Aurora Energy is leading the way for our sector by seeking alternative ways to manage our network and to help drive Aotearoa's efforts towards a decarbonised energy future.
Why is Aurora Energy seeking non-network solutions?
We recognise the shift in how power is used and generated. The way communities are using technology is fast evolving, with an increase in electric vehicles and more and more people generating their own electricity. We need to ensure our network and operating systems can adapt to enable the uptake of new technologies and integrate their operation to provide support to our network, and the wider power system.
Globally, electric vehicles, solar, batteries, hot water and smart control – which are collectively known as Distributed Energy Resources (DER) – are increasingly recognised as being fundamental to an efficient power system that supports the electrification of the economy.
By exploring ways to reduce or defer infrastructure investment, and optimise the use of grid-connected generation, we’ll be able to provide leading-edge and cost-effective solutions for our communities, ensure future growth needs can be met, and ultimately support a net-zero carbon future. In 2020, after an extensive tendering process, we partnered with solarZero to provide non-exclusive, non-network capacity support in the Upper Clutha region.
This was the first of its kind for our organisation, and has led the way for New Zealand’s electricity distribution industry by going out to an open market for non-network solutions.
As part of our broader network strategy, we are now looking for opportunities to extend our use of non-network solutions to help manage growth on our network. Therefore, we are calling on all distributed energy resources providers, owners, flexibility traders, and new market entrants to get involved and contribute to our decarbonised energy future.
Flexibility market explained
The contribution of non-network solutions to help manage electricity demand needs will require the development of new market players and industry roles. Here we have summarised how the future energy system could work with the use of non-network resources, the roles of the market players needed to help, and what they will be responsible for.
Who does what? Roles and functions
| Flexibility resource owners | Flexibility traders | Flexibility buyers |
| Flexibility Resource Owners are those that physically own the Distributed Energy Resources (DER) that can be controlled - solar-battery systems, hot water systems, battery systems, EV chargers, heating/cooling systems (or other systems that can be controlled), or large distributed generation resources and large customers that can reduce load. Owners might be residential and commercial customers, large industrial customers, distributed generation companies and could even be Flexibility Traders. | Flexibility Traders manage a portfolio of DER resources that can be dispatched to respond to network demand needs and allocate them to their highest value use (this is referred to as “value stacking”, rather than dedicating them for single use). Flexibility Traders interact with Flexibility Buyers to provide the flexibility that they require. Flexibility Traders could be new market entrants or existing Retailers growing their capability to manage flexibility resources for the benefit of their customers. | Flexibility Buyers are often companies like us. They may want to use the Flexibility Resources to help manage demand, respond to network constraints, or to defer investment. Flexibility Buyers could also be the Transmission System Operator (to help manage system stability, voltage and frequency), the Grid owner or another Electricity Distribution Business that expresses an explicit need for flexibility and pays for it. Retailers may also offer a discount for customers with flexibility resources. |
What's the process?
Five simple steps to provide non-network capacity support
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Step 1 Review the Guide and Aurora Energy's Open Call Registration Information. You can find it below under 'Current Open Calls' |
If you are, or intend to be, a Flexibility Trader and you think you’ve got non-network capacity support resources that may be of use to Aurora Energy in helping to manage our network, then review our Guide and the relevant current Open Call information. |
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Step 2 Register online (below) |
Simply complete the online form (below), and Aurora Energy will know you’re keen to be involved. The registration process will stay open until we’re satisfied our capacity requirements will be met. |
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Step 3 Your registration is reviewed by Aurora Energy |
We will assess your registration against our evaluation criteria, as set out in the online form. The registration period will stay open until Aurora Energy has the capacity required in the area we are requesting additional support for – meaning there could be a number of providers selected to help. |
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Step 4 Request for Proposal (RFP) is issued to all those that meet requirements |
For all those who are shortlisted, Aurora Energy will issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) document. This would include details of the capacity support, together with technical and operational requirements, and seek your commercial proposal. |
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Step 5 You're selected to provide Aurora Energy with non-network capacity support |
Aurora Energy will review all proposals, against price and non-price requirements. Those selected to provide non-network capacity support will enter into contractual arrangements with Aurora Energy. Once agreements are confirmed, you’re all set to go. You will partner with us to help manage the network in new ways! |
For a full background and process map, read our Non Network Capacity Support Guide
Download the guide
Register your interest now
Aurora Energy is seeking registrations of interest from providers offering non-network solutions. If you have access to Distributed Energy Resources, are a Flexibility Trader, or you’re hoping to extend your offering in to this new market, then get in touch!
