The Flexibility Revolution: Why Flexible Power Is the Next Big Opportunity for Energy Suppliers

Flexibility is widely acknowledged as the next big growth opportunity. But that’s only half the story. Many suppliers still treat flexibility as an “add-on” – something that’s layered on to existing systems, managed through manual processes, and reliant on fragmented, piecemeal data. Naturally, that kind of approach slows things down, preventing suppliers from getting to market as quickly as they could. More than that, however, it also puts a cap on the value they can realise.

Why Is Flexibility So Important Right Now?

The UK’s electricity system is changing fast. National Grid ESO’s 2023 Future Energy Scenarios report predicts that at least 13 gigawatts of flexible energy resources will be needed by 2030 to keep the system in balance. Ofgem estimates that smarter, more flexible energy use could save the country between £30 and £70 billion from 2020 to 2050. These savings help keep bills down for both businesses and households.

But the scale of the challenge is growing. With more renewables and new types of customers and devices connecting to the grid, balancing supply and demand is more complex than ever. At the same time, new rules and market reforms are being introduced, and competition is increasing as well.

For energy suppliers, that begs a critical question: how do they break through those barriers and turn flexibility into a real business advantage?

The Opportunity and the Challenge

Recent data shows that the number of organisations providing flexible energy services in the UK has tripled since 2019. More businesses, batteries, electric vehicles, and smart devices are ready to help balance the grid. Local flexibility schemes and demand-side response programmes are attracting more interest from commercial customers.

Despite this growth, many suppliers are finding it tough to move from small pilot projects to large-scale flexibility offerings. Manual processes, old systems, and scattered data make it difficult to register assets, manage participation, and respond quickly to market opportunities.

In a recent Ofgem survey, for example, over 70 percent of flexibility providers said that operational complexity and manual work were their biggest barriers to growth.

When every minute counts, slow onboarding or missed opportunities can mean lost revenue and unhappy customers.

Making Flexibility Work at Scale

The good news is that new technology is making it easier than ever to succeed in the flexibility market. Modern platforms allow suppliers to register and manage thousands (or even millions of assets) quickly and efficiently, with automated data flows, built-in compliance, and easy connections to trading and virtual power plant systems.

This isn’t just about making life easier for flexibility teams, either. It’s about unlocking new value for your business. With the right digital tools, suppliers can create new services, attract more customers, and respond faster to market changes. Those who move away from manual work and build for scale today will be in the best position to lead tomorrow.

What Comes Next?

The future of energy will reward suppliers who put flexibility at the centre of their business. Flexibility is not just about keeping up with rules or ticking a box for compliance. It’s a way to grow, to deliver more value to customers, and to stay ahead in a changing market.

The question for every supplier, then, is simple: are you ready to make flexibility your competitive edge?

References

National Grid ESO – Future Energy Scenarios.

Ofgem – Flexibility in Great Britain.

Ofgem – Flexible energy use could save between £30–70 billion.

BEIS – Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan.

FAQs

Why is flexibility such a major opportunity for energy suppliers?

The UK electricity system is becoming harder to balance as more renewables, customer types and devices connect to the grid. National Grid ESO predicts at least 13GW of flexible energy resources will be needed by 2030, while Ofgem estimates smarter, more flexible energy use could save the country £30–£70 billion from 2020 to 2050.

What’s stopping suppliers from scaling flexibility services?

Many suppliers still treat flexibility as an add-on, relying on manual processes, old systems and fragmented data. The article highlights that these barriers make it difficult to register assets, manage participation and respond quickly to market opportunities, with over 70% of flexibility providers citing operational complexity and manual work as their biggest barriers to growth.

How can suppliers turn flexibility into a competitive edge?

Suppliers need to move away from manual work and build for scale using modern platforms that can register and manage thousands, or even millions, of assets efficiently. With automated data flows, built-in compliance and connections to trading and virtual power plant systems, suppliers can create new services, attract customers and respond faster to market change.