Frequently Asked Questions

Demand Side Reponse
Financial and Operational Benefits
Role of Aggregators and Market Participation
Technical and Implementation Aspects
Net Zero Contribution
Regulatory Compliance and Liabilities

Demand Side Response programmes work by financially incentivising participants to free up grid capacity at times when electricity demand exceeds available supply

LEARN MORE

Enel X shields its customers from any penalties associated with under-performance. While failure to meet your commitment may result in lower revenue from the program, you will never be required to make out

MORE ABOUT DSR

Demand response events are triggered by imbalances between forecasted supply and actual demand on the electricity grid, making them rare and only used in states of emergency.

MORE ABOUT DSR

Earnings depend on several factors including your availability within the program, the MWs you can make flexible and current market pricing.

DR CALCULATOR

Demand Response (DR) allows large energy users to adjust or curtail their electricity consumption in response to requests from National Electricity System (Grid) Operator NESO. Participants help balance the grid, earn payments, and improve operational resilience.

Ideal participants include manufacturers, data centres, food processors, cold storage operators, universities, hospitals, chemical plants, Water Utilities, Steel and Metal Processing, Aggregates and Quarrying and large commercial estates — any site with flexible or controllable energy loads.

Businesses commit to reducing consumption or activating on-site generation during grid stress periods. Participation is managed through programmes such as Demand Flexibility Service (DFS), Capacity Market, and Balancing Services operated by National Grid ESO.

Equipment commonly used includes industrial chillers, combined heat and power (CHP), battery energy storage systems (BESS), HVAC systems, refrigeration units, pumps, conveyor systems, lighting circuits, backup generators, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and smart grids. Automated energy management systems and smart controls ensure precise, reliable curtailment.

Participants can earn income through availability and utilisation payments, reduce exposure to peak-time tariffs, and strengthen sustainability credentials by supporting grid decarbonisation. Payments are also available for flexible consumption in wholesale markets.

DSR programs can be tailored to ensure minimal disruption, focusing on non-critical loads that can be managed without affecting core operations. smart technology allows for precise control over which systems are adjusted, ensuring essential operations remain unaffected.

Enel X will run a preliminary analysis and a savings / revenue projection based on your specific energy usage data. An accurate estimate will be provided upon which the business can base its decision to participate or not.

Aggregators pool multiple commercial and industrial sites to participate collectively in National Grid ESO’s programmes. They manage event dispatch, compliance, verification, and payments for their customers.

Key options include the Demand Flexibility Service, Dynamic Containment, Dynamic Moderation, Dynamic Regulation, Static Fast Frequency Response (FFR) and participation in the Capacity Market. Each offers distinct benefits based on load type and flexibility.

Enel X will assess the suitability of existing onsite controls and metering. Should any upgrades be required, in most cases they can be financed via the revenue from participating in energy flexibility services, with no up-front cost to the customer.

Absolutely. Many continuous operations use partial process curtailment, backup generation, or Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to provide flexibility without interrupting critical activities.

Your Enel X team will handle most of the heavy lifting, including integration with existing systems, testing, validation, employee training, and ongoing support.

You don’t need to be an expert to benefit from Demand Response participation. Your Enel X Team will explain the basics of DSR, how it fits into the broader energy market, and its specific benefits in a way that relates directly to your business.

By aligning energy use with renewable generation and reducing peak demand, industrial demand response helps the UK integrate more wind and solar energy while maintaining a stable, low-carbon electricity system.

DSR solutions are designed to meet all relevant regulatory requirements. In fact, they help you stay compliant with energy regulations. Our Legal, Energy Markets and Compliance Teams are all at your disposal should you have any questions or concerns.