of an asset of this type when compared against the current market Although the trial centred on V2G enabled EVs, the findings and conclusions drawn from the report are applicable to all types of EV smart charging, as well as offering a good insight into other flexible domestic assets. Below is the technical report covering all aspects of the trial. Alongside this there is a short animation explaining how domestic EVs could play a role in balancing the energy system of the future. If you have any questions regarding the report and trial, please contact us via email here [email protected] Powerloop report Completed trials Completed trials Name BM reserve from storage trials - phase 3 review BM reserve from storage trials - phase 2 review BM reserve from storage trials - review BM Reserve from storage trials - industry letter Join our mailing list Sign up to receive the latest updates from the programme, including details of our quarterly workshops. Read our latest Q&A Find a full list of all questions and answers from our Balancing Programme Events. Get in touch Email us if you have any queries. logo--facebook