UK-based local flexibility trials: lessons from ADEPT, LEO & SCOTCLUE

Distribution System Operators (DSOs) and Municipal Authorities across various local energy flexibility trials, are encountering challenges and opportunities within their innovation projects. This paper aims to present common challenges and share insights gained from a comparative study of local energy flexibility trials in the UK, contributing to the advancement of smart local energy systems outlined in the EU Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) directive.This paper presents case studies and learning from each of the following projects, outlining a strategy for establishing more RECs: • The Association of Directors for Environment Planning and Transport (ADEPT) Live Lab is an innovation project which focused on municipal decarbonisation and transport opportunities including the monitoring and visualisation of renewable energy assets installed within municipal buildings. • The Local Energy Oxfordshire (LEO) project trials deliver key learnings on distribution control architectures for providing local flexibility to DSOs as well as exploring services such as peer-to-peer trading. • The CLUE (Concepts, Planning, Demonstration and Replication of Local User-friendly Energy Communities) project is a demonstration that validates a Web of Cells (WoC) distribution control approach through the delivery of a Vector Integration Platform (VIP) for control and monitoring applications.