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NETWORK / 11 / MARCH 2018 2 017 was a strong rst year for En- ergy Networks Association's Open Networks Project. The Project ended the year with a joint com- mitment from electricity networks in Great Britain to create new markets that enable - exibility services, with a rapid increase in their use by networks between now and the end of the current price control periods. It's these kind of developments, along with individual network innovation projects supported by the price control framework, which the rest of Europe and the world are increasingly following with great interest; the UK is a world leader in energy network innovation. The new, decentralised energy system, including the transition towards a distri- bution system operator (DSO) world that Open Networks will help deliver, will create a whole new range of opportunities for a whole new range of stakeholders, so we kicked oŽ this year by publishing our 2018 workplan for consultation. The Open Networks Project has, from the start, been designed to be adaptable and - exible in response to feedback from stakeholders and this consultation contin- ues that process into 2018. It indicates our commitment to carrying out extensive and comprehensive assessment of the transmis- sion-distribution interactions and future DSO functionality. We wanted to give stakeholders the chance to shape the project as it ramps up into its next phase. The consultation detailed project priorities, scope, timescales and those areas where further consultation is proposed throughout the year. In general, anyone interested in the future of energy networks is encouraged to participate and provide feedback on the work that Open Networks is undertaking, which is all publi- cally available on our website. Entering its second year, the project Open Networks Project picks up the pace COLLABORATION ● Information on - exibility services, including a review of how information should be provided to customers on potential network requirements for - ex- ibility services. ● Continued modelling and analysis on future DSO market models using the Smart Grid Architecture Model (SGAM) Framework. The project takes a "whole system" ap- proach, with consideration of gas, heat and other cross-vector industries, as well as taking into account other network-led and wider industry work, including the Future Power System Architect (FPSA) initiative. In February, as part of its Electricity System Operator Forward Plan, National Grid set out its plans to increase its ambition to grow its engagement with the project as part of the company's goal of facilitating whole system outcomes. This year, the project will also continue to draw on innovation projects and other case studies, including consideration of three projects awarded funding as part of Ofgem's 2017 Network Innovation Competi- tion (Fusion, Electricity Flexibility Forecast- ing System and Transition). The project is very much taking a 'learn-by-doing' approach, where we undertake real-world trials and feed the learning back into the project. The next phase of the project, expected to begin in 2019, will focus on implementa- tion of process improvements, further trials to test DSO functionality and providing a robust evidence base and support to any regulatory changes that might be required to allow implementation of future DSO models. If you would like to contact the Open Networks team to discuss the project, please email via Opennetworks@energynetworks. org Randolph Brazier, head of innovation at the Energy Networks Association, updates readers on the progress of the Open Networks Project - a major pan-industry initiative to set out the changing roles and responsibilities of network companies. will continue with four main workstreams: distribution and transmission interface; the customer experience; the evolution of DSOs; and network charging. Our work in 2018 will be focusing on early implementation of DSO functionality via real-world trials, whole system invest- ment process improvements, and analysis of options and trials to develop - exibility mar- ket models for the future electricity system. The 2018 workplan is signi cantly larger in scope than 2017, with 29 products expected to be delivered, which include: ● Investment processes; taking a whole system approach towards utilising a range of investment and operability op- tions across transmission and distribu- tion. ● Reliability standards and emergency requirements, ensuring that emerging Whole System investment and opera- tional processes maintain security of supply across transmission and distri- bution and cover requirements under emergency conditions.