Chart of the week | New to the party: Recent changes in Balancing Mechanism activity

The Balancing Mechanism (BM), one of National Grid Electricity System Operator’s key tools to balance supply and demand in real time, has experienced a notable increase in activity in 2020, especially in light of the heightened challenges that have come from COVID-19.

In the BM parties submit bids and offers to the ESO, providing details on their availability to adjust generation or demand and the price at which they are willing to do so if required. During April and May 2020, when lockdown restrictions were at their peak, the volume of accepted actions in the BM more than doubled compared to the same time last year.

In this ‘Chart of the week’, we explore changes in the BM as lockdown restrictions have eased and electricity demand resurged, and if this trend of greater balancing activity has continued.

Lee Drummee

Lee Drummee

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