Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution has announced the establishment of its first-ever Flexibility Services on Scotland's islands.

SSEN are now asking for feedback ahead of them taking the next steps to grow flexibility in these communities.

Flexibility is a service procured by us from third parties, which allows the varying of demand or supply of electricity. This helps manage power flow on the distribution network, releasing capacity, improving reliability, and helping manage constraints.

SSEN's first foray into the world of Flexibility Services began on Scotland's islands several years ago. It involved hydro power being used instead of diesel, to provide back-up generation when a network fault occurred.

For island communities more generally, Flexibility Services offer potentially greater reliability, and the scope to reduce reliance on diesel generators. They also leverage the benefits of renewable energy and can help support economic growth.

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We're committed to increasing the use of Flexibility Services on Scotland's islands, which is why we're now issuing a Request for Information (RFI) to help shape the tailored services needed for the islands and the communities who live here.

This Request for Information is focused on specific regions, including:

• Orkney

• Shetland

• Outer Hebrides

• Mull, Coll, and Tiree

• Islay, Jura, and Colonsay

At this time, SSEN is particularly interested in hearing from:

• Owners or operators of generation and energy storage

• 'Aggregators' who manage multiple sites on behalf of several electricity producers.

• Businesses of all sizes, including industrial and commercial customers.

Catherine Winning, Flexibility Services Manager at SSEN Distribution, said: "Scotland's islands are unique in a multitude of ways, and offer great potential for building out the role of Flexibility Services as part of the local electricity mix. We've had great early successes in this field – which have produced tangible benefits for island communities and contributed to over 40,000 kg CO2 in reduced emissions. The likely benefits for potential providers – and wider communities – speak for themselves, so I'm keen to talk to interested parties to see if they can help expand these benefits further.

"Your responses to our Request for Information will help us design future services that will address the specific needs of island communities. This is not a pre-qualification or tender process, rather an opportunity to contribute to the development of a more resilient and sustainable electricity system at a formative stage."