Scaling Up: From Pilot To Portfolio In The Flexibility Market

When it comes to flexibility, pilots aren’t the problem. Many suppliers have shown that they can realise value from the market in a controlled environment. The challenge comes from what happens next.

Today, many pilots succeed while in spite of the factors that stand in the way of scale: manual onboarding, workarounds, and fragmented data. But as suppliers look to increase the scope of their flexibility operations, those issues become increasingly tolerable. So what can be done?

The Growth Of Flexibility In The UK

The UK’s flexibility market is growing quickly. According to Ofgem, the number of organisations offering flexible energy services has tripled since 2019. More than ever, businesses are installing batteries, smart meters, and other devices that can help balance the grid and respond to market signals. National Grid ESO reports that as of 2024, over 1.6 million smart meters have been enrolled in demand response and flexibility programmes.

This growth is good news for the energy system and for suppliers looking to create new revenue streams. Local flexibility tenders and demand-side response are attracting more interest from commercial and industrial customers, who want to save money and support the UK’s net zero ambitions.

Why Scaling Up Is Harder Than It Looks

Moving from a successful pilot to a large-scale flexibility operation is not easy. Many suppliers find themselves stuck, unable to scale up quickly or efficiently. Manual onboarding, slow asset registration, and the need to check data by hand can make it difficult to add new sites or customers. Take Ofgem’s 2023 Flexibility in Great Britain report, where more than 70 percent of flexibility providers said that manual processes and operational complexity were the main barriers to growth.

When every new asset means more paperwork and every market event requires a manual check, growth soon hits a wall. Missed opportunities, slower response times, and frustrated teams can quickly follow.

What Does It Take To Grow At Scale?

The suppliers who are succeeding in the new flexibility market are those investing early in automation and integration. Modern platforms now allow you to register, manage, and monitor thousands, or even millions, of assets with minimal manual effort. Bulk management tools, real-time alerts, and seamless links to trading and virtual power plant systems mean that operations can run smoothly, even as portfolios grow.

This shift is about more than just saving time. Automating onboarding and asset management allows teams to focus on innovation, customer service, and new business models, rather than getting bogged down in admin. It also means suppliers can react faster to market changes and customer needs, staying ahead of the competition.

The Question For Energy Suppliers

As the flexibility market matures, the question for every supplier is: are your systems and processes ready to support real growth? Because moving from pilot to portfolio isn’t just a technical upgrade; it’s a chance to build a business ready for the future of energy.

Discover how we can support your energy flexibility ambitions.

References

Ofgem. Flexibility in Great Britain.

National Grid ESO. Future Energy Scenarios.

Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Ofgem. Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan.

FAQs

Why do flexibility pilots often struggle to scale?

Pilots can prove value in a controlled environment, but scaling exposes issues such as manual onboarding, slow asset registration, workarounds, and fragmented data. As portfolios grow, every new asset and market event can add operational effort, slowing growth and creating missed opportunities.

What’s driving growth in the UK flexibility market?

The UK flexibility market is growing quickly, with Ofgem reporting that the number of organisations offering flexible energy services has tripled since 2019. More businesses are also installing batteries, smart meters and other devices that can help balance the grid and respond to market signals.

What do suppliers need to move from pilot to portfolio?

Suppliers need systems and processes built for scale, with automation and integration across onboarding, asset management, monitoring, trading and virtual power plant systems. ESG Global’s flexibility services support this shift by helping suppliers reduce manual effort and manage growing portfolios more smoothly.