Our process for seeing non-network solutions is simple, fair and open to all.
Simply complete our registration form online (below) to kick-start the pre-qualification process. Your registration will help us to review your capability and experience against our requirements. We’ll keep the pre-qualification period open until capacity needs have been met, so everyone gets a fair chance to register their interest.
Current open calls
Aurora Energy is calling for Registrations of interest to provide additional non-network capacity support in the following areas:
Upper Clutha
For information regarding this opportunity, review the Stage 1 Information Document
Closed open calls
There are currently no expired Open Calls. Please check this list as it will be updated accordingly as Open Calls close.
Got questions? We've got you covered
Here's a list of Frequently Asked Questions. If you have a question not answered here, please don't hesitate to get in touch by emailing us at [email protected]
We believe the future for our energy system will see many players working together to contribute to, and manage, the electricity needs of our communities. Sharing available resources means we may be able to delay or even avoid building more costly infrastructure, and instead, create new partnerships to help manage the electrification growth of our communities. We see our role as fundamental to helping drive Aotearoa’s decarbonisation goals, and to enabling the use of new technologies to support customer choices and innovation in the energy sector.
Non-network capacity support refers to Flexibility Traders providing flexibility resources to help manage demand. It excludes traditional poles and wires solutions and the provision of distributed energy resources by Aurora Energy.
DER refers to Distributed Energy Resources. That’s those small-scale, distribution-embedded assets that either reduce load or inject more power like EV chargers, solar panels, batteries, or automated load management devices.
Controllable DER is where the output or consumption can be turned up or down based on demand – for example, batteries, hot water and EV chargers can be controlled. Renewable generation like wind or solar is not normally considered controllable without a battery, but in some situations voltage control or generation curtailment can be considered as controllable DER.
A number of resources can be called on to provide capacity support. Existing household systems (like hot water heating) that can be controlled to reduce demand, or Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) such as solar-battery systems, battery systems or electric vehicle chargers. Capacity support could be provided by industrial customers that can reduce demand from certain systems such as irrigation or generating with a network-connected generator. Support could also be provided by large-scale distributed generation. Importantly, network support could be provided through the use of resources not listed here but proposed by those registering their interest.
Non-network capacity support will usually be used to coincide with peak electricity demand and/or a network event in an area. It is often a more cost-effective alternative to building a network solution as it can be flexible to uncertain increases in demand, can delay investment in network infrastructure, or can avoid it altogether.
During our tendering process for the Upper Clutha non-network solution, we found that going to market for alternatives can bring forward viable ideas not previously considered. It demonstrated that there is a role for Flexibility Traders to act as intermediaries between owners of Distributed Energy Resources (Flexibility Resources) and the distribution network owner (Flexibility Buyers, like Aurora Energy). However, given it is a new market, we didn’t want to limit the time for any interested respondents to propose ideas and as a result, create barriers to entry. An open call process allows all those that are interested the time to review requirements, and decide how they want to proceed. It also allows multiple players the chance to contribute to a total solution, with the open call only closing when Aurora Energy has the total capacity required in an area.
Yes, we see the use of non-network solutions as a critical part of our future network strategy. Therefore, where there are parts of our network that would benefit from the use of non-network alternatives, we will run an open call process to seek registrations, and proposals. We will open and close each process as capacity needs are met
The flexible nature of non-network support has led to it also being referred to (internationally and locally) as Flexibility Services.
In short, yes. Provided the total solution meets Aurora Energy’s requirements in terms of capacity support, communications interface, and data capture, it is important all potential parties have the opportunity to get involved, and to help grow this new market offering.
Flexibility Traders can participate in other markets that require non-network solutions, provided Aurora Energy’s requirements can still be met as agreed. This maximises value to those offering non-network solutions and increases the attractiveness of entering the market with demand flexibility.
A Flexibility Management System, or FMS, refers to a system that allows the flexibility buyers (companies like Aurora Energy) to forecast and respond, procure, manage, contract for, issue instructions to, and pay Flexibility Traders.
In general, Aurora Energy’s standard distribution pricing will apply. Our pricing enables Retailers to offer night rates and peak demand prices, and thereby incentivises DER management for network benefits. Flexibility Traders should consider working with a Retailer to provide a ‘whole of ICP’ night-day or peak-off-peak tariff. However, to manage critical peaks on the system, we will provide a signal and associated payment to Flexibility Traders to discharge batteries or run distributed generators.