Government outlines next steps to enable GB’s flexible future

Clean Flexibility Roadmap

Across the Clean Flexibility Roadmap, Government outlines critical steps necessary to achieve the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan and its longer-term net zero objective. The Roadmap sets out four priority areas.

First, it aims to unlock short-term flexibility from DSR and technologies like EVs, batteries and smart appliances , helping consumers shift demand and cut energy costs.

Second, it highlights the need for long duration solutions, which are necessary to support decarbonisation at scale. These include:

• Low carbon dispatchable power from technologies such as hydrogen to power (H2P) and carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS)
• Long duration energy storage

Third, it calls for market reforms and digital tools to make participation in flexibility markets simpler and more transparent.

Finally, it proposes a clearer governance structure, with defined roles for DESNZ, Ofgem and NESO to oversee delivery and coordinate industry change.

Government plans to drive greater non-domestic flexibility by setting a clear target for annual growth in large consumer participation in NESO balancing markets through to 2030 . NESO will launch an open call for industry to bring forward propositions for large loads that could participate in NESO flexibility markets. And it’ll commit to working with participating organisations to explore how this capacity could be brought into NESO markets.

Government also plans to explore options to allow carbon reporting for flexibility actions. This will enable industrial and commercial (I&C) customers to measure the carbon savings from their flexible energy use.

Consultation on engaging with customers on CLF

The CLF consultation complements this direction by seeking views on the best approach to:

• Engage customers on CLF
• Make flexibility opportunities more visible
• Make flexibility opportunities easier to understand

This includes the potential establishment of a consumer engagement ‘framework’.

Such a framework could include a role for a neutral player to provide trusted independent information and explanation of the CLF landscape and changes. And such a role could range in engagement level – from establishment of a website and limited involvement, to installation within the market and co-ordination of issues on customer engagement.

Government’s also exploring how to improve coordination between suppliers, aggregators and networks – and how to ensure fair access and value sharing. The consultation closes on 19 September 2025 with a government response expected in early 2026.

Distributed asset visibility

The final part of the suite of three flexibility-related policy releases was a call for evidence on improving the visibility of distributed assets, closing 10 September. Greater visibility of these assets will help DNOs manage their networks and grow local markets for flexibility.

The call for evidence seeks views on changing DNO and installer processes, with a particular focus on <50kW assets. It also explores leveraging smart meter data and other industry datasets to support asset identification.

Clear policy direction

Together, the announcements signal a clear policy direction, which is to place CLF at the heart of the GB power system. For businesses, this presents an opportunity to prepare for change early by exploring how to:

• Participate in flexibility markets
• Optimise energy use
• Stay ahead of evolving regulations and commercial expectations

At Drax Energy Solutions, we’re evolving our flexibility offering for customers to take account of recent changes – get in touch at insights@drax.com for more information.

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