To participate in markets, flexibility providers need to register their assets on the ElectronConnect platform.
When a flexibility provider starts the process of uploading their assets to the site, they will see the option of choosing either "Discrete" "Group" or "Group member" assets.
Discrete assets
These are individual assets that have enough capacity to participate in flex markets on their own - in other words, each distinct distributed energy resource or asset that can provide flexibility.
Each discrete asset can then be offered into any market requirements that
are live on ElectronConnect, subject to technical qualification.
Example: Grid Scale Battery
Group members
These are individual assets that can be aggregated into a group to participate in markets, but can not participate on their own.
Group members are an important way for market operators to technically qualify and verify the performance of the individual assets within a group.
Example: An individual EV charger
Group assets
For group members to participate in markets, they need to aggregate into “group assets”.
This enables that "group" to offer into market and participate as a single asset.
Example: An aggregated group of EV chargers
Why is grouping assets important?
Grouping assets enables suppliers and independent aggregators who aggregate smaller resources to participate in the markets running on ElectronConnect.
This opens the door to new revenue streams for the providers and a bigger pool of flexibility for the system operator to call upon.