Asset Status, Type and Capacity

This information is for flexible service providers (FSPs) looking for assistance with inputting data into the asset file.

In this article

Asset Status

(Column E)

The status of an asset is used by the system operators (SOs) during the technical assessment to make decisions about whether an asset can fulfil a particular need. Piclo has a number of status options available for you to choose from:

In Development: An asset that is in the process of being contracted, built or installed (i.e. it is going to be operational at some point in the future).

Operational: An asset that is ready to provide flexibility.

Mothballed: An asset that no longer provides flexibility, but could be brought back into an operational status.

Archived: An asset that should be removed from Piclo. Archived assets will disappear from the map and will cease to be visible to either the FSP or SO. They have not been deleted and can be unarchived by changing their status in the file and re-uploading.

Piclo recommends adding all of your operational and in development assets, as it provides the SOs with the most useful information from which to plan their network support. If you have planned assets (A planned asset is either speculative (i.e. if contracts were won for it, then development would start, but not before) or an asset that has potential for flexibility but is not a formal project yet), these can be added via the planned asset tab, for full details please see Adding and Editing Planned Assets.

If the file template does not cover the type or status of your asset then please contact support@picloflex.com.

Asset Category and Type

(Column F and G)

Piclo is agnostic to different types of flexibility. As long as the asset can respond to an instruction to turn-up or turn-down electricity generation or consumption, it can be added to your account and put forward for qualification.

The asset template includes a wide range of asset categories and types, which can be seen below:

  • Storage
    • Battery
    • Compressed air
    • Fuel cells
    • Liquid air
    • Pumped hydro
    • Vehicle to grid
  • Energy efficiency 
  • Demand side response
    • Commercial
    • Industrial
    • Residential
    • Vehicle charging
  • Interconnectors
  • Low Carbon
    • Gas + Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
    • Nuclear
  • Renewable
    • Advanced Conversion Technology (ACT)
    • Advanced Conversion Technology (ACT) CHP
    • Anaerobic Digestion
    • Anaerobic digestion CHP
    • Biofuel Goethermal CHP
    • Biomass
    • Biomass CHP
    • Hydro
    • Landfill gas
    • Offshore wind
    • Onshore wind
    • Sewage
    • Sewage CHP
    • Solar PV
    • Tidal
    • Waste Waste CHP
    • Wave
  • Thermal
    • Coal
    • Coal CHp
    • Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT)
    • Diesel
    • Diesel reciprocating engines
    • Fuel oil
    • Gas
    • Gas CHP
    • Gas reciprocating engines
    • Gas + Oil
    • Open Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT)

Flexibility Capacity

(Column K-N)

Piclo’s asset file includes four flexible capacity fields. It is important to enter your data accurately, especially regarding capacity since it is one of the asset qualification criteria checks to establish qualification status. Omitting data in these fields will result in assets not qualifying for competitions even if they fall within the right boundary area. 

Please note that in order to upload your asset file, the flexible capacity section is not a mandatory field, however in order to qualify for a competition, it is mandatory to have at least one column completed within the flexibility capacity columns. Details of these columns are listed below:

  • Active Power (Export): Located in column K. The flexible power capacity, in MW, that an asset can export to the network (+MW), either by discharging a storage asset, turning up export of a generation asset, or turning down the overall energy consumption of a DSR asset.
  • Active Power (Import): Located in column L. The flexible power capacity, in MW, that an asset can import from the network (-MW), either by charging a storage asset, turning down the export of a generation asset or turning up the overall energy consumption of a DSR asset. 
  • Reactive Power (Export): Located in column M. The capacity in MVAr, that an asset has to generate reactive power; providing a capacitive load and lagging effect on current with respect to the network voltage.
  • Reactive Power (Import): Located in column N. The capacity, in MVAr, that an asset has to absorb reactive power; providing a capacitive load and leading effect with respect to the network voltage.

The data should be entered from the point of view of the impact the asset’s actions have on the grid.

Scenario 1

If an asset is consuming 10 MW (e.g. a battery that is charging, or a building that’s at peak consumption) that asset is importing 10 MW. If this asset was to ‘turn down’ i.e. ‘consume less’ let’s say by 2 MW, it’s import will drop to 8 MW, which has an impact on the grid  and is equivalent to an  increased export by 2 MW. If you have an asset that can ‘turn down consumption’ it can’t be described as negative import. It should be described as a value of ‘active power (export)’. 

Scenario 2

If an asset is generating 10 MW (e.g. a battery that is discharging or a gas peaking that’s at peak capacity) that asset is exporting 10 MW. If that asset was to ‘turn down’ i.e. ‘export less’, again let’s say by 2 MW, then its export will drop to 8 MW which is the equivalent to an increased import by 2 MW. So if you have an asset that can ‘turn down generation’ that value should be described as ‘active power (import)’. 

Scenario 3

Not all assets can provide both export and import flexibility, that’s why there’s a space to provide the exact flexible capacity values for each asset type, no matter if it’s a storage, consumption or generation asset. Each is unique depending on the setup and technical capabilities. 

